IHOP Pancake Stacker Is Much Worse Than KFC's Double Down

MICHAEL HILL, Associated Press

Cheesecake, meet pancake.

Weeks after KFC made headlines -- not entirely celebratory -- by stacking two pieces of chicken around bacon and cheese, IHOP is introducing a limited-time dessert featuring two pancakes sandwiching a layer of cheesecake.

IHOP's Pancake Stackers consist of a crustless cheesecake filling surrounded by two buttermilk pancakes and topped with a strawberry, blueberry or cinnamon apple compote and whipped topping. Pancake Stackers are available a la carte or with a combo meal, which adds eggs, hash browns and a choice of bacon, pork sausage links and ham to the tally.

And yes, the meal can be a diet buster.

The Glendale, Calif.-based company did not provide nutritional information for Pancake Stackers by themselves. But the company said the regular combo meal -- which includes Pancake Stackers with strawberries, two eggs, bacon and hash browns -- runs 1,250 calories.

That meal is more than double KFC's Double Down chicken sandwich -- which weighs in at 540 calories -- and at least half the total calories many adults should eat all day. It also packs 2,750 milligrams of sodium. The Institute of Medicine recommends that adults not exceed 2,300 milligrams of sodium a day.

"It's yet again another dietary disaster brought to you by fast food," said Susan Levin, a dietitian for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, which also has been critical of the Double Down.

The Double Down and Pancake Stackers come at a time when many chain restaurants are adding -- and even bragging about -- lower-calorie and lower-sodium menu options.

IHOP officials said their latest offering is just one of many choices on a menu that also includes lower-calorie items.

"It's an opportunity to give our guests another reason to come into IHOP," said Carolyn O'Keefe, IHOP's senior vice president of marketing.

Stackers are available at participating IHOP restaurants nationwide through June 20. Individual restaurants will set prices.

Comments

[LadyLeslie]

03:17 PM on 04/29/2010

I would eat those pancakes in a shaved New York minute, but I would leave out the eggs and bacon. I really don't think that this or the KFC sandwich is disgusting. If you don't want to eat it, then don't, but don't get on your high horse about those of us who do enjoy this kind of food. That is snobbery, pure and simple. Get over yourself.

[hrc04]

03:16 PM on 04/29/2010

Is there really a "worse" here? I think they're both in the category of "I need to reevaluate my life if I'm eating this."

[John Jackie Murray]

03:12 PM on 04/29/2010

Ok first off the famous bowl from KFC is way worse for you then the double down and no one said anything and Im confused by the sodium count above and what is listed on the nutrition facts for the double down. Here its over 2000 mg and on the sheet from KFC its around 1200.

[dante2810]

03:08 PM on 04/29/2010

That right there is the reason I carry a copy of my cardiologist last bill in my wallet at all times.

[Librick]

03:00 PM on 04/29/2010

Fast food wars. The race to cram the most calories on a plate.

[Senseid]

02:56 PM on 04/29/2010

Yeah, I've always wondered why the double down is worse than most other fast food items. People would not think twice if KFC came out with a fried chicken sandwich with two pieces of bread, two small pieces of fried chicken and some cheese and bacon, but take away the bread and people get into an outrage? 540 calories is seriously not bad for any entree, let alone something from KFC.

[EmilyRose2010]

02:55 PM on 04/29/2010

i am not eating it

[pagansmom]

02:51 PM on 04/29/2010

Sushi is the only fast food I eat.....yeah I know, mercury. I'll take it over fat, sodium, fat, calories, fat, fat...

[KLordsha]

02:47 PM on 04/29/2010

What.....we're attacking IHOP now? Classy...

[MissPreciousPerfect]

02:47 PM on 04/29/2010

A blatantly obvious attempt to target to the Tea Party demographic.

[KLordsha]

02:55 PM on 04/29/2010

Nice.....except they seem more the Cracker Barrel type.

[katmc]

02:47 PM on 04/29/2010

What adult should only eat 1,000 calories per day? Granted we're all fat phat fatties, but that seems a little low.

[Ann Joyce]

02:46 PM on 04/29/2010

Code Blue table 2

[yesyoucaned]

02:44 PM on 04/29/2010

Totally needs some bacon in it.

[Matt Gibbs]

03:01 PM on 04/29/2010

Maybe some sausage while we're at it.

[silkphoenix]

02:43 PM on 04/29/2010

"IHOP officials said their latest offering is just one of many choices on a menu that also includes lower-calorie items."

That means people can choose live or die. I wonder how many will choose "die".