Our Story

Owner, Brigitte Birrfelder, in a blue striped apron holding a tray with pancakes and a jar of syrup inside a rustic restaurant or cafe.
Snow-covered house with a large deck, surrounded by snow, trees, and ski tracks in a winter landscape.
Packaging of Bonnie's oatmeal pancakes placed on a rock outdoors with a blurred natural background.

Rooted in history

Passed down through generations of mountain women

Black and white photograph of Gretl Uhl, the first owner of Bonnie's (formerly Gretl's), standing outdoors, with a group of people in the background, possibly at a social event or gathering.

Gretl circa 1970

1966

In 1966, Gretl Uhl, a Bavarian ski racer and Aspen instructor, made a simple warming hut into one of the most iconic mountain restaurants in ski town history. She replaced basic fare with comforting homemade dishes like cabbage rolls, beef roulade, and her now-famous apple strudel. In one season alone, Gretl used 200 cases of apples to keep up with demand.


Gretl’s quickly became a favorite gathering spot for everyone from local ski bums to celebrities like Jack Nicholson. Her two days on, two days off schedule attracted a tight-knit crew of skiers and free spirits. With her hands-on leadership and love for food, Gretl created more than just a restaurant. She built a community that still inspires the spirit of the mountain today.

Bonnie, another former owner of Bonnie's resturant, in a white shirt and apron holding a plate of food, smiling in a kitchen setting.

1980

Bonnie circa 1985

In 1980, Bonnie Rayburn took over Gretl’s and made it her own, renaming it the now beloved Bonnie’s. Bonnie was a home cook with a deep love for the mountains, Bonnie poured that passion into every dish she served. She carried on Gretl’s tradition of freshly baked apple strudel while also introducing her own signature dish that is still on the menu today: the famous white bean chili.

Everything was made from scratch and served with heart. Over time, Bonnie’s became more than just a place to eat. It became a place to warm up, slow down, and share a table with friends old and new.

White line drawings of flowers and leaves on a black background.
Brigitte Birrfelder the owner of Bonnie's in a blue shirt and striped apron smiling, holding a small glass of syrup in one hand and a plate with pancakes in the other, inside a wooden restaurant or cafe.

Brigitte circa 2010

1998

In 1998, Bonnie passed the torch to Aspen native Brigitte Birrfelder. Raised in the heart of mountain life, Brigitte grew up on Aspen Mountain, where her dad, Peter, ran the Sundeck for 28 years. Each morning, she’d ski to school with her mom, Theresa Vonier. After studying business in Southern California and attending one of New York City’s top culinary schools, Brigitte brought her passion back home.

At Bonnie’s, she added breakfast to the menu, fueling skiers with fresh bacon, omelets, oatmeal pancakes, and hot coffee before their first (real) run of the day. She kept the heart of the restaurant alive while adding her own warmth and creativity to every dish.

Black and white photo of a group of people standing on a porch of a rustic building, with tall trees in the background. The group consists of men and women smiling, holding drinks, and making gestures, suggesting a celebratory or social gathering.
Ski resort with several skiers on snowy slopes, Bonnie's Resrurant, and ski equipment, with pine trees and a ski lift in the background.

Decades later, Bonnie’s is still serving up the best mountain meals in town, all made right in its kitchen. The restaurant remains a rare gem: the only locally owned spot on any of the four mountains in Aspen, where nothing beats the food, the atmosphere, and the stunning views.

Photos via Aspen Historical Society

From 10,410ft to your kitchen

Just like everything else at Bonnie’s, our pancake mix is made right in the Bonnie’s kitchen. In the winter, we ski or snowcat the ingredients up the mountain along with the rest of the food. During the summer, we drive the ingredients up and make the mixes in small batches, about 50 at a time

We sell our mix online, but you can also buy in person at Bonnie’s all winter long or at the Big Wrap in Aspen

Good things take time

JJust like each batch is handmade from scratch, our pancake batter needs time to rest so the flavors and texture can develop. We recommend letting it sit for at least one hour after mixing in melted butter, warm milk or water, and an egg. For even easier mornings, you can make it the night before and let it rest in the fridge overnight. You should be waiting for the batter to thicken and form more of an oatmeal-like consistancy

Bags of Bonnie's Oatmeal Pancakes on a wooden shelf in a store.
A person wearing a white glove is packing individual pre-packaged breakfast items labeled 'Breakfast at Bonnie's' into a large cardboard box on a wooden table. The background shows mixing bowls, a stand mixer, and baking supplies in a kitchen setting.
A smiling woman wearing a floral hat and long sleeve shirt holding a large box of pink packaged items in a commercial kitchen.

Made with love, these pancakes are packaged in Bonnie’s commercial kitchen, located mid-Aspen-mountain at 10,410 ft. Here’s our journey to making the mix:

how the pancakes are made from start to finish, driving from Boulder Colorado on I70 to Aspen and then skiing or driving up Aspen Mountain to package the pancake mix at 10,410ft

Passing the torch

Now, a new chapter is unfolding as Brigitte’s daughter Annika Nichols, brings a piece of Bonnie’s beyond Aspen Mountain with the launch of Bonnie’s pancake mix.

Annika graduated from CU Boulder’s Leeds School of Business with a degree in Marketing and Management, has been working to package up Bonnie’s legendary pancakes so you can enjoy them anywhere. But she’s not doing it alone. Enter Zoe: Annika’s best friend from college, creative powerhouse.

While Bonnie’s remains the same beloved mid-mountain spot, Annika and Zoe are making sure its most iconic flavors can live beyond the slopes.

Annika Nichols with long blonde hair smiling outdoors, holding a package of pancake mix, standing in front of purple-flowered bushes and a brick house.
Zoe Camp with long curly hair smiling, holding a packet of Bonnie's oatmeal pancakes in front of a shrub with purple flowers, wearing a white apron with colorful painted skis and the name Bonnie's Aspen, standing outside a house.
Black and white sketch of cannabis plants with large leaves and buds.