Protein Pancakes the Entire Family will Enjoy

It’s Saturday morning and mom’s in the kitchen; The sweet smell of syrup filtering through the air. Is there anything more nostalgic than those fluffy, round, delectable flapjacks to tell you the weekend is here?

Who here wishes they could have pancakes every morning? I know I do! 

Despite their feel-good flavor, I think we all know pancakes are not the healthiest food to consume on frequent occasions. That is unless there was a way to make them more balanced.

Pancakes are a high carbohydrate food. This means they can provide us with a good amount of energy but unfortunately little to no protein or fiber that is necessary to keep us full and satisfied. 

This will leave us far more likely to snack before we even make it to that next meal. That combined with the added sugar and scrumptious syrup often layered on top, pancakes tend to be more of a dessert than a healthy way to start the day, rendering us more likely to pack on the pounds.

Many of us have probably seen, heard, or even tried some of those “healthy” pancake alternatives. 

You know, the ones with the egg, banana and oats and that’s pretty much it? It sounds promising but seems to be lacking the same appeal as a traditional pancake. Why bother if it’s not even slightly a resemblance of its original form?

Instead of cutting down the ingredients to the bare minimum, try simply adding in more balanced ingredients. 

For example, natural peanut butter or a high-quality protein powder such as Naked Whey protein. 

With 25 grams of protein without any additives or artificial sweeteners, those pancakes are now a filling, high protein meal. Get fancy and choose a flavored protein powder such as chocolate without the added fat and sugar.

Bump up the fiber with oat flour or whole grain flour and kick out the sugar in lieu of mashed banana or no sugar added applesauce. 

You can even swap out that sugary maple syrup for some sliced fruit and yogurt on top. A few swaps can go a long way in making these sweet, fluffy cakes into something the family can enjoy with less guilt.

So how do we put this all together? Let’s take a look at some high-protein pancake recipes that the whole family will enjoy.

Double Chocolate Protein Pancakes

Serves 6

Ingredients:

• 2 scoops of chocolate protein powder
• 2 ripe bananas, mashed
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 4 eggs
• 3/4 cup rolled oats
• 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder

Directions:

1. In a food processor, blend oats into flour. 
2. Add protein powder, cinnamon, and cocoa powder and set aside. 
3. Mash bananas until smooth and combine with eggs. Mix wet ingredients into dry until fully combined. 
4. Add a small amount of oil to a non-stick pan over medium heat and lightly grease with cooking spray. Use ½ cup measuring utensil to portion out the batter. 
5. Flip once you see bubbles forming in the center. 
6. Top with yogurt and fresh fruit, enjoy!

Blueberry Swirl Protein Pancakes

Serves 8

Ingredients:

• 1.5 cups almond flour
• 2-3 scoops of vanilla protein powder
• 1 ¼ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• ¼ tsp vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• ¾ cup unsweetened almond milk
• ¾ cup fresh or frozen blueberries

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, combine almond flour, protein powder, baking powder, and cinnamon. 
2. In a separate bowl beat together the eggs, almond milk, and vanilla extract. 
3. Combine wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix until smooth. Gently fold in blueberries to mixture. 
4. Place a non-stick pan over medium and lightly grease with cooking spray. 
5. Using a 1/3 to ½ cup measuring utensil, drop onto the skillet and flip when bubbles begin to form in the center. 
6. Serve with sliced banana and a drizzle of natural peanut butter and dig in!

Strawberry Banana Protein Cakes

Serves 6

Ingredients:

• 3 eggs
• 1/3 cup skim milk or unsweetened almond milk
• 1 ripe banana, mashed
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ¼ cup rolled oats
• 2 scoops of strawberry protein powder
• 1 tsp baking powder
• A pinch of sea salt
• 1 cup fresh strawberries, chopped

Directions:

1. In a food processor, blend oats until forming flour. 
2. Add protein powder, sea salt, and baking powder and set aside. 
3. In a separate bowl, combine eggs, milk, mashed banana, and vanilla extract. 
4. Mix wet ingredients into dry and slowly fold in the chopped strawberries. 
5. Heat a non-stick pan over medium heat and lightly grease with cooking spray. 
6. Using a 1/3 measuring utensil, drop batter into pan, flip once bubbles begin to form in the center. 
7. Top these delicious cakes with cocoa nibs and chopped walnuts and voila.

Collaboration.