These Healthy Pancakes have a wonderful crisp exterior with perfectly soft & chewy interiors. They’re made with better-for-you ingredients without sacrificing texture or flavor! And did we mention they are ridiculously easy to make? Throw everything into a blender and give it a whirl — pancake batter is ready!
Next, give our Healthy Banana Muffins a try! These Healthy Pancakes are prepared without a banana in the batter, but if you want to add in a banana, try these Healthy Banana Pancakes instead.
Can A Pancake Be Healthy?
When made with wholesome ingredients, pancakes can be a nutritious breakfast option! A lot of pancake recipes or mixes are likely more suitable for a treat than a way to start the morning. So, I wanted to create a pancake recipe as nutritious as a bowl of Microwave Oatmeal!
And these are truly the BEST Healthy Pancakes! They don’t have that strange texture that you’ll find in so many gluten-free/healthy pancake recipes, because we blend the batter. They’ve got a wonderfully nuanced flavor with the perfect amount of (natural) sweetness.
What is the Healthiest Type Of Pancake?
The healthiest pancake is one you make at home with quality, nutritious ingredients.
Here’s a quick overview of this recipe:
- No flour. We use old-fashioned oats instead.
- No refined sugars. See “quick tip” box below for more info.
- Cashews. These nuts are loaded with good-for-you fats, protein, and nutrients, among other benefits.
- Protein. This recipe is packed with protein, thanks to the nuts and eggs.
- Dairy-free. We use plant-based milk (almond milk).
Quick Tip
For this pancake recipe, we use natural sugars derived from plant sources. Honey comes from nature (bees!) Foods with natural sugars (like fruits, milk, and cheese) are not the same as those with refined sugars. Refined sugar typically starts with sugar cane or sugar beets, which are then processed to extract the sugar. Processing (refining) removes the nutrients and leaves the sugar.
When I’m asked: “Are Kodiak Pancakes Healthy” or “Are Protein Pancakes Healthy?” my answer is this: it really depends on your goals and personal health history. My recommendation is always to use real, whole ingredients that you can easily recognize/pronounce.
(While I have my background in Exercise and Wellness (B.S.), all the content in this post is for informational purposes only. Please consult a doctor or dietician for any specific dietary needs/questions.)
How To Make Healthy Pancakes
We’ve discussed the nutrition in these pancakes in depth, but haven’t even begun to talk about how easy the preparation is!
We blend the pancake batter all together all at once — so easy, so quick! From there it can be poured directly from the blender jar onto a heated pan or griddle. Doesn’t get much easier than that!
Healthy Pancake Tips
- Let the batter stand at room temperature for about 5-10 minutes before adding to the griddle or pan; this allows the oats to absorb the liquid and thicken the batter.
- Pay attention to the temperature: If they’re browning too quickly, turn the heat down a bit and cool the pan for a minute. Sticking a lot? Add a bit more cooking spray to the pan. Stay close to the stovetop and griddle to monitor and make adjustments to the temperature as necessary.
- Invest in a griddle: If you make pancakes often, and have the space, I highly recommend an electric skillet or griddle; we use ours a couple of times a week! A griddle makes pancake-making so much easier!
- Before your pancake batter hits the hot pan, run a cold stick of butter OR a generous spray of cooking spray on the pan to grease it. This gives the pancakes an evenly distributed layer of fat to cook in.
How To Keep Pancakes From Getting Soggy
If you aren’t eating the pancakes fresh off the heat, you’ll want a foolproof way to keep them warm and crispy. If you stack pancakes on top of each other, you’ll end up creating steam, which will make the pancakes soggy as they lose that crispy exterior. To avoid soggy pancakes, follow the steps below:
- Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F.
- Place a cooling rack on a large sheet pan. As soon as you pull the pancake from the heat source, place it on the cooling rack in a single layer.
- Place that sheet pan in the oven until ready to eat.
Quick Tip
If you’ll be eating the pancakes right away, just set them on a wire cooling rack right off the heat source and serve from there! In fact, we like setting them on a cooling rack even if we are digging in right away — this gives a chance for the exteriors to crisp up nicely.
Toppings for Healthy Pancakes
The best thing about making your own pancakes is that you get to top them exactly how you want! Below are some ideas:
- A drizzle of peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter, etc.
- Pure maple syrup
- Fresh berries (blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, etc.)
- Ripe sliced banana
- Toasted coconut
- Chia seeds or flaxseeds
- Jam (any flavor would be delicious!)
- This homemade Blueberry Syrup
- For semi-healthy pancakes (meaning the toppings are making them less nutritious, ha!), add this Vanilla Sauce, Buttermilk Syrup, and a scoop of Whipped Cream.
Storage
Freezing Pancakes
We love multiplying this recipe to have leftovers or to make in advance when anticipating guests. Those leftovers make a great last-minute dinner or breakfast! Frozen pancakes can be kept in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- To freeze: Allow pancakes to cool completely at room temperature on a wire cooling rack. Then, place the cooled pancakes on a parchment-paper-lined tray. Place that tray in the freezer until the pancakes are fully frozen, about 1-2 hours. Transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container.
- To thaw: Use the microwave, toaster, or oven to reheat! We like popping ’em in our toaster to reheat.
What are Five More Healthy Breakfast Options?
Beyond these delicious pancakes, here are five other favorites we like to start our mornings with:
- Avocado Toast with instructions for five different ways to prepare it
- Acai Bowl with four different variations
- Overnight Oats with four different recipes for how to prepare it
- Green Smoothie Recipe you’ll be craving greens first thing in the morning!
- Egg Skillet with veggies
Healthy Pancakes
Equipment
- Powerful blender such as Blendtec or Vitamix
- Electric griddle or large skillet
- Cooling Rack
Ingredients
- Cooking spray or butter
- 1 cup old-fashioned oats
- 1/2 cup cashews see note 1
- 2 large eggs
- 3/4 cup plant-based milk see note 2
- 1/4 cup melted coconut oil see note 3
- 1/4 cup honey or pure maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon optional
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg optional
- Serving suggestions see note 4
Instructions
- Preheat an electric griddle to 375°F or use a stovetop. Place a wire cooling rack on a tray next to the cooking pan.
- Add all ingredients (except cooking spray) in a powerful blender as listed. Blend until completely smooth, about 90–120 seconds. Scrape down sides and blend longer if necessary until no oat or cashew chunks remain.
- If you’re not using an electric skillet, heat a large nonstick skillet or griddle over medium heat. The pan is ready when a drop of water sizzles. Generously spray with cooking spray or rub butter across the surface. Pour pancake batter from blender into a small measuring cup, aiming for 3 tablespoons per pancake.
- Pour batter onto hot surface, leaving space between pancakes to allow for expansion. Cook until small bubbles form and the edges turn matte, about 2–3 minutes. Flip with a metal spatula and cook until lightly golden, about 1–2 minutes.
- Wipe skillet clean with a paper towel and repeat, adding more butter or cooking spray as needed. Adjust heat if pancakes brown too quickly (lower heat) or not enough (increase heat).
- Immediately transfer pancakes from heat to the prepared wire rack to crisp edges. Serve promptly or keep warm in the oven (see note 5). Enjoy with favorite toppings like pure maple syrup and fresh fruit!
Video
Recipe Notes
- Preheat the oven to 200°F.
- Place a cooling rack on a large sheet pan. As soon as you pull the pancake from the heat source, place it on the cooling rack in a single layer.
- Place that sheet pan in the oven until ready to eat.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
