Pancakes can be a great way to start your day. The problem is the traditional recipe tends to be high in refine products. We don’t get the fibre or protein that our bodies desperately need. Instead, we fill ourselves up with empty calories that just cause weight gain and sugar highs.
It’s time to improve the recipes. You can make pancakes that will keep you feeling fuller for longer while tricking you into thinking that you’re having something naughty. You get protein and fibre, without all the extra refined sugars and empty carbs.
We don’t want you going too far in the hunt for healthy pancake recipes. That’s why we’re sharing our favourite healthy protein pancakes.
Why Protein Pancakes with Fruit?
Before we get into the pancake recipes, let’s look at why protein pancakes with fruit are so important. Firstly, fruit is an essential part of the day. It’s naturally sweet, so you get a pick me up. Unlike chocolate and cookies, the sweetness in fruit is nutritious. Fruit is lower in calories while being packed full of vitamins and minerals.
Fruit is also full of fibre. Eating more fibre will help to keep the digestive system in check. You’ll also find it easier to feel fuller for longer. Fibre breaks down slowly in the body, which means you don’t get a quick rush of energy.
Likewise, protein will break down slowly. You need this to help regulate the blood sugar levels and avoid a crash soon after eating. But that’s not the only reason to eat protein. This is a food group that helps to build muscle and tissue. The more muscle you have, the more calories, you will burn throughout the day. Even when you’re not doing anything, you will burn more calories. It’s easier to create a calorie deficit, so you end up losing more weight.
Making the Perfect Pancake
To cook your pancake, you want your skillet hot. Once hot, the heat only needs to be medium to avoid overcooking.
When you pour the desired amount of batter into the pan, you’ll want to wait until its bubbling on the top. This means it’s ready to flip. Use a spatula (unless you’ve mastered the art of free flipping!) to cook the pancake on the other side for a few minutes.
It will then be ready to serve.
A well-greased skillet will prevent the batter from sticking.
So, now it’s time to look at some of the best protein filled pancakes with fruit.
#1. Chocolate and Banana Pancakes for a Sweet Start to the Day
Let’s start your day in a way that will instantly put a smile on your face. These are worth it for Monday mornings when you just don’t want to go to work, and the kids are not interested in school.
Chocolate can be good for you. In a small amount, dark chocolate is full of nutritious goodness.
Ingredients
- 2 scoops chocolate flavoured protein powder
- 2tbsp baking mix
- 2tbsp flax seeds, ground
- 1/2tsp baking powder
- 2 eggs, beaten lightly
- 1 banana, mashed
- 4tbsp milk—almond or coconut milk is better
Method
- 1. Combine the dry ingredients in one mixing bowl.
- 2. Combine the wet ingredients in another bowl and add to the dry ingredients. Avoid over mixing.
- 3. Make your pancakes as directed above until all the batter is used.
#2. Easy Peasy Sweet Potato Pancakes
Sweet potato as a pancake ingredient? I know what you’re thinking. I questioned this the first time, but I must say that it is delicious. The sweet potato gives you the complex carbs that are naturally sweet, so you think you’re getting something bad for you!
You’re getting something super healthy. The cottage cheese and eggs both give you the protein that your body needs on a morning.
Ingredients
- 1 cup of cottage cheese
- 1 cup of sweet potato, mashed or puree
- 15 eggs
- 2tsp pumpkin pie spice
- 1tbsp maple syrup
- Don’t forget the cranberries and flaked coconut for the topping
Method
- 1. Mix everything in a blender and smooth into a puree.
- 2. Make your pancakes as instructed above.
- 3. Serve your pancakes with your fruit topping.
There really isn’t anything special to this delicious and healthy recipe.
#3. Vanilla Protein Pancakes for Your Quick Protein Fix
This is another recipe that uses cottage cheese and eggs, so you’ll get your protein fix. The vanilla just helps to add something sweeter to the mix. You feel like you’re getting some sugar to start the day, but it’s not that bad for you.
Ingredients
- 3 eggs
- ½ cup of cottage cheese
- 2tbsp milk
- 1tsp coconut oil
- 1tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ cup of plain flour
- 1tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
Method
- 1. Mix all the ingredients together in a food process until smooth.
- 2. Make your pancakes as stated above.
Strawberries and bananas certainly make excellent toppings for this pancake. If you want to add more protein and some healthy fats, you can add a bit of nut butter in with the mix.
Don’t forget to top your fruit with a bit of honey or maple syrup for more sweetly goodness.
#4. Almond Protein Pancakes to Add a Boost to Your Morning
Almonds are delicious in some morning pancakes. They give you an excellent start to the morning due to the amount of selenium in them. We tend to be deficient in selenium without really thinking about it.
Ingredients
- ½ cup of coconut flour
- 1/3 cup of shredded coconut
- ¼ cup of sweetener
- ½tsp baking powder
- Pinch of salt
- 6 eggs
- ¼ cup of coconut oil
- ½ cup of almond milk
- 1tsp almond extract
- ¼ cup of almonds toasted
- 2oz of dark chocolate chopped finely or as chips
Method
- 1. Whisk the flour, coconut, sweetener, baking powder and salt together in a bowl.
- 2. Mix the eggs, coconut oil, almond extract and ½ a cup of the almond milk in a separate bowl.
- 3. Add the wet to the dry ingredients.
- 4. Add the rest of the milk in slowly so you can create a thick batter. You may need less than the ingredients stated above. Allow the mixture to sit before adding all the milk, as it takes time for coconut flour to thicken.
- 5. Stir in the chocolate and almonds.
- 6. Make your pancakes as directed above.
Top the almond and protein pancakes with some fresh fruit. Banana works well with the almonds, but you can also top with strawberries or mixed berries.
#5. Very Basic Protein Pancakes to Avoid a Fight in the Kitchen
When you want something easy to start your day, these are the pancakes to opt for. The ingredients are extremely basic. The only extra item you may need to buy is some protein powder. The rest you’ll have in the cupboard.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup of oats
- ¼ cup of cottage cheese
- ½ scoop of protein powder
- ½ cup of egg whites
Method
- 1. Blend everything together into a batter.
- 2. Make your pancakes as already directed.
These pancakes taste delicious with some peanut butter topped with bananas.
#6. Two-Ingredient, Paleo Pancakes for Something for Every Day
Who said that pancakes weren’t allowed on the paleo diet? Well, with a few changes you really can enjoy them. These protein pancakes involve just two ingredients:
Ingredients
- 3 Eggs
- 1 Banana
Method
- 1. Remove the yolks from two of the eggs, so you only use the egg whites.
- 2. Mash the banana and add the full egg into it.
- 3. Add in the egg whites. Mix together until they all combine.
- 4. Make your pancakes as you usually would.
You can change the consistency of these pancakes if you’d like to create a banana-egg ratio that you prefer.
#7. Greek Yoghurt Whole-Wheat Pancakes for Carb Lovers
Protein pancakes don’t mean you must get rid of the flour and the carbs. You just need to choose the right types of carbs.
Ingredients
- ¾ cups of Greek yoghurt
- 1 egg
- ½ cup of whole wheat flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
Method
- 1. Combine the yoghurt and eggs together until creamy
- 2. Mix the baking soda and flour separately
- 3. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and combine
- 4. Let the mixture sit for 10 minutes
- 5. Now cook the pancakes as previously instructed
You can now top with the fruit that you love. Banana and mixed berries work extremely well. You could also top with some oranges or grated apple.
#8. Vanilla Yoghurt Protein Powder Pancakes to Get Something Sweet and Healthy
Protein powder does make an excellent ingredient for pancake recipes. It’s an efficient way to add more protein to your mixture. Here’s an excellent option involving yoghurt and vanilla flavouring.
Ingredients
- 1 cup of oats
- 1tsp cinnamon
- 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder
- 1tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup of plain Greek yoghurt
- 1/3 cup of milk
- 2tbsp sugar/honey
- 1 egg
- 1/4tsp baking powder
Method
- 1. Mix all the ingredients in a blender until smooth
- 2. Make your pancakes as above
Top with some mixed berries and honey to finish off your sweet, healthy pancakes.
#9. Almond Butter Protein Pancakes for a New Idea
If you are allergic to almonds, you’ll need to find a seed butter that works instead. While not as filled with protein, it is still effective.
Ingredients
- 1 scoop vanilla ice cream powder (protein powder)
- 3 egg whites
- ¼ cup of water
- 1tbsp almond butter
- 2tsp sweetener
- 2tbsp maple syrup or honey
Method
- 1. Mix everything into a bowl
- 2. Cook as directed above
- 3. Top with some strawberries and bananas to work with the vanilla
You can opt for a different flavour protein powder if you like. Chocolate works extremely well with nut butter and strawberries on the top.
#10. Lemon and Chia Seed Pancakes for Muffin-Inspired Pancakes
It’s time to mix the fruit in with some pancakes again. This time we’re looking at lemons. These pancakes are a modern healthy take to the lemon and poppy seed muffins.
Ingredients
- 3 egg whites
- 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder
- 1 banana, mashed
- 1tsp chia seeds
- 1/8tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2tsp baking powder
- 1/2tsp lemon zest
- 1tbsp lemon juice
- 1tbsp flour
Method
- 1. Combine all ingredients until smooth
- 2. Make as directed above.
Since you already have the fruit in the pancake, you don’t need to add more if you don’t want. It’s worth squeezing some lemon juice over the top and sprinkling a little icing sugar if you’d like.
#11. Lemon and Blueberry Pancakes for a Take on a Classic
Lemon and blueberries have always worked well with baked items. Whether you add them to muffins, cupcakes, or even pancakes, you will have a winning recipe. Well, now you can make high protein pancakes with the two fruits.
Ingredients
- ½ cup of oats
- 3 egg whites
- ½ cup of cottage cheese
- 2 scoops of protein powder (vanilla flavour is good)
- 2tsp lemon juice
- 1/4tsp lemon zest
- ¼ cup of water
- 2/3 cup of blueberries
Topping Ingredients:
- ¼ cup of Greek yoghurt
- 1tbsp honey
- 1tsp lemon juice
- 1/4tsp lemon zest
Method
- 1. Combine the oats with everything but the blueberries in a blender and combine until pureed
- 2. Pour the mixture into a bowl and fold in the blueberries
- 3. Make the pancakes as above
- 4. Make the yoghurt topping by combining all the ingredients in a bowl
- 5. Top your stack of pancakes with the topping
#12. Apple and Cinnamon Pancakes for Something a Little Different
Cinnamon is one of those ingredients that we tend to forget about. It’s amazing when mixed with apples and offers so many health benefits. The best thing about these pancakes is that they’re also vegan-friendly.
Ingredients
- 1 flax egg
- 1.5 cups of Spelt flour
- 1 scoop of protein powder
- 1tbsp baking powder
- 1tbsp cinnamon
- 1.5 cups of milk alternative
- 1tbsp coconut oil
- 1/2tsp vanilla extract
- 1 apple, cored, peeled and chopped
Method
- 1. Mix all the dry ingredients together in a bowl
- 2. Add the wet ingredients in another bowl and then combine with the dry
- 3. Fold in the apple
- 4. Make the pancakes as instructed above
Nuts and seeds do make excellent toppings for these fruity protein pancakes.
#13. Banana Pancakes for Something Easy
Here’s another way to create some banana pancakes. They’re not as easy as the ones above, but they are just as delicious.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup of coconut flakes
- 2 scoops of vanilla protein powder
- 7 eggs
- 1tbsp coconut oil
- 1 banana
- Cinnamon and maple syrup to taste
Method
- 1. Mix the eggs with half your banana, mashed, your coconut flakes, and a bit of natural sweetener.
- 2. Melt your coconut oil and then add to the mix.
- 3. Stir in your protein powder slowly to get a creamy texture.
- 4. Now add your cinnamon if you’re using it.
- 5. Make your pancakes as already instructed.
Use the other half of banana chopped on top of the pancakes and finish off with maple syrup.
#14. Strawberry Yoghurt Pancakes for a Sweet Treat
It’s time to get some dessert-friendly pancakes on the go. This strawberry yoghurt recipe will make you think you’re enjoying a traditional strawberry cake dessert.
Ingredients
- 1 cup of flour
- 1tsp baking powder
- 1/4tsp baking soda
- 1 cup of strawberry flavoured Greek yoghurt
- 1tsp vanilla extract
- 2 eggs
- 4tbsp milk
- 2tbsp butter
Method
- 1. Combine the dry ingredients together in a bowl.
- 2. Combine the wet ingredients in another bowl until smooth.
- 3. Combine the dry with the wet but don’t over mix.
- 4. Make your pancakes as instructed above.
- 5. Top with strawberries and some maple syrup.
Use the other half of banana chopped on top of the pancakes and finish off with maple syrup.
#15. Tiramisu Protein Pancakes for a Healthy Dessert
It’s time to finish up our list with another dessert-friendly recipe. This pancake recipe will make you feel like you’re eating a real tiramisu.
Ingredients for the pancakes
- 2 scoops of mocha protein powder
- 8tbsp ground flax seeds
- 4 cups of almond milk
- 2tsp rum extract
- 2cups of flour
- 4tbsp cocoa powder
- 1tbsp espresso powder
- 4tsp baking powder
Ingredients for the crème
- 3 cups of plain yoghurt
- 2tsp natural sweetener
Method
- 1. Mix the flax seeds, milk and rum extract together in a bowl. Put to one side.
- 2. Mix the dry ingredients together in a bowl.
- 3. Add the milk mixture into the dry ingredients, avoiding over-mixing.
- 4. Make your pancakes as directed above.
- 5. Whip the sweetener with the yoghurt together.
- 6. Top a stack of pancakes with the yoghurt.
You can top this with some strawberries and chocolate syrup if you’re really like to create a yummy and healthy dessert.
Now It’s Over to You
There are 15 pancake recipes to choose from. All of them are full of protein and include fruit in various ways. No, fruit isn’t just a topping but something you can add to the middle of your recipes and even within the pancake stacks.
The only thing you’ll wonder now is which pancake recipe to try first. Dessert or something easy? Take your pick!