If you’ve ever wondered how to make banana pancakes, look no further. Our son Corban may only be two and a half, but he loves to cook and today he’s here to show how to make banana pancakes that are gluten free, grain free, protein pancakes with just three ingredients!
Our little man loves to cook so much, that we decided to be part of creating a new link party called Mini Chef Mondays. It’s all about getting kids in the kitchen and teaching them to love food and cooking.
Every Monday there will be post here of Corban (and soon Larkin!) learning to cook and explore food. We’ll have tips for cooking with kids and ideas on helping them try new foods.
You can also share links to your posts if you have a mini chef, so be sure to check it out at the end of this post!
Now back to the pancakes…
THREE INGREDIENT PROTEIN PANCAKES (GLUTEN FREE AND GRAIN FREE!)
Our family loves pancakes, but I’m always on the lookout for healthier versions. While our
fluffy whole wheat pancakes are delicious, sometimes I want an option that doesn’t contain any flour, because I forgot to grind some when I emptied the tub in the freezer.
This banana pancakes recipe is great because it’s not only dairy free, gluten free, and grain free (for those with dietary restrictions), but they’re surprisingly filling protein pancakes because of the eggs.
Corban giggled when I called them “Paleo Pancakes”,, although not all Paleos eat bananas, and decided that he would call them “Dinosaur Pancakes”.
Be forewarned, these are not going to taste exactly like pancakes made with flour. The texture is a little different (more crepe like) and they taste like bananas, which is the only sweetener. But they are so good, we didn’t even add syrup, and chose instead to top them with fresh kiwi and strawberries.
Ok, enough intro. Here’s Corban demonstrating how to make banana pancakes!
HOW TO MAKE BANANA PANCAKES
If you’ve never had your child cook with you before, these pancakes are a great place to start, especially for toddlers. We use a stand mixer and blender (because what kid doesn’t love power tools?), but you could simply mix them with a bowl and fork.
This first step is cracking the eggs into your bowl.
This is the egg cracking dance. Our cooking almost always involves dancing.
Because there are two eggs in this recipe, I helped Corban crack the first one, and then let him do the second on his own. We say, “hold it gentle and hit it hard”. So he holds it gently in his hand, but hits it pretty hard on the edge of the bowl. Then he carefully pulls the shell apart to let the yolk and white slide out.
Or he smushes it in his hand. He is two after all. But eggs are cheap and easy to clean up, especially if you have a dog.
Eggs in the bowl!
Now he slowly starts the mixer, turning it up a little at a time until it’s at the highest speed.
After a few minutes of mixing, they’re nice and frothy.
Next it’s time for the cinnamon. I like to teach kids to smell and taste ingredients before putting them into your food. One of Corban’s favorite afternoon activities is going through the kitchen cupboards and asking to taste things.
We’ve taught him he has to ask before tasting ingredients after a cayenne pepper incident.
In goes 1/2 a teaspoon of cinnamon.
The next step is banana smushing. Our bananas were just barely ripe, and needed a lot of squishing. Mushy bananas like you’d use for banana bread would be great for this recipe.
Look at that concentration! This is a great opportunity to praise your mini chef for how strong they are.
We mixed the banana into the eggs, but there will still some chunks because our bananas we so firm.
So we poured it into a blender and blended it on high until everything was liquefied. I’d always made these in the mixer with mushy bananas, but I think I will make them in the blender from now on. You can just blend the eggs first to froth them up, then blend in the cinnamon and bananas.
But the best part is that the blender makes a great pouring vessel for cooking the pancakes!
Pour the batter into a skillet on medium heat. I used a little coconut oil to grease the skillet, but you can use a non stick pan or a cooking spray as well.
Make sure to keep them small, no more than three inches in diameter, or they won’t flip very well.
Cook on the first side for 30 seconds to a minute, until you can just get a spatula under it to flip it.
The second side cooks faster, 10-30 seconds.
As you can see, Corban just watches during the cooking process. When he’s a little older I will let him use the stove with help, but right now it is safer for him to stand on a stool and watch from a distance.
We skipped the syrup, and topped these with some chopped strawberries and kiwi. Three pancakes was the perfect serving for our toddler, but Eric and I could easily eat all six ourselves, so you will want to increase this recipe if you’re making it for multiple people.
Notice that beautiful fork he has to eat with?
So unnecessary, pancakes are finger food!
Don’t forget the orange juice. Wow, he’s getting four different fruits with this breakfast!
Also, if you’re interested in food photography, come back tomorrow for a behind the scenes look at how I photographed these pancakes. We’ll look at the lighting and share some secrets for using silverware in photos.
THANKS FOR SUPPORTING EATING RICHLY
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3 Ingredient Banana Pancakes
Here's how to make banana pancakes with just eggs, bananas, and cinnamon. Such and easy gluten free, grain free, dairy free breakfast, and paleo too! Recipe from food.com.
Ingredients
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 very ripe medium banana
Instructions
- Mix the eggs until frothy, either on high speed with a mixer or blender, or by hand with a fork.
- Mix in the cinnamon.
- Mush the banana well and mix into the eggs.
- Heat a non stick skillet on medium high (you can use a little oil in the pan if you'd like).
- Pour the batter into pancakes, no bigger than 3 inches in diameter, and cook for about a minute on the first side and 30 seconds on the second.
Notes
Approximate cost/serving: This is SO cheap! It cost us about 70 cents. You make it even cheaper by using overripe bananas that are on sale. And make sure to get your cinnamon from the bulk spices, not the tiny jars.
Gluten free: Yep, and grain free and paleo too.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
6 ServingsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 252Saturated Fat: 3.13gCholesterol: 372mgSodium: 143mgCarbohydrates: 28gFiber: 3.1gSugar: 14.43gProtein: 13.69g
These look quick, healthy, and easy! Sign me up! And the color of your Kitchen Aid is perfect.
Thanks Melissa. The Kitchen Aid was a bridal shower gift from my mother in law so I think of her every time I use 🙂
This was my favorite thing to eat when I did the Whole30. They look even tastier with fruit on top.
They really are! Thanks for stopping by and commenting Reesa.
What a delicious recipe and your little one is adorable! Love all of the photos!
Thanks Linda! And thanks for stopping by and commenting.
My sons asks for French toast every single day. Going to try varying it up with these!
Oooh my son has never had French toast. We will have to try making that together soon!
Love the banana pancakes, and my goodness what a charming little cutie pie making them!
Aww thank you Stacey!
Such yummy looking pancakes! My 4 year-olds favorite thing to make is pancakes, which usually involves flour everywhere!
They’re such a great food for kids to cook. I always say a messy kitchen means you had fun cooking.
Three ingredients?! I have no excuse not to make them then! What a great way to start the day!
It really is Annie! Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting.
Love banana pancakes! Your pictures are beyond cute 🙂
Corban is such a cutie! (And the “dinosaur” pancakes look great too…)
This is so easy. I never tried pancakes like this. I bet they taste delicious, full of banana flavor. I’m definitely making this. Thanks!
These are SO easy it’s ridiculous! Love making a big batch and freezing them for later too.