Healthy Banana Pancakes

These healthy banana pancakes are perfectly thick and fluffy and come together in minutes! Made with oats and naturally sweetened, these are naturally vegan and gluten free.

Table of Contents

1. Why you’ll love this healthy banana pancakes recipe
2. Ingredients needed
3. How to make healthy banana pancakes
4. Flavor variations
5. Storage instructions
6. Recipe tips and tricks
7. More pancake recipes to try
8. Frequently asked questions
9. Healthy Banana Pancakes (Recipe Card)

Why you’ll love this healthy banana pancakes recipe

I have already shared some delicious healthy pancake recipes, including cinnamon roll and zucchini pancakes. This time around, I got inspired by my favorite banana smoothie and came up with these flourless banana pancakes that don’t contain flour, dairy, eggs, or added sugar. 

• No flour and eggs. Like in banana protein pancakes or protein pancakes, this recipe uses oats as a flour substitute and bananas as a binding agent. Made with dairy-free milk and no flour, these pancakes are great for vegan and gluten-free diets. 
• Perfectly fluffy. Despite being made with no eggs, these banana pancakes turn out thick and fluffy. The secret is using a combination of apple cider vinegar and baking powder. 
• Freezer-friendly. If you enjoy having pancakes for breakfast, double or triple this recipe and freeze part of the pancakes for later. 
• Guilt-free. Like healthy oatmeal pancakes, these make a filling and wholesome breakfast idea.

Ingredients needed

You don’t need any special ingredients to make these flourless pancakes. You most likely already have all ingredients at home. 

• Bananas. For this recipe, I recommend you avoid using overripe bananas. Overripe bananas result in a thinner batter which is not what we are aiming for in this recipe. 
• Rolled oats. Thanks to their coarser texture, rolled oats work better for this pancake batter. Check the packaging to make sure the oats are gluten-free. 
• Milk. Use any milk you like. To keep these pancakes vegan, I opted for almond milk.
• Baking powder. It helps the pancakes rise. 
• Apple cider vinegar. Baking powder reacts with the vinegar and provides a better rise for the pancakes. 
• Sweetener. Use a tablespoon of your favorite sticky sweetener. We only use a small amount as the pancakes are sweetened with bananas. Maple syrup, honey agave, or even honey are all fantastic options.
• Vanilla extract. To deepen the flavor of the pancakes. 

How to make healthy banana pancakes

Just like any other pancake recipe, these flourless pancakes are very easy to make. Here’s how you make them in just two simple steps. 

Step 1 – Combine all ingredients

Add all ingredients to a blender. Blend until a smooth mixture remains. Allow the batter to sit for 5 to 10 minutes. In the meantime, preheat a non-stick pan over medium-high heat. 

Step 2 – Cook the pancakes

Once the pan is hot and the batter has thickened, pour ¼ cup of batter into the pan and cook for 1-2 minutes per side. Repeat until all batter is used up. 

Serve these healthy pancakes with the toppings of your choice. 

Flavor variations

You can change up the flavor of these pancakes while keeping them healthy and sugar-free. Here are a few flavor variations ideas. 

• Fold dark chocolate chips into the pancake batter once you have blended it. 
• Add cinnamon to these banana pancakes to highlight the winning combination of this warm spice and bananas. 
• Add a few tablespoons of cocoa powder to make chocolate banana pancakes (a cross between chocolate and chocolate chip pancakes!). As the cocoa powder has thickening properties, you’ll need to use less oats. 

Storage instructions

To store. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. 

To freeze. Freeze these pancakes for up to 6 months. Store the pancakes in an airtight container or bag to prevent them from freezer burn. Put layers of parchment paper in between the pancakes so that they don’t stick to each other. 

To reheat. Warm up these pancakes in the microwave or on the stove over medium heat. 

Recipe tips and tricks

• If you don’t have apple cider vinegar at hand, substitute it with lemon juice. While vinegar provides better results, lemon juice is better than nothing. 
• Let the batter sit for around 10 minutes before you start cooking the pancakes. The batter will thicken as the oats soak up more liquid. 
• Don’t be afraid of the thickness of the batter. A thick batter doesn’t spread too much in the pan, resulting in fluffier pancakes. 
• If overripe bananas were all you had and you have ended up with a thinner batter, just add more oats until you reach the desired thickness. 
• Make sure the pan is properly heated. This is another key step that prevents the pancakes from spreading too much. 

More pancake recipes to try

• Almond flour pancakes
• Chocolate chip pancakes
• Coconut flour pancakes
• Oat flour pancakes
• Chocolate pancakes
• Sweet potato pancakes
• Cottage cheese pancakes

Frequently asked questions