Low Calorie Pancakes

These low calorie pancakes are thick and fluffy, and clock in at under 150 calories per serving! Low fat but full of flavor, they are perfect to load with your favorite toppings! 

Low Calorie Pancakes

When it comes to low calorie recipes, my favorites to make are candy, cookies, and these low calorie pancakes. 

If you’ve ever had breakfast with me, you’ll notice that when I eat pancakes, I LOAD on the toppings. Usually, most people would add some maple syrup, some berries, and sometimes some yogurt. Me, on the other hand, would add all of those toppings, plus more. I’ve been known to add ice cream, cereal, and even crumbled banana bread!

Seeing as I’m someone who loves the toppings, I try to keep my pancakes as healthy as possible and keep the calories to a minimum. I use a combination of wholesome ingredients and low fat swaps, that yield the most perfect pancakes that are less than 150 calories per serving! 

I’ve been meaning to share a low calorie pancake recipe for quite some time. They are perfect for a topping monster like me, and they turn out perfect every time! They may be low cal, but that doesn’t detract from them whatsoever! The texture is thick, fluffy, and slightly cakey. They are pleasantly sweet and with a subtle banana flavor, without being overpowering!

I recently did a heavy weights session with a friend and we had a batch of these pancakes for a post-workout meal and he could NOT believe they were low calorie- He would totally add them to his meal prep rotation!

How do you make low calorie pancakes?

The Ingredients

• Whole wheat flour– I used white whole wheat flour, but standard whole wheat flour can also be used. If you’d like these pancakes to be gluten free, use gluten free all purpose flour that has added xanthan gum. 
• Baking powder– Gives some rise and extra fluffiness to the pancakes. 
• Salt– Just a pinch to balance out the sweetness. 
• Granulated sweetener of choice– Optional, but only add this if you prefer sweeter pancakes. I find the banana provides plenty of sweetness, and I always add maple syrup once they have been cooked.
• Banana– Overripe bananas, so they mash well and are extra sweet!
• Egg whites– Reduces the calories significantly AND adds extra protein. Fresh egg whites are best, but feel free to use the ones from a carton too.
• Vanilla extract– Adds some lovely vanilla flavor. 
• Milk OR water– Either works just to mix the batter. 

The Instructions

Start by adding the dry ingredients into a mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together the banana and the wet ingredients until smooth. Combine the wet and dry ingredients until a smooth batter remains. 

Now, grease a non-stick pan and place it over medium heat. Once hot, reduce to low heat. Pour scant 1/4 cup portions of the pancake batter onto the pan and cover. Cook the pancakes for 3-4 minutes, before flipping and cooking for a further 3 minutes. Repeat the process until all the batter has been used up. 

Tips to make the best low calorie banana pancakes

• Be sure that the banana is mashed very well, to ensure there are no clumps. If desired, blend it until it becomes a pureed texture.
• Covering the pan when cooking the pancakes helps them puff up and cook evenly, helping them become extra fluffy. 
• Feel free to fold through some chocolate chips, berries, or peanut butter into the batter. These will alter the calorie content slightly. 

Storing and freezing low calorie protein pancakes

• To store: Low cal pancakes should be stored in the refrigerator, covered. They will keep well for up to 1 week. 
• To freeze: Place leftover pancakes in single serving ziplock bags and store them in the freezer for up to 2 months. 
• Reheating: Either microwave the pancakes for 30-45 seconds or reheat in a non-stick pan until warm. 

More low calorie recipes to try

• Peanut butter
• Cereal
• Chocolate cake
• Mug cake
• Cheesecake
• Low calorie banana bread