Healthy Pancakes Recipe with Oatmeal and Banana
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure.These healthy pancakes made with oats and sprouted wheat are light, fluffy, slightly sweet, and so good for you! The combination of the two whole grain flours helps keep you full much longer than white flour thanks to their fiber and protein. Kid-friendly and parent-approved!
My whole family loves pancakes, but itโs usually more of a treat than a regular item at our breakfast table.
Why?
Because traditional pancakes are usually packed with refined carbs, sugar, and arenโt really a healthy option for breakfast. Usually, if Iโm at a restaurant and I order pancakes for breakfast, Iโm hungry just a couple of hours after Iโve eaten thanks to that carb high and crash.
It happens to my kids too. Plus, starting the day with sugar leaves me craving sweet foods all day. Traditional pancakes just donโt set you up for success through the rest of your day.
That is why I decided to create this healthy pancake recipe that tastes just like traditional pancakes, so you wonโt even notice how good it is for you!
Added protein and fiber in these healthy pancakes also help prevent that carb crash. Instead of leaving you hungry a couple of hours later, these amazing pancakes are a great source of long-lasting energy. Enjoy them on their own, with maple syrup, or give it a fruity twist with this blueberry syrup and fresh fruit!
It’s one of those easy recipes that you’ll want to make again and again!
Latest Recipe Video!
Why This Recipe Works
- Super Healthy and Delicious
- Easy to Make
- Kid Friendly
- Easy to Customize
- Can be made Vegan or Gluten-Free
- Great for breakfast, brunch or even dinner!
How to Make The Best Healthy Pancakes
Equipment Needed
- An electric griddle โ I love this one from Presto, or a great pancake skillet like this one from Calphalon.
- A flexible pancake turner
- A good set of measuring cups & spoons
Ingredients and Notes
- Flour: Instead of traditional all purpose flour, we use a combination of oat flour and whole wheat flour to make these pancakes healthier while still keeping them light and fluffy. Instead of whole wheat flour, you can also use white whole wheat flour which is a little lighter and less dense. If you don’t have oat flour, you can actually make your own by just grinding up old fashioned oats in the food processor. Lastly, you can also use buckwheat flour or almond flour to replace half of the flour in this recipe – but it might make the pancake batter a bit more dense.
- Regular Milk: Low fat milk works best โ itโs a good balance of creaminess & healthy. You can use whole milk for a bit more decadence, or a plant-based milk (almond, soy, oat or coconut milk) to make these healthy oatmeal pancakes dairy free.
- Whole Eggs: You can use flax eggs (for an egg-free option) or regular eggs in this recipe!
- Baking Powder, Baking Soda: To help the pancakes rise.
- Olive Oil: Has healthy fats, a substitute for butter. You can also use melted coconut oil here!
- Honey, Salt and Vanilla Extract: A little bit of honey and vanilla provides flavor and a bit of sweetness! Instead of honey you can also use pure maple syrup or coconut sugar.
Step by Step Instructions
Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
Mix Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, combine the milk, honey, vanilla, eggs and oil, mix until smooth.
Combine Wet + Dry: Fold the wet ingredients into the flour mixture until combined.
Start Making Pancakes! Spray a hot griddle or non stick pan with olive oil cooking spray. Heat over medium-low heat. Pour or scoop 1/4 cup of the batter onto the griddle, (1/4 cup for each pancake) and cook until bubbly on top and golden on the bottom, about 4 minutes.
Cook and Serve: Flip and cook until golden on the bottom, about 2 more minutes. Serve hot.
Recipe FAQs
Absolutely! These fluffy pancakes are much healthier than regular pancakes made from all-purpose (refined) flour. Here’s why they are one of the best healthy pancake recipes out there:
High in Fiber: The combination of oat flour and sprouted wheat flour in these healthy pancakes provides you with whole grains, which are higher in fiber and protein than refined grains. One pancake has 3 grams of fiber.
Low in Added Sugar: While most pancake recipes might have added sugar added to make them sweet, this recipe calls for only 1 tablespoon of honey for the entire recipe! Each pancake has only 4 grams of sugar, but still has a mild sweet flavor.
With only 140 calories, 3 grams of fiber and 5 grams of protein per pancake, this is a breakfast you can feel great about eating!
My healthy pancakes are mild in flavor, fluffy, lightly sweet and can be topped with just about anything, which makes them super kid-friendly. My kids are always really excited when they know weโre having these sprouted wheat and oat pancakes for breakfast!
You can totally make a batch of pancakes ahead of time, and just keep them warm by just placing them in the oven on low heat. I recommend heating the oven to 150-200 degrees F, adding the pancakes to a baking sheet and placing them in the oven until they are ready to serve.
How to Store and Keep
Let the pancakes cool, then transfer them to an airtight container. They will keep in the fridge for up to 4 days. To reheat, warm in the microwave or on a skillet on low heat on the stovetop until warmed through.
Serving Suggestions
These delicious pancakes can be topped with just about anything! Here are some of my favorite toppings:
- Fresh fruit: Berries (blueberries/strawberries/raspberries), banana, apples and pears all work well. You can even stew the fruit (simmer on medium heat with a couple of tbsp water in a small pot until they are soft and the sugars have caramelized โ about 5-10 min) and serve it like a compote on top of these whole-wheat flour pancakes!
- Nuts: Whole nuts add great texture to these healthy pancakes (pecans, almonds, cashews and walnuts all work well)
- Nut Butters: Try topping these pancakes with a spoonful of peanut butter or almond butter!
- Spices: Try a dusting of ground cinnamon, nutmeg or even pumpkin pie spice on top.
- Chocolate Chips: To make these into more of a special treat, try dark chocolate chips on top!
- Syrups: Maple syrup, honey, or agave would all taste great drizzled on these pancakes.
Variations
Gluten Free Pancakes: These healthy pancakes are really easy to make gluten-free. I recommend replacing the sprouted wheat flour with gluten-free flour and replacing the oat flour with gluten-free oat flour. If you canโt find gluten-free oat flour, just take certified gluten-free oats and grind them up in the food processor until they are a fine powder.
Vegan Pancakes: You can make my healthy pancakes vegan by using flax eggs instead of regular eggs! To make a flax egg, add 1 tbsp ground flaxseed to 2.5 tbsp water in a small bowl, let sit for 5 minutes and then add to your recipe like you would a regular egg. You can use flax eggs as a 1:1 replacement for regular eggs.
Banana Oat Pancakes: Instead of a combination of flours, use 1.25 cups of oat flour and 1/4 cup rolled oats. You can add some mashed banana into the batter (about 2-3 tablespoons) and then top with some sliced bananas as well!
Protein Pancakes: Add 1 scoop of your favorite protein powder to the batter to increase the protein!
Sweeter Pancakes: If youโre looking for a sweeter version of these sprouted wheat pancakes thatโs still healthy, thereโs a simple solution. Add a little unsweetened applesauce or mashed ripe bananas. Youโll get a little more batter from the recipe and the added fruit adds some sweetness without changing the texture of the pancakes too much.
Expert Tips For Making Healthy Pancakes
- To reduce the number of lumps in your batter, first mix your dry ingredients and wet ingredients separately. Then, make a well in the dry ingredients, pour in the wet ingredients, and stir a few times.
- For best results, be sure not to overmix your batter. This will result in flat pancakes!
- Let the batter sit for about 10-15 minutes while you heat your griddle or skillet.
- Use a cookie scoop or pancake dispenser, to measure out the portions.
- Flip the pancakes only when the edges look a little dry and you see bubbles on top. Your healthy pancakes are ready when both sides are golden brown!
More Healthy Recipes for Breakfast!
- Peach Banana Smoothie
- Oat Flour Pancakes
- Sourdough Croissants
- Dairy-Free Almond Milk Pancakes
- Nutella Waffles
- Blueberry Banana Blast Smoothie
- Vegan French Toast Casserole
- Vegetarian Breakfast Ideas
- Healthy Banana Bread
If you have tried these healthy pancakes, or any other recipe on my blog, then please rate it and let me know how it turned out in the comments below! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST to see more delicious, healthy, family friendly food!
๐ฅ Watch How to Make It
Healthy Pancakes with Oats and Sprouted Wheat
Ingredients
- ยพ cup oat flour
- ยพ cup sprouted wheat flour
- 1 tbsp honey
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ยฝ tsp baking soda
- ยฝ tsp salt
- 1ยผ – 1ยฝ cups of 1% milk
- 2 flax eggs or 2 regular eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- In another bowl, combine the milk, honey, vanilla, eggs and oil, mix until smooth.
- Fold the wet ingredients into the flour mixture until combined.
- Spray a griddle or skillet with olive oil cooking spray.
- Heat over medium low heat.
- Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using about 1/4 cup for each pancake and cook until bubbly on top and golden on the bottom, about 4 minutes.
- Flip and cook until golden on the bottom, about 2 more minutes. Serve hot.
Notes
- To reduce the amount of lumps in your batter, first mix your dry ingredients and wet ingredients separately. Then, make a well in the dry ingredients, pour in the wet ingredients, and stir a few times. Be gentle – overmixing will result in flat pancakes!
- Let the batter sit for about 10-15 minutes while you heat your griddle or skillet.
- Use a cookie scoop or pancake dispenser, to measure out the portions.
- Flip the pancakes only when the edges look a little dry and you see bubbles on top. They are ready when both sides are golden brown!
I can definitely eat this all day! It must be lovely to put some honey and butter to it. One of my favorites.
Yess!! Those make great toppings for these pancakes! So glad you liked this recipe!
I would actually prefer this. I find wheat really healthy and well suggested by nutritionists. Looks like a great pancake!
Thank you so much Ruth! Can’t wait to hear how it turns out!
Iโm a sucker for pancakes or waffles but Iโve noticed Iโm hungry a few hours later. Iโm going to have to give these a try bc our family loves pancakes and with different flours available I might as well make them healthier.
Exactly! That was my issue with traditional pancakes too — they don’t keep you full for very long! These are different, much more filling and satisfying but still super delicious!
These pancakes look delicious! Thank you for sharing this healthy recipe. I’ll be making these soon.
Thank you so much Denay!! Enjoy!
This looks so good. I am tired of making the same ole same ole pancakes so it’s time to switch it up.
Totally! This is a fun and easy way to switch things up – can’t wait for you to make them!
My youngest son loves pancakes. He would have them for breakfast every day if he could. I’ll definitely have to give this recipe a try.
Haha that’s how my kids are too! I’m sure your son will love these pancakes!
I’m a pancake lover and wouldn’t feel bad at all about eating your delicious-looking pancakes. They look so tasty!
Haha thank you Alli!! ๐
Thank you so much for this recipe we would pacakes but I struggle to find healthy ways to serve it.
That’s exactly why I never used to make pancakes before I realized I could actually make a healthier version that tastes just as good! Can’t wait for you to make this at home!
I will have to give these a try and see if the kids will eat them. They look tasty, so I imagine they would!
Yes!! You’ll have to let me know what they say! ๐
I always love trying healthier alternatives for my family. Looking forward to trying this recipe.
Thank you so much Tasheena!
I love the sound of these pancakes and I’m always looking for a much healthier version of any breakfast item. Thanks for sharing.
Anytime!! Hope you enjoy this recipe Tammy!
This looks great as is but I really miss the injera I had while in Eritrea. Would this work with millet flour or teff? If so, what would the texture be like. Most Eritreans I know use white flour and it’s just too soft.
Thanks!
Hi Frank! Honestly I’m not sure because I’ve never tried it! I’d assume it would work but the texture might be more dense. You might want to try combining millet or teff flour with some of the other flours in this recipe and seeing how that turns out first, and then slowly increasing the amount of millet/teff flour and decreasing the sprouted flour I use in this recipe until you get the perfect balance! Hope that helps, let me know if you have any other questions!
I used whole milk instead and substituted ghee for the oil. Turned out delicious! Thanks for the recipe.
Awesome!! So happy to hear that and love those substitutions! ๐
My family very much enjoys this recipe. I follow this recipe as written except I use Avocado Oil instead of canola or olive oil and use 2 flax eggs and I use coconut milk. I am trying to do more traditional cooking and baking and had purchased the sprouted wheat flour and so glad I found this recipe. I also use Arrowhead Mills for both flours. Thank you for creating this recipe! Do you have other recipes using sprouted flours?
That’s so great Christina!! I love your modifications too! I don’t have a ton of other recipes using sprouted flours, although I usually just recommend substituting sprouted flour for regular flour in a 1:1 ratio in any baking recipe!
I use Organic plain Westsoy milk or Pacific Oat Milk. I may start making my own Almond milk. Would any of these work? I agree with you. I don’t like the feeling of eating a type of dessert for breakfast but I like the idea of healthy tasty pancakes.
Frances
Hi Frances! I’d use either the homemade almond milk or the organic plain unsweetened westsoy milk. Either of those should work. The Pacific Oat Milk has way too much added sugar so I’d avoid that. Hope that helps and I hope you love these pancakes! ๐
Thanks Anjali! It is very difficult to find a good healthy recipe for pancakes and this one does that beautifully! I did have one question. Do you grind your own oat flour or do you buy it from a store? If you do buy it from a store then which type do you buy/would you recommend?
Hi Jordan! I bought ours from the store – but you can make your own too – it’s super easy! If you do decide to buy from the store I like Arrowhead Mills Organic Oat Flour. I’m sure you will love these pancakes!
Thanks Anjali!
Anytime! ๐