Oat Flour Pancakes Recipe (Gluten Free & Healthy!)
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These tasty and easy Oat Flour Pancakes are perfect for breakfast, brunch or dinner. This lightened up pancake recipe is full of healthy whole grains – the whole family will love them!
I think pancakes might be one of my favorite meals, and I typically end up craving them on the weekends when I have more time to cook. While I love traditional pancakes, I don’t love how they’re not exactly the healthiest for you – since they’re high in refined carbs and don’t keep you full for very long.
But these oat flour pancakes are packed with whole oats, lots of protein and are amazingly satisfying while also being good for you!
I’d say they are more like oatmeal cakes vs. true pancakes – they’re more dense than regular fluffy pancakes because of the ingredient mix. That said, they had a nice, mild, nutty flavor – the perfect base for creative toppings. We topped them with bananas, chocolate chips and maple syrup, but I also tried them with almond butter & honey (yum!) and peanut butter & blueberry preserves (double yum!).
This was the perfect weekend breakfast, but it would also be great for brunch or even as “breakfast for dinner!” My whole family was happy and satisfied after this meal.
These hearty, easy oatmeal pancakes are really easy to make, and will be on your table in just a few simple steps!
👩🏻🍳 Why You’ll Love These Oat Flour Pancakes
- Just 6 ingredients
- Packed with whole grains
- Super kid-friendly
- Easy to make
- Healthy
- Easy to customize
- Delicious!
🥘 Ingredients
You just need 6 simple ingredients to make these healthy pancakes! See exact amounts of each in the recipe card below.
- Rolled Oats or Oat Flour: You’ll need 1 cup of either old fashioned oats processed in the food processor to make your own oat flour, or oat flour from the grocery store. 1 cup of rolled oats will make approximately 1 cup of oat flour. You can also use instant oats if you don’t have rolled oats, but you can’t use steel cut oats for this recipe.
- Cottage Cheese and Eggs: Gives these oat flour pancakes a boost of protein and acts as a binder for this recipe. I haven’t tried this recipe with flax eggs, but I imagine it would work for an egg-free option.
- Vanilla Extract and a Pinch of salt: For extra flavor!
- Sunflower Seeds: For texture and protein.
- Optional Toppings: You can really add any of your favorite toppings to these healthy oatmeal pancakes! We used sliced ripe banana and 1 teaspoon of mini chocolate chips per pancake, with a drizzle of maple syrup over the top. But any fresh fruit would be great – fresh berries or stewed pears or peaches would be delicious.
🍽 Equipment
- Use a good food processor. I like this one from Hamilton Beach. It’s super affordable, easy to use, holds 12 cups, has a tons of attachments, and has staying power (I’ve had mine for a few years with no issues!)
- An electric griddle – 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
🔪 Instructions
It is super easy to make this oat flour pancakes recipe! It’s ready in just 4 simple steps!
Step 1: In a food processor, combine rolled oats, low-fat cottage cheese, eggs and vanilla extract; blend until smooth.
Step 2: Stir in sunflower seeds.
Step 3: Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Spray with cooking spray. Pour pancake batter onto the hot pan to form a 4-inch pancakes. (Repeat for 3 other pancakes – you should have enough batter for 4 pancakes).
Step 4: Cook 3 minutes, until golden brown on each side.
Serve! Top with sliced banana and 2 tsp. chocolate chips (for 2 pancakes) – or top with any toppings of your choice!
❓Recipe FAQs
1) High in Fiber: These pancakes use oat flour instead of regular flour or all purpose flour, making them higher in whole grains and fiber. While all purpose flour is a refined grain, whole grain oats are a complex carbohydrate and have numerous health benefits: they are high in B vitamins, iron, magnesium, zinc and fiber.
2) Plant Protein: Sunflower seeds are nutrient-dense food that are high in fiber and plant-protein
3) Low in Fat and Calories: By using low fat cottage cheese instead of milk or cream, you are reducing the fat content. One serving of Oatmeal Sunflower Pancakes (with chocolate chips!) comes in at around 250 calories, so you can enjoy them guilt free!
These oat flour pancakes have a nice consistency and sweet flavor that kids will love. Feel free to let your kids experiment with different toppings or favorite mix-ins to try on their pancakes, making it a fun and interactive meal!
Making oat flour at home is super easy! All you have to do is take rolled oats and grind them in a food processor blender until they have a powdery flour like consistency.
📖 Variations
Make Vegan Oat Flour Pancakes: You’ll have to alter this recipe pretty significantly to make it vegan, but it can be done! You will need: 1 cup of oat flour and 2 teaspoons of vanilla like the original recipe calls for. But then instead of the cottage cheese and eggs, you can use 1/2-2/3 tsp apple cider vinegar, 1.25 teaspoons of baking powder, 1/8 teaspoon of baking soda and 2/3 cup of unsweetened almond milk or another plant based milk.
Make Gluten Free Pancakes: As long as you are using gluten-free oats or oat flour, these pancakes will be gluten free!
Try More Flavors: A sprinkling of ground cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin pie spice or even cardamom would taste great with these pancakes.
🍴Serving Suggestions
There are so many ways to serve these pancakes! Here are our favorite toppings and ways to serve:
- Toppings: Sliced bananas or fresh berries, mini dark chocolate chips, pure maple syrup or a drizzle of honey, a dollop of your favorite nut butter, or fresh fruit preserves
- Dishes for Serving: Alongside a potato hash, with a healthy smoothie, or with a scramble on the side
💭 Expert Tips
- Use cooking spray to grease your pan, or wipe a paper towel dipped in oil around the pan for an even coating.
- I recommend using rolled oats, instant oats, or pre-made oat flour for this recipe.
- Store pancakes in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop until just warmed through.
- Serve with your favorite toppings!
🍲 More Healthy Breakfast Recipes!
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📋 Recipe
Oat Flour Pancakes with Sunflower Seeds
Ingredients
- 1 cup rolled oats or oat flour
- 4 Tbs low fat cottage cheese
- 2 eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 4 tsp sunflower seeds
- Toppings: Sliced banana & 1 tsp mini chocolate chips per pancake + 2 tsp real maple syrup
- ½ tsp baking powder optional, for a fluffier pancake
- ½ tsp baking soda optional, for a fluffier pancake
Instructions
- In a food processor, combine rolled oats, low-fat cottage cheese, eggs and vanilla extract; blend until smooth.
- Stir in sunflower seeds and baking powder/soda if using.
- Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Spray with cooking spray. Pour pancake batter onto the hot pan to form a 4-inch pancakes. (Repeat for 3 other pancakes – you should have enough batter for 4 pancakes).
- Cook 3 minutes until golden brown on each side.
- Top with sliced banana and 2 tsp. chocolate chips (for 2 pancakes) – or top with any toppings of your choice!
Notes
- Use cooking spray to grease your pan, or wipe a paper towel dipped in oil around the pan for an even coating.
- I recommend using rolled oats, instant oats, or pre-made oat flour for this recipe.
- Store pancakes in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop until just warmed through.
- To make these gluten-free, just make sure to get gluten free certified oats
- Serve these with sliced bananas, chocolate chips, maple syrup, honey, nut butters, fruit preserves, or fresh berries!
- Nutritional information includes 1 pancake, 1/2 a banana sliced, 2 teaspoons of chocolate chips and a drizzle of maple syrup!
I love these pancakes, They are very yummy 😋😋 Thank You!
Thank you so much Rios!