Oat Flour Pancakes with Sunflower Seeds
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These easy and tasty 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!
Can anyone say “Breakfast for Dinner?” I think pancakes might be one of my favorite meals, and I always (for some reason) end up craving it in the evening – long after breakfast or brunch has passed. So a few nights ago, I decided to switch things up and make these oat flour pancakes and roasted potatoes for dinner.
I’d say they are more like oatmeal cakes vs. true pancakes – because they’re a lot more dense than regular pancakes because of the ingredient mix. That said, they had a nice, nutty, mild 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 “breakfast for dinner,” but it’s also a great recipe for brunch – especially for the long weekend. Everyone (husband and kids included!) was happy and satisfied after this meal.
These tasty oatmeal pancakes are really easy to make, and will be on your table in just a few simple steps!
Tools and Equipment You’ll Need
- 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
How to Make Oat Flour Pancakes – Step by Step
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: Pour batter into skillet misted with cooking spray to form four 4-inch pancakes.
Step 4: Cook 3 minutes, until golden brown on each side.
Step 5: Top with sliced banana and 2 tsp. chocolate chips (for 2 pancakes) – or top with any toppings of your choice!
What makes these Oatmeal Sunflower Pancakes healthy?
- High in Fiber: These pancakes are full of whole grains and are high in fiber. Oats are a gluten-free whole grain and a great source of important vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants.
- Plant Protein: Sunflower seeds are nutrient-dense food that are high in fiber and plant-protein
- 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!
Will Kids Enjoy these Oat Flour Pancakes?
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 to try on their pancakes, making it a fun and interactive meal!
How Do I Make Vegan Pancakes?
To make these pancakes vegan, you can substitute the low fat cottage cheese with a vegan substitution made from tofu. I found this easy Vegan Cottage Cheese recipe you can make at home, from It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken. You can make a batch in ten minutes!
For a vegan-friendly egg, use a flax egg in place of the eggs in this recipe.
How Do I Make Homemade Oat Flour?
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 flour-like consistency.
Top tips for making Oatmeal Sunflower Pancakes
- 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 rather than steel cut. You can also use quick oats if you don’t have rolled oats on hand.
- 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 preserved, or fresh berries!
Be sure to check out these other healthy pancake recipes!
- Healthy Oat and Sprouted Wheat Pancakes
- Apple Cinnamon Pancakes
- Banana Oatmeal Pancakes by Modern Honey
- Healthy Greek Yogurt Pancakes by Joy Food Sunshine
If you have tried this oat flour pancake recipe, 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!
Oat Flour Pancakes with Sunflower Seeds
Ingredients
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 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
Instructions
- In a food processor, combine rolled oats, low-fat cottage cheese, eggs and vanilla extract; blend until smooth.
- Stir in sunflower seeds. Pour batter into skillet misted with cooking spray to form four 4-inch pancakes; cook 3 minutes 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 rather than steel cut. You can also use quick oats if you don’t have rolled oats on hand.
- 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 preserved, or fresh berries!
How can I twist this recipe to become really spicy?
Hmmm I’m not really sure you want to make these particular pancakes spicy – they’re meant to be more sweet! But you could always omit the vanilla and the sweet toppings (banana, chocolate, etc.) and add some cayenne into the batter if you really wanted to!
I love how interestingly easy it is to make this recipe. Love it!
Thanks Jenn! Enjoy!
Pancakes are always the go to in my home for breakfast. Can’t wait to try this out.
Yesss! I’m sure you will love them!
This is a great and healthy pancake recipe!
Thank you so much Kara!!
Would pumpkin seeds work in this recipe? I have quite a good amount that I need to use. Many thanks.
Hi Beth! I think it should work! It will slightly change the flavor, but you can use pumpkin seeds in place of sunflower seeds in a 1:1 ratio 🙂 Thanks!
I love your material! I nominated you for the Sunshine Blogger Award! Check it out: https://whenfithitstheshan.com/2019/01/24/sunshine-blogger-award-nomination
Aw thank you! 🙂
I have a question — did you use raw or roasted sunflower seeds in your pancakes? We are addicted to the Oatmeal/Sunflower/Millet pancake and waffle mix from The Bunnery restaurant in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and I’m trying to duplicate that. I like the addition of cottage cheese to your recipe to boost the protein. Thanks so much!
I used raw sunflower seeds – since they get mixed into the batter you don’t need the additional flavor that comes from roasting them 🙂 Hope that helps! Let me know how they turn out!
You made great job, great idea, great post. Now i will try it!
Mmm I love roasted rosemary potatoes, I make those all the time! Your pancakes look delicious as well! 🙂
I love pancakes. I find it hard though to find the time in the morning, even on the weekends. I frequently have breakfast for dinner. It is quick and far cheaper than a meat and potatoes kind of meal. I am going to try your pancake recipes, I too am always on a search for making them a bit more healthy. Of course my addition of maple syrup doesn’t help much.
Interesting take on pancakes. I’ll have to try these next “pancake day” we have 😀