Oat Flour Pancakes
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure.These oat flour pancakes are one of my favorite breakfasts. I blend oats, cottage cheese, and eggs into a batter that cooks up into tender, fluffy rounds with a hearty texture. They come together in just 45 minutes, have a slightly nutty flavor, and use wholesome ingredients guaranteed to keep you sustained.
I like making oat flour pancakes for breakfast as they are a smart option for when I want something filling without refined flour. I use wholegrain oats for added fiber and a low glycemic index. And if you do not mind refined flour but prefer a breakfast stack without dairy and refined sugar, try my oat milk pancakes.
I first started making these on busy weekends that were filled with school sports, marathon training, and general parental duties. My family needed a breakfast that gave them sustenance without compromising on the sweet treat aspect of weekend breakfasts, which my kids have come to look forward to. If it were a normal, slow Saturday, I would have made chocolate chip baked oats. I needed something quick and easy that my picky eaters would actually enjoy, and these pancakes were the answer to my prayers.
👩🏽🍳 Why I Love This Recipe
As a nutritionist and a mom of growing kids, I admire pancakes that taste comforting while offering real nourishment. A warm stack of these oat flour pancakes checks all the boxes. I use oats for fiber and whole grain goodness, while the cottage cheese and eggs add protein that keeps hunger at bay for longer.
The technique is simple and designed for busy mornings. I blend the batter ingredients until smooth, so the oats soften into a flour-like texture, then I fold in the seeds and leavening at the end for a better rise. After the batter has rested, I pour portions into a greased and heated pan and cook each side for 3 minutes. This gives me that smooth outer layer while the inside becomes light and fluffy.
Oat flour pancakes are ideal for families with different tastes. Usually, I stack everyone’s plate, pour over some maple syrup, and call it a day, but I realized quickly how tedious this may become. After asking what everyone wanted on their pancakes, I got 3 very different answers. That is when I decided that busy Saturday mornings would be build your own pancake day. I set out bowls of fresh fruit and a variety of toppings that please everyone and make the start of the day much easier. Try these pancakes this weekend, and let me know which toppings you enjoy the most.
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🥘 Ingredients
I use a short list of practical ingredients here, and each one helps create a better texture and flavor. This is everything I need to make oat flour pancakes:
Rolled oats or oat flour: I blend rolled oats into flour or use store-bought oat flour for convenience.
Cottage cheese: This adds moisture, tenderness, and extra protein.
Eggs: These bind the batter and help the pancake lift as they cook.
Vanilla extract: I add vanilla for warmth and a classic pancake flavor.
Salt: A small pinch sharpens all the flavors.
Sunflower seeds: I fold these in for texture and a subtle nutty bite.
Baking powder: This helps the pancakes rise and gives them a light, fluffy texture.
🔪 How To Make
All I need is a blender and a skillet to make these oat flour pancakes. This is how I do it:
Blend base: To start, I add the oats or oat flour, cottage cheese, eggs, vanilla, and salt to a blender or food processor, then blend until smooth.
Finish batter: Then I pour the batter into a bowl and fold in sunflower seeds and baking powder. I let the mixture rest for 10 minutes and give the oats a chance to absorb moisture.
Cook: Next, I heat a non-stick pan over medium heat and lightly grease the base. I scoop batter and pour rounds into the pan, and cook for 3 minutes until bubbles appear and the bottoms turn golden.
Flip: Then I flip and cook the other side for another 3 minutes.
Serve: I serve the pancakes warm with toppings of my choice.
💭 Expert Tips
My #1 Secret Tip for this oatflour pancake recipe is to let the batter rest before frying. I never skip this step. Oats need a little more time to absorb the liquid and swell up slightly. This is how I get smoother batter and softer pancakes.
Other Tips To Keep In Mind:
- Medium heat: Keeping the pan at a medium heat ensures the centers cook through before the outer parts darken.
- Grease lightly: Too much oil can fry the edges or soak into the batter, leading to oily and slightly stodgy pancakes. I make sure to use a thin coating in the pan, or a misting of nonstick cooking spray.
- Small size: Medium-sized pancakes are the best for this recipe, and the thicker batter flips more easily than if they were cooked in smaller, thinner rounds.
- Blend well: If using whole oats, I blend first without other ingredients, until no coarse flakes remain.
- Keep warm: I placed cooked pancakes on a tray in a low oven while finishing up the batch. This way, everyone gets a stack warm enough to help toppings like butter or syrup melt into it.
📖 Variations
I love that this oat flour pancake recipe can serve as a neutral base for more exciting flavors and variations. These are 3 of my favorites:
Berry fold: I add 1/2 cup of blueberries to the batter right before cooking. My kids love the fruity bursts, and usually enjoy it as is or with a drizzle of my vegan honey.
Spiced oats: For a batch with a chai flavor, I mix in 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, and a pinch of green cardamom powder. I love having this version with a strong cup of black coffee.
Pumpkin mix: If it’s fall, you better believe I am adding 1/4 cup pumpkin puree and 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin spice to these pancakes. This is my husband’s favorite version,n and he likes topping it with some apple curd.
🍽 Serving Suggestions
I recommend trying out these oat flour pancakes this weekend and enjoying them in a leisurely fashion. If this is your first time making them, your induction should include a good drizzle of my vegan caramel sauce, some fresh slices of strawberries, and a warm mug of my oatmilk honey latte. Take your time with the first few batches before you start adding them to your busy morning breakfast menu.
And if you want something other than the caramel flavors, you could follow my kids’ lead. Last week, they topped their pancakes with as few piped rosettes of my vegan whipped cream, some strawberry simple syrup, and a scattering of strawberry crunch topping. I made sure to undercut all that sweetness with a nutritious broccoli smoothie with banana and mango.
🧊 Storing And ♨️ Reheating
Refrigeration: I cool leftover pancakes, then store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Freezing: I freeze cooked pancakes with a layer of parchment between each round, in a sealed container for up to 3 months.
Reheating: I warm the pancakes in a toaster, skillet, or oven until hot throughout.
❓Recipe FAQs
What type of oats work best for oat flour pancakes?
I get the best texture from old-fashioned rolled oats since they blend into a fine flour and give the pancakes a hearty but tender crumb. Quick oats also work well and break down even faster, which is great if your blender is not super powerful. I do not recommend steel-cut oats since they stay too coarse and can make the batter gritty.
How should the batter look for oat flour pancakes?
The ideal consistency for this batter is thicker than crepe batter but not looser than muffin batter. I look for a smooth mixture that pours slowly from a spoon and spreads gently once it hits the pan. If it sits in a stiff mound, add a tablespoon of milk at a time to loosen it up. And if it runs like water, I let it rest longer or stir in a spoonful of oat flour.
What can I use instead of cottage cheese?
I like using a thick dairy-free yogurt or Greek yogurt. The batter may need a splash more liquid depending on the thickness. I check the consistency after blending and adjust until it pours slowly from a spoon.
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🎥 Watch How to Make It
Oat Flour Pancakes
These oat flour pancakes are one of my favorite breakfasts. I blend oats, cottage cheese, and eggs into a batter that cooks up into tender, fluffy rounds with a hearty texture. They come together in just 45 minutes, have a slightly nutty flavor, and use wholesome ingredients guaranteed to keep you sustained.
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 154kcal
Ingredients
- 1 cup rolled oats or oat flour
- 4 tbsp low fat cottage cheese
- 2 eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 4 tsp sunflower seeds
- 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. Let the batter rest for 10 minutes before making your pancakes.
- 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
My #1 Secret Tip for this oatflour pancake recipe is to let the batter rest before frying. I never skip this step. Oats need a little more time to absorb the liquid and swell up slightly. This is how I get smoother batter and softer pancakes.
Other Tips To Keep In Mind:
- Medium heat: Keeping the pan at a medium heat ensures the centers cook through before the outer parts darken.
- Grease lightly: Too much oil can fry the edges or soak into the batter, leading to oily and slightly stodgy pancakes. I make sure to use a thin coating in the pan, or a misting of nonstick cooking spray.
- Small size: Medium-sized pancakes are the best for this recipe, and the thicker batter flips more easily than if they were cooked in smaller, thinner rounds.
- Blend well: If using whole oats, I blend first without other ingredients, until no coarse flakes remain.
- Keep warm: I placed cooked pancakes on a tray in a low oven while finishing up the batch. This way, everyone gets a stack warm enough to help toppings like butter or syrup melt into it.
Nutrition
Serving: 1pancake | Calories: 154kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 82mg | Sodium: 231mg | Potassium: 202mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g
Wow! That is a detailed recipe! Thank you for serving suggestions and for the tips on how to make this recipe better!
Thanks Alex! Can’t wait for you to try this recipe!
Yummy! These pancakes look so yummy and very delicious! My kids are going to love these for breakfast in the morning!
They are a perfect breakfast for kids!! Enjoy!
Wow! Very interesting. I haven’t tried this kind of pancake before but just by looking at the images, it makes me want it so bad!
I’m sure you will love this recipe Claire!
Loved these pancakes! Made them with some blueberries and they turned out perfect
Aw yay! I’m so happy to hear that Emily!
Oh my goodness these look good! I can’t wait to try these! I’m sure my kiddos will love them!
Thanks so much!! These are super kid friendly for sure!
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 😀