Protein Pancake Bowl (Printable)

Golden protein pancakes piled with Greek yogurt, berries, nuts, and honey for a hearty morning bowl.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Pancake Base

01 - 1 large egg
02 - 2 large egg whites (approximately 2 fluid ounces)
03 - 1/3 cup unsweetened almond milk or milk of choice
04 - 1/2 cup rolled oats (use gluten-free if needed)
05 - 1 scoop (1 ounce) vanilla or unflavored whey or plant-based protein powder
06 - 1 medium ripe banana (approximately 3.5 ounces), half for batter, half for topping
07 - 1 teaspoon baking powder
08 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
09 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
10 - 1 tablespoon Greek yogurt (optional, for moisture)
11 - Pinch of salt
12 - 1 to 2 teaspoons sweetener of choice (honey, maple syrup, stevia, or sugar)
13 - 1 teaspoon coconut oil or butter, for cooking

→ Toppings

14 - 1/2 cup Greek yogurt or skyr
15 - Remaining 1/2 banana, sliced
16 - 1/3 cup fresh berries (blueberries, strawberries, or raspberries)
17 - 1 tablespoon nut butter (peanut, almond, or cashew)
18 - 1 tablespoon chopped nuts or seeds (walnuts, almonds, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, or hemp hearts)
19 - 1 tablespoon granola
20 - 1 to 2 teaspoons honey or maple syrup, for drizzling
21 - Pinch of cinnamon or cocoa nibs (optional, for garnish)

# How-To:

01 - In a blender, combine the oats, protein powder, egg, egg whites, almond milk, half the banana, baking powder, cinnamon, vanilla, Greek yogurt if using, sweetener, and salt. Blend until completely smooth and creamy. The batter should be pourable but slightly thick. If too thick, add 1 to 2 tablespoons more milk; if too thin, add 1 to 2 tablespoons oats or extra protein powder.
02 - Heat a nonstick skillet or griddle over medium heat. Add coconut oil or butter and swirl to coat. When hot (a drop of water sizzles), reduce heat to medium-low.
03 - Pour all the batter into the skillet to form a large, thick pancake, or make 2 to 3 smaller ones. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes until the edges set and small bubbles appear. Carefully flip and cook another 2 to 3 minutes until the center is set and the pancake is golden brown. Lower heat if browning too quickly.
04 - Transfer pancake(s) to a wide bowl and cut into bite-size pieces if desired. Top with Greek yogurt or skyr, swirling in honey or maple syrup if preferred. Arrange banana slices and berries over the top. Sprinkle with nuts, seeds, and granola. Drizzle with nut butter (warm with a little water if needed to make pourable), and finish with extra honey, maple syrup, cinnamon, or cocoa nibs.
05 - Enjoy immediately while the pancake is warm and the toppings are cool and creamy. Mix everything together before eating for the perfect bite.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • You get the comfort of fluffy pancakes without feeling like you need a nap an hour later.
  • It works as breakfast or post-workout fuel, and every topping you pile on makes it more satisfying.
  • The batter comes together in one blender in under three minutes, and cleanup is almost as fast.
  • You can make it sweet, nutty, fruity, or chocolatey depending on what you're craving that day.
02 -
  • If your batter is too thick, the pancake will cook unevenly and stay gummy in the middle, so add milk one tablespoon at a time until it pours smoothly.
  • Cooking over heat that's too high will give you a burnt outside and raw center, so keep it medium-low and be patient.
  • Some protein powders are sweeter than others, so taste your batter before cooking and adjust the sweetener accordingly.
  • Blending the oats completely is key, any chunks will make the texture grainy instead of fluffy.
03 -
  • Warm your nut butter with a teaspoon of water or milk in the microwave for ten seconds so it drizzles instead of clumps.
  • If you want a thicker pancake that holds up like a cake, cook it low and slow in a smaller pan, it'll take longer but the texture is incredible.
  • Always taste your batter before cooking, it's the easiest way to catch undersweetened or under-seasoned batter before it's too late.
  • Layer your toppings in stages instead of dumping them all at once, it makes the bowl look beautiful and gives you different flavors in every bite.
Go Back