Fluffy Quinoa Banana Pancakes
These fluffy Quinoa Banana Pancakes are healthy enough that you can eat them for breakfast everyday! Gluten-free pancakes never tasted so good.
I'm a little bit obsessed with pancakes and would eat them every day if I could, but they: a) take time, and b) aren't typically the most nutritious of breakfasts.
My goal in developing this Quinoa Banana Pancake recipe was to overcome both of these obstacles. To make a pancake recipe that was super easy and super nutritious. A pancake that you could eat every day if you wanted to and feel good about serving to your family. Because really, if you could eat pancakes every day, wouldn't you?!
The base of these simple banana pancakes is gluten-free rolled oats and quinoa flakes, which are blended into a smooth batter that’s loaded with fiber and protein. And unlike a lot of other gluten-free pancake recipes made with banana, these banana pancakes are fluffy and light!
(PS – If you’re looking for light, fluffy, gluten-free protein pancakes, I’ve got you covered: Perfect Protein Pancakes.)
How to Make Pancakes in the Blender
When it comes to making blender pancakes, I think a high powered blender is key. I have a Vitamix and absolutely love it. It blends up these pancakes in about 30 seconds and yields the best texture.
If you don't have a Vitamix (or something similar), no worries at all. I recommend blending the wet ingredients first and then adding the dry ingredients. That way, you can be sure everything gets incorporated.
What You’ll Need
Scroll down to the recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
- Gluten-free rolled oats
- Quinoa flakes – Quinoa flakes add protein and fiber, and they also contribute to the light, fluffy texture of these pancakes.
- Baking powder
- Sea salt
- Banana – A ripe (or over-ripe) banana will add more sweetness and banana flavor. If you’re not a big banana fan, you can use a barely-ripe banana instead.
- Egg
- Unsweetened almond milk – Another unsweetened, unflavored milk can be used in place of almond milk.
- Pure vanilla extract
Are Quinoa and Quinoa Flakes the Same?
No, quinoa is a whole seed, while quinoa flakes are processed by flattening the seed, similar to how rolled oats are made. Learn more about quinoa flakes: 10 Amazing Ways to Use Quinoa Flakes
Are Oats Gluten-Free?
If you’re avoiding gluten for health reasons, be sure to buy gluten-free oats for this recipe. While oats are naturally gluten-free, they are often contaminated during transportation, storage, and processing. The only way to avoid this is to buy oats that are clearly designated as gluten-free.
How to Make Quinoa Banana Pancakes
Grab your blender because it’s pancake time! Here’s what you’ll need to do.
Blend the dry ingredients. Combine the oats, quinoa flakes, baking powder, and salt in the jar of a blender. Pulse until the mixture reaches a flour-like consistency.
Add the remaining ingredients. Blend the banana, egg, almond milk, and vanilla into the dry mixture.
Cook the pancakes. Set a griddle or skillet over medium-low heat. Add oil or butter, then pour the pancake batter into the pan. Cook the pancakes until bubbles form on the top, which should take 2 to 3 minutes. Flip and cook on the opposite side for a minute or two. Repeat with the remaining batter.
Serve. Transfer the cooked pancakes to plates and serve with fresh fruit, a drizzle of maple syrup, coconut cream, or anything else that strikes your fancy!
Tips for Success
These banana pancakes are easy to make, but these tips will help ensure they turn out perfect!
- No blender? No problem! You can use a food processor to make them instead. No food processor either? If you have a coffee grinder, you can grind the oats and quinoa flakes in batches, then stir them together with the wet ingredients in a bowl.
- Knowing when to flip. The tricky part about making pancakes is knowing precisely when to flip them. The edges of the pancakes will be set and if you peak underneath, you’ll see that they’re lightly browned; when bubbles form on the tops of the pancakes, they’ll pop and leave holes.
- Keeping pancakes warm. If you want to keep the pancakes warm while you’re cooking the rest of the batter, you can place them on a sheet pan in a 200ºF oven until you’re ready to serve them.
How to Store and Reheat
Store leftover quinoa banana pancakes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
These banana pancakes can be reheated in the microwave or toaster oven, warmed on the stovetop in a skillet, or baked in the oven at 350ºF for 10 minutes. If you’re using the oven method, set the pancakes on a sheet pan and cover it with foil to keep them from drying out.
Can This Recipe Be Frozen?
Yes, you can freeze these pancakes in an airtight storage container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. I like to reheat them in a toaster oven for 5 minutes, but any of the methods above will work. I keep a stockpile of pancakes in my freezer so anytime I'm craving them for breakfast but don't feel like making them, I just toast a few up.
Here's how I like to reheat my pancakes from frozen:
- Place frozen pancake(s) in the toaster oven
- Toast for about 5 minutes
- Layer with coconut yogurt, peanut butter, and sliced banana
BOOM. Breakfast ready in about 6 minutes!
More Pancake Recipes to Try:
- Gluten-Free Lemon Poppy Seed Pancakes
- Healthy Zucchini Chocolate Chip Pancakes
- Vegan Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Pancakes
- Banana Buckwheat Quinoa Pancakes
- Fluffy Vegan Blueberry Quinoa Pancakes
Fluffy Quinoa Banana Pancakes
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup gluten-free rolled oats
- 1/2 cup quinoa flakes
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- Pinch of sea salt
- 1 banana
- 1 large egg
- 1 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Add oats, quinoa flakes, baking powder and salt into a blender. Pulse a few times until it resembles a flour.
- Add banana, egg, almond milk and vanilla, and blend until smooth.
- Heat and grease a pan over medium-low heat. Pour pancake batter directly from the blender container onto the pan. Cook pancakes until bubbles start to form on the top, 2 – 3 minutes. Flip and cook for another 1 – 2 minutes. Repeat until no batter remains.
- Serve pancakes and drizzle maple syrup if desired.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
shop this post
share what you make
Tag #simplyquinoa on Instagram with your creations! We love sharing what you make with the community. We can’t wait to see!
My wife and I enjoyed your “Best Quinoa Pancakes” last week. I was so glad to find your recipes and a healthy flour to use for pancakes. I made the “Fluffy” Quinoa pancakes today. I used Quinoa flour instead of flakes and I’m guessing that is why they were not fluffy. (I still ate them) Do you have a recommendation for the amount of Quinoa flour to use instead of 1/2 cup of Quinoa Flakes? Thank you.
So glad you’ve been enjoying the recipes! I would say you should use about 1/2 the amount of quinoa flour 🙂
Hi! I love your recipies. I made your Banana pancakes this morning, added fresh blueberries while cooking and a little cinnamon to the batter. They are delicious! I love how crispy the edges get(I cooked in coconut oil). It would be helpful if you add how many total servings a recipe makes. Thanks for all you do🙂
Yum!! For my pancakes I always share the yield and then the calories are per pancake 🙂 I usually eat 2 – 3!
Just made these for kids and me, everyone loved them. Wish I had made more! Planning to make some for my friend who doesn’t eat oats or grains. Is there an alternative?
Oh yay! I’m so glad 🙂
[…] – SIMPLE BANANA PANCAKES: https://www.simplyquinoa.com/simple-banana-pancakes/ […]
[…] Simple Banana Quinoa Pancakes […]
This says to pulse in peanut butter. How much peanut butter?
Thank you!! That shouldn’t be included 🙂 Updating now!
These are by far the best pancakes ever! I just tried out this recipe this morning and the kiddos went nuts about them ???? I didn’t have buttermilk and I used the substitute version. It came out perfect! Thank you for your awesome recipe, as always.
Maggie
https://www.luxecalendar.com/
YAY! So great 🙂
I used quinoa flour, oatmeal flour and hazelnut flour. I added a some coconut flakes. They turned out just fine.
Sounds incredible!
What is a serving size (as listed under nutritional facts)?
Just updated it! Nutritional facts is for one pancake 🙂
Hi there, what could I substitute for the oats? Unfortunately I’m a Coeliac and can’t even tolerate the gluten free oats but these look amazing! Thanks
Hi Kate,
I realise I’m coming at this almost two years after you posted your question! , but I am an oat-intolerant coeliac like yourself and I always use buckwheat flakes as a substitute in recipes that call for oats and they seem to work fine. 🙂
Is there a good substitute for the bananas? My son, our resident pancake lover, is allergic to them.
I can’t speak for the author but I’ve used applesauce in place of banana and it works really well! Approx 1/2 cup.
these pancakes look delicious! I love the melty chocolate on top! YUMMMY
Oh my goodness – I can’t believe how high you were able to stack these gems!! Simply love the ingredients and can only imagine how awesome they taste.
These are beauties!
Can you make this mix up and leave it over night ready for breakfast?
I think these sound great, no egg for me, but I will try both with and without egg replacer!
I am very savoury, and I am going to look through and see what you have for vegan, no yeast etc.
I was thinking roast vegetables (leftover) and what would I do about the chocolate then? Garlic, chile? Turmeric and garam masala I enjoy globe trotting with my food.
Friends at xmas would love this at tea time with big fruit salad after their toasted sandwich or bowl of soup. We love porridge or muesli in the mornings you see. A doughnut or biscuits and gravy as I have seen seems so strange to us!
is it okay without the egg?
I haven’t tested, but I think you’ll need to use an egg substitute like flax or chia!
[…] I was trying to think of a recipe to celebrate this insane life event and I kept coming back to quinoa pancakes. […]
Can i sub anything for the egg and almond milk? can’t use soy either
I think you could try a flax egg, but I haven’t tried so can’t be sure if it will work. And you can substitute any milk of choice here! Try coconut, I think that would be delicious 🙂
these sound amazing. I am intolerant to oats….even gluten free. Do you recommend a particular substitute? Thanks
Wow! I can’t believe the amazing consistency of this batter! My granddaughter loved making them and eating them… for dinner!
That’s exactly what I thought the first time I made them. It’s pretty incredible, isn’t it?? I’m so happy you both enjoyed them – and luckily they’re healthy enough to eat for dinner…maybe just no dessert afterwards 😉
I adore pancakes and I must have tried dozens of different variations, but this one using oats and quinoa flakes is really original! I must give it a try soon.
What I love most about these is how easy they are to make. Seriously, just a few ingredients and they were the best pancakes I’ve ever made. In L-O-V-E!
I should not have read this post hungry. Lesson learned haha. You’ve done it again! These looks heavenly. I have such a long list of your recipes that I NEED to make once I’m off this grain-free diet!
Definitely one of my favorite pancake recipes yet. They are so simple and seriously delicious!