The BEST Banana Oat Pancakes

Ever thought to yourself that pancakes made with flour are getting boring and you want to switch things up? Probably not - but whether you’re looking for an alternative to regular pancakes or just wanna try something new, banana and egg pancakes are a great option. These healthy treats are packed with protein and potassium, and you can spruce them up with fun additions like oats, berries, chocolate chips, or anything else that comes to mind. Just smash up a banana, mix in egg and baking powder, add any extras, and mix it all together to make a fun and creative pancake mix that you can microwave in a mug to have a tasty oatmeal-like snack or fry it up on a pan like a typical pancake.

Pancakes are a great way to learn about baking powder, one of the most magical ingredients that you can find in most kitchens. They help fluff up batters, producing air when mixed in a liquid and making pockets of air bubbles in your food so that they’re soft and delicious, just like these banana and egg pancakes!

Materials

• Measuring cups and spoons

• Nonstick pan or microwave-safe plate

• Fork/whisk

• Spatula

Ingredients

• 1 ripe banana

• 4 tbsp (~¼ cup) rolled oats

• 1 egg

• 1 tsp baking powder

• Cooking spray, butter, or oil

• Pinch of salt

• Cinnamon or other flavorings (optional)

• Dark chocolate (optional)

• Fruit (optional)

Instructions

Stovetop directions

1. Peel the banana and put it into the bowl.

2. Smash the banana with the fork until there are no more chunks.

3. Add the oats to the bowl and mix until it is all evenly distributed.

4. Crack the egg and mix the egg white and yolk with the banana mixture. Add the baking powder and salt and mix to combine.

5. Spray the nonstick pan with a small amount of cooking spray, or add a small amount of butter or oil

6. Put the skillet on the stove and turn it on to medium-low heat.

7. Take ~¼ cup of batter and pour it on the skillet. The pancakes should be ~2 inches or 5 cm in diameter.

8. If using, add some dark chocolate chunks or other mix-ins onto each pancake

9. Wait for 1 minute or until the bottom of the pancake has solidified.

10. Flip the pancake and wait for 1 minute or until the pancake is golden brown. Place finished pancake on plate.

11. Repeat until there is no more batter left.

12. Turn off the stove and clean up!

13. OPTIONAL: Top pancakes with whatever you would like. Our recommendations: cinnamon, sliced banana, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, mango.

14. Enjoy!

Microwave directions

1. Follow the recipe up to step 4 to make the batter. Then, put the batter in a large, microwave-safe bowl or mug and microwave for 1 minute.

2. Check to see if the batter is completely cooked and no longer liquid. If not, return the mug to the microwave in 30-second intervals.

3. OPTIONAL: Top pancakes with whatever you would like. Our recommendations: cinnamon, sliced banana, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, mango.

4. Enjoy!

Fun Q&A!

Q: What makes pancakes fluffy?

A: Baking powder is a leavener, which means that it makes baked goods rise! In it is a powder that consists of a carbonate or bicarbonate (which is a type of base), an acid, and a filler. When bases and acids mix, they can have chemical reactions with each other!

To activate the reaction in baking powder, we mix the powder with some sort of liquid-y substance! Once the acid and bases start to react with each other, they release carbon dioxide gas, which makes little bubbles in batter or dough. These air pockets make our batter expand and rise and make our pancakes fluffier!