You guys, it’s National Pancake Day today (aka Shrove Tuesday or the day before Lent starts). So, if there was ever the perfect time to tuck into the delicious, carby breakfast food, it’s today. But let’s be honest, some of us (me) don’t really need an excuse. I’m not ashamed to admit that if I could eat pancakes for breakfast every day, I would. And I’m not just talking about any old pancakes either. I’m talking a thick stack of banana ricotta hotcakes, drizzled with caramel syrup and served with vanilla ice-cream. If you’ve ever had the joy of trying the famous hotcakes at Bills Australia, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. That said, I’m also partial to Nutella-filled crepes, jam-covered pikelets and savoury Japanese pancakes. Basically, if it’s flat, made of carbs and covered in delicious toppings, I’m down.
Unfortunately, it would appear that the visible ab definition I’ve been chasing for a while does not go hand in hand with eating indulgent pancakes everyday. I know, I was shocked too! But what’s a girl to do? Eat egg whites with spinach for breakfast every morning? I think not. Luckily, there are plenty of easy, healthy alternatives you can make at home for your daily pancake fix.
Here are some of our faves:
Chocolate Banana Oat Pancakes
These chocolate pancakes from Simply Delicious may look indulgent, but they’re as healthy as can be! Whether you pair them with maple syrup or berries (or both!) you can’t go wrong with this guilt-free recipe.
Recipe here.
Strawberry Quinoa Pancakes
Quinoa isn’t just for salads or stir-frys anymore! We love the fact that Recipe Runner has incorporated the ancient grain into this delicious pancake recipe. We can see this one being perfect for summer picnics (if you can make it to the park without eating it all yourself)!
Recipe here.
Blueberry Almond Pancakes
If you love your pancakes extra fluffy, this recipe is for you! Sweet Peas and Saffrons’ blueberry and almond pancakes includes greek yoghurt, making them a delicious way to get your daily dose of dairy.
Recipe here.
Pumpkin Oatmeal Pancakes
It’s a well-known fact that the US goes nuts for all things pumpkin spice at this time of year. But there’s no reason we should miss out on all the fun just because we live in the Southern hemisphere! This pumpkin oatmeal pancakes recipe from Meaningful Eats is the perfect combination of sweet, savoury and spicy!
Recipe here.
Lemon Poppyseed Pancakes
This recipe from The Healthy Maven is for anyone who likes their pancakes on the zesty side. We’re obsessed with how thick these pancakes are, while still being super wholesome.
Recipe here.
Skinny Oreo Pancakes
Who says Oreos can’t be healthy? It’s Cheat Day Every Day is an absolute genius at coming up with conscious alternatives for indulgent meals and these incredible pancakes are no exception. Dare we say they’re actually better than real cookies?
Recipe here.
Matcha Green Tea Coconut Pancakes
Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, you’ve probably heard about the health benefits of matcha green tea powder. But did you know you can use it to make pancakes? These ones from The Healthy Foodie are so heavenly you’re bound to forget that they’re even good for you!
Recipe here.
Peanut Butter Chickpea Pancakes
Let’s face it: getting your daily recommendation of legumes can be tricky sometimes. But thanks to this delicious recipe from The Almond Eater, you can now tick it off at breakfast time. Not only are these pancakes completely gluten and dairy free, they’re also sky-high in protein. Score!
Recipe here.
Red Velvet Beetroot Pancakes
We know, beetroot in pancakes doesn’t exactly sound appetising. But hear us out. The other goodies in this recipe from My Fussy Eater (like vanilla extract and honey) get rid of that earthy taste you sometimes get with beets. Not only will you sneak some extra veg into your brekkie, the beetroot gives the pancakes that ‘red velvet’ look without artificial food colouring!
Recipe here.
Carrot Cake Protein Pancakes
Yes, you can eat cake for breakfast! We’re absolutely flipping out (see what we did there?) over this mouth-watering recipe from Meme Ing. We think this guilt-free take on carrot cake is the perfect thing to make on lazy Sunday mornings.
Recipe here.
Light and Fluffy Buckwheat Pancakes
Sometimes you just need to keep things simple. This tasty recipe from Goodness To Glow is as easy as it gets, taking just 15 minutes to make and using just four ingredients. We love how versatile these buckwheat pancakes are, too: you can use them as a base for pretty much any topping you like!
Recipe here.