Fluffy Protein Powder Pancakes with Oats
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Would you like some light and fluffy protein powder pancakes for breakfast? I’ve enjoyed them twice this week and I can assure you my taste buds flipped.
I even made these for my daughter’s birthday, and she fell in love with the delightful strawberry compote.
If you’re curious to see what the hype is about, don’t hesitate to try out the recipe!
What are protein powder pancakes?
Protein powder pancakes are a delicious breakfast idea with a scoop of protein powder and served with beautiful strawberry compote and nut butter.
This recipe includes two of my favourite pancake accompaniments: oats and strawberries.
I know that oats don’t sound like the most important ingredient here but trust me, they make a big difference in the texture and fiber content.
Benefits of protein powder pancakes
Protein powder is the ‘it ingredient’ in these pancakes. It boosts the protein content essential for satiety, hunger control and muscle repair and growth.
The recipe also incorporates egg, soy milk, and nut butter — great vegetarian sources of protein which elevate the nutritional value even further.
If you like strawberries as much as I do, you’ll be pleased to hear about their high levels of vitamin C, manganese, folate, and potassium.
So the strawberry compote topping isn’t only for flavour and colour, but also for health benefits including improved heart health.
Pancakes with protein powder are one of the best high-protein breakfasts you can enjoy. You won’t be left feeling hungry and reaching for unhealthy snacks, which is an amazing benefit to a weight loss diet.
For more protein-rich ideas, check out our free 7-day high-protein meal plan with all the right tips for losing weight and building muscles.
Ingredients
Dry ingredient list
All-purpose flour
Flour serves as a thickening agent allowing the pancakes to hold their shape. I’m using all-purpose flour but feel free to explore other alternatives, such as coconut flour or almond flour.
Protein powder
There are many types of protein powder in stores. I usually go for whey protein powder made from milk or vegan protein powders.
My favourite flavour is cookies and cream — a delicious way to sneak protein into your breakfast. But then, there’s no resisting chocolate protein pancakes either!
You can explore other flavours like salted caramel, banana, vanilla protein powder and more.
Oats
Old-fashioned rolled oats or quick oats are the best options for this homemade protein pancake mix. They add a slightly chewy but moist texture and a subtle nutty flavor.
Baking soda
As a leavening agent, baking soda helps make light and fluffy pancakes. You can also use 1 teaspoon baking powder instead.
Check out these alternatives to baking ammonia to learn more about common leaveners for pancakes and baked goods.
Sugar
These pancakes are meant to be sweet, and a touch of sugar, just a couple of tablespoons, is a must. You can also use honey, maple syrup, stevia and other refined sugar alternatives.
Salt
A dash of salt ensures a harmonious blend of sweetness.
Wet ingredient list
Egg
In this protein pancake recipe, I use a whipped egg white for an airy, fluffy texture while the yolk holds other ingredients in the pancake batter together.
Soy milk
Soy milk is packed with protein and it’s a great option for these healthy protein pancakes. Alternatively, you can opt for other types of plant-based milk like almond milk and oat milk or even traditional dairy milk.
Optional ingredient list
Strawberries
Strawberries are important here but they’re also optional if you have dietary restrictions or just don’t like the fruit.
You can make a tasty compote topping with other fruits like mixed berries, apples, peaches or plums. Frozen strawberries are fine too!
Nut butter
You can use peanut butter, almond butter or cashew butter. If you’re allergic to nuts or just don’t fancy them, you can use other spreadable ingredients like seed butter.
I’ve tried topping these pancakes with cream cheese and it paired quite nicely with the strawberries.
Hemp seeds
Hemp seeds add a final touch of protein. Other types of seeds like pumpkin, sunflower or chia seeds can also make great toppings for protein pancakes.
How many calories
These fluffy protein powder pancakes contain 426 calories per serving and a generous 27 grams of protein.
Here’s a quick overview of the nutrition:
kcal 426kcal
Carbs 48g
Fat 16g
Protein 27g
How to make fluffy pancakes
Time needed: 30 minutes
Full instructions for making fluffy protein powder pancakes:
- Gather and prepare the ingredients
Prep all the dry and wet ingredients and optional add-ins.
- Make strawberry compote
Place chopped or sliced strawberries into a small pot with a tablespoon of sugar. Simmer on medium-low heat until it boils, thickens and takes on a jammy consistency.
- Separate egg whites
Gently separate the egg halves and catch the yolk in one of the halves, letting the white drip into a smaller bowl. Place the yolk into a medium-sized bowl.
- Mix all the ingredients together
In the egg yolk bowl, mix milk, flour, protein powder, oats, baking powder, sugar and salt. Make sure there are no lumps!
- Whip the egg white
Whisk the egg white until it has stiff peaks.
- Add egg white to the batter
Fold the egg white into the batter mixture with a spatula. Keep maximum airyness!
- Heat a pan and grease with cooking spray
Preheat a griddle or a large pan over medium heat and lightly coat it with oil.
- Pour batter onto pan to make pancake shapes
Pour around 1/4 cup of batter per pancake and cook until the surface develops bubbles and begins to dry.
- Cook until golden brown on each side
Flip and cook until golden brown on each side. Repeat with the remaining batter.
- Top with strawberry compote, nut butter and hemp seeds
Pour your strawberry compote over stacked pancakes, drizzle some nut butter and sprinkle with hemp seeds.
Tips and tricks for perfect protein powder pancakes every time
I can’t recall the exact details of my very first batch of pancakes, but I do remember struggling to make them nice and fluffy. Here are some tips to help you avoid the mistakes I made.
- Avoid overmixing your pancake mixture. It’s good practice to whisk dry ingredients before adding the wet components to de-lump everything beforehand. A few small lumps are still fine!
- Beat the egg white and fold it in at the end for fluffier pancakes.
- While you’re preheating your pan, allow the pancake batter to rest and the leaveners to activate.
- Use a non-stick pan or griddle and lightly grease it after it’s been preheated. Trust me, you don’t want to scrape off the pancakes when you flip them!
- Flip after about 2-3 minutes when you see slightly matte edges and broken bubbles.
Use medium heat when cooking the pancakes
I decided to highlight this tip because it’s easy to get tempted and crank up the heat for faster cooking.
I’m not the most patient person in the world and I’ve learned the hard way that high heat will burn your batter.
If you don’t have a particular liking for charred pancakes, stick to medium heat. This way they will cook through and achieve that fluffy texture.
Alternatives & substitutions
This protein pancakes recipe is easily adjustable to be made vegan, gluten-free or nut-free.
If you’re a vegan, you can make no-egg pancakes by using flax eggs (ground flax seeds with water) or even a mashed ripe banana.
For gluten-free pancakes, use certified gluten-free oats and replace all-purpose flour with almond flour, oat flour or any other gluten-free flour.
Lastly, opt for seed butter or tahini instead of nut butter for a tasty nut-free recipe.
If you have a special topping you can’t live without, feel free to sprinkle those chocolate chips!
Protein pancakes with oats FAQs
Absolutely! This recipe is proof that you can make delicious pancakes with protein powder. Just remember that you might need to adjust the other ingredients because it’s quite absorbent.
Even though protein powder can technically replace flour, it’s very absorbent and will likely make dry pancakes. That’s why I recommend replacing no more than 1/4 of the flour with protein powder.
More recipes
If you enjoyed the addition of oats in this protein powder pancake recipe, this guide to healthy overnight oats is just the right read for you.
Our weight-loss beetroot smoothie is another great choice for breakfast if you want something ready under 5 minutes.
If you’re also looking for affordable foods, you can enjoy any of these student-inspired cheap meals.
To bring it all together, check out some protein popsicle ideas for a sweet and refreshing dessert after a filling meal.
Need tips on how to make fluffy protein powder pancakes? Try this recipe with tasty strawberry compote and nut butter!
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Chop or slice the strawberries and put in a small pot with 1 tbsp sugar.
5 oz strawberries, 4 tsp sugar
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Cook over medium-low heat until it boils, reduces and has a jammy consistency.
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Meanwhile, prepare the pancakes: In a medium sized bowl add the egg yolk, and place the egg white in a smaller bowl.
1 egg
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In the yolk bowl add the soy milk, protein powder, flour, oats, baking powder remaining tbsp of sugar and salt. Mix until everything is incorporated and there are no lumps of flour.
½ cup soy milk, 2 tbsp protein powder, ½ cup all purpose flour, ¼ cup rolled oats, 1 tsp baking soda, Salt to taste
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With the help of a whisk, whip the egg white until it has stiff peaks.
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Fold the white into the batter with a spatula very carefully, trying to keep as much airyness as possible.
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Heat a griddle or a large pan over medium heat and cover lightly with oil.
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Pour around ¼ cup per pancake and cook until the surface is bubbly and starting to dry off.
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Turn around and cook until the other side is golden brown. Repeat with all the batter.
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Serve pancakes topped with strawberry compote, nut butter and hemp seeds.
2 tbsp nut butter, 2 tsp hemp seeds
Nutrition Facts
Fluffy Protein Powder Pancakes with Oats
Amount per Serving
% Daily Value*
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
I hope these DIY protein pancakes become your go-to breakfast option. Enjoy and let me know your favorite toppings!
