Healthy Chunky Monkey Banana Pancakes Recipe
These Healthy Chunky Monkey Banana Pancakes are a delicious and nutritious breakfast option featuring ripe bananas, rolled oats, and indulgent chocolate chips and walnuts. Naturally sweetened and gluten-free, they are easy to make using a blender and cooked on the stovetop for fluffy, satisfying pancakes perfect for a wholesome start to your day.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings (approximately 4 pancakes)
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Wet Ingredients
- 1 large egg
- 1 medium spotty banana (with lots of brown spots for extra sweetness)
- 2 tbsp almond milk or oat milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients
- ⅔ cup rolled oats
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp cinnamon (optional but recommended)
Add-ins
- ¼ cup chocolate chips (or chunks)
- ¼ cup chopped walnuts (omit if nut-free)
Instructions
- Blend the Batter: Add the egg, banana, almond or oat milk, vanilla extract, rolled oats, baking powder, and cinnamon into a blender. Blend on high for 20 to 30 seconds until fully combined and smooth. Let the batter sit for 3 to 5 minutes to thicken up slightly.
- Heat the Pan: While the batter thickens, preheat a large nonstick pan over medium heat. Lightly coat the pan with butter or non-stick spray to prevent sticking.
- Cook the Pancakes: Pour 1/4 to 1/3 cup of batter onto the heated pan. Immediately sprinkle each pancake with chocolate chips and walnuts. Cook for about 2 to 3 minutes until the pancakes puff up and the edges firm and become crispy. Because oat flour is denser, bubbles won’t form on top, so carefully lift with a spatula to check for golden-brown bottoms before flipping. Reduce heat if browning too fast.
- Flip and Finish Cooking: Gently flip the pancakes and cook the other side for 1 to 2 minutes until cooked through but not overdone.
- Serve: Serve the pancakes immediately topped with extra banana slices, chocolate chips, walnuts, maple syrup, or honey as desired.
Notes
- Using spotty bananas with brown spots ensures natural sweetness.
- The resting time after blending allows the batter to thicken for better pancake texture.
- The pancakes do not form typical bubbles on top due to oat flour, so checking the bottom browning is key before flipping.
- Walnuts can be omitted for nut allergies to keep the recipe safe.
- Adjust cooking heat as needed to avoid burning the pancakes.