Pancakes are an American staple. I find it hard to believe anyone could grow up in a household without them. Well I wanted to put my own spin on a much healthier version – Cinnamon Swirl Banana Pancakes.

This recipe was partially inspired from a recent partnership opportunity with one of the most respective supplement companies in business today, Optimum Nutrition (ON). Frequently regarded as the gold standard of supplements, ON has been pumping out high quality nutritional supplements for decades. Just recently, they dipped their toe into the plant based world and came out with their new product: Gold Standard 100% Plant Based Protein.

The other part of my inspiration, funny enough, was from ON’s competitor, Vega. They had a cinnamon bun pancake recipe that I thought was super creative and would be fun to remake.

Pancake Ingredients

Keeping the ingredients minimal was a priority. So I opted for flour, protein powder, one banana, and plant milk. It doesn’t get much easier than that.

Since the protein powder is sweetened with stevia and a ripe banana packs its own sweet flavor, there was no need to add any additional sugar (or sweeteners) to the batter.

To start, first mix the flour and protein powder together in a large bowl. Then, using a spoon or your hand, scoop out a pocket in the center. This will create a small hole for your wet ingredients.

In the center pocket, add your mashed banana and slowly pour in your plant milk. Use a whisk to mix until combined, but no more than that! This is the part that requires a little finesse. 

You don’t want to over mix pancake batter (especially using whole wheat flour) because it becomes too firm, almost rubbery as it cooks. However, when protein powder is mixed with liquid it tends to clump, unless its whisked directly.

So when whisking this mixture, whisk hard and fast for as little time as possible. The fast whisking will take care of the protein clumps without you causing you to over mix.

Once you mix the batter, heat a large skillet (or griddle) over medium heat.

Cinnamon Swirl Mixture

Now for the fun part! Add ¼ cup of your pancake batter to a small bowl. Then add the rest of your cinnamon swirl ingredients in the same bowl and whisk until combined.

You want a semi-thick mixture that’s thinner than your pancake batter, but not watery. That way, when you squeeze it out of the Ziploc bag, you can create a proper swirl.

Now, add your cinnamon swirl mixture to your Ziploc bag. Tilt the bag so that the mixture slides in one corner, then using a pair of scissors, snip off a small piece of opposite corner (¼ inch or less). 

Cooking the Protein Pancakes

Once your skillet is hot, add 1 tsp of coconut oil to start. You may need more later, but this will do for now. After about 30 seconds, add ¼ cup of your pancake mixture. 

Using a spoon, fork, or ladle to flatten the batter and keep it in a uniform circle. Cook for approximately one minute. You should notice bubbles starting to form.

Now, you can begin creating your cinnamon swirl! Grab your bag and tighten your grip around the snipped end so the liquid can’t fall out. When you’re ready, slowly loosen your grip to allow the mixture to stream out, creating a swirl in the process.

Start on the outer edges and work your way inward. Once your swirl is finished, allow the pancake to finish cooking (total of 2-3 minutes), then flip quickly using a spatula. 

Depending on your stove or griddle strength, cooking times may vary, so keep a close eye on it. But whatever you do, don’t lift it up too early, otherwise you’ll pull apart the pancake before it’s finished. Your first couple pancakes might be testers, as were mine on my first attempt!

Breakfast of Champions

After your pancakes are finished, feel free to top with some syrup, sliced bananas, nuts, or any of your other favorite toppings.

These Cinnamon Swirl Protein Pancakes are so delicious and a much healthier way to cook pancakes. Packed with protein and whole grains, you’ll leave the table full and satisfied.

If you’re a breakfast lover like myself, you should try my other breakfast recipes:

• Vegan Sausage Breakfast Skillet
• Peach Mint Pineapple Smoothie
• Gingerberry Smoothie