You’ve probably heard about the importance of eating a nutritious diet that contains plenty of protein. After all, protein is nearly universally understood to be an important component of any eating plan, unlike fat and carbohydrates, which are a little more controversial.
We’ll tell you how to make protein pancakes and provide the eight best protein pancake recipes for you to try for breakfast.
How Much Protein Do You Need Per Day?
How much protein you need per day will vary depending on your weight, gender, and activity level; however, there are general guidelines that you can follow.
In order to avoid a protein deficiency, most people need to consume about 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight, or 0.36 grams of protein for every pound of body weight. However, many people choose to eat more protein because they want to build muscle, lose weight or prevent weight gain, improve their metabolism, or simply increase their fullness. Others find that they feel better when eating more protein.
Eating more protein has been shown to have a number of different health benefits, including reduced appetite and hunger levels, improved bone health, lower blood pressure, and more.
The Benefits of Protein Pancakes vs. Regular Pancakes
If you’re wondering why protein pancakes are a better alternative to regular pancakes, you don’t have to look much further than the nutritional compositions of each.
The average pancake contains about 2.4 grams of protein, while protein pancakes typically contain at least 10 grams of protein or more. That’s important because protein is critical in order to keep you feeling fuller for longer, which helps you regulate your caloric intake throughout the day.
Protein pancakes are typically higher in protein and lower in carbohydrates than regular pancakes, which are loaded with carbohydrates that your body burns through quickly. Eat a stack of regular pancakes for breakfast and you’re likely to find that your energy crashes a couple of hours after your meal, leaving you searching for a snack. Protein pancakes offer a healthier way to start your morning off on the right foot.
The 7 Best Protein Pancake Recipes
Protein pancake recipes range from the classic, simple style to flavorful surprises that will delight even the pickiest eater in your family. The eight best protein pancake recipes are listed below.
1. Chocolate Protein Peanut Butter Pancakes
If you’re craving a sweet breakfast with a hint of fruit, look no further than these chocolate protein peanut butter pancakes. Simply combine two scoops of the protein powder of your choice with a dash of almond flower, some non-fat greek yogurt, a bit of baking soda, some organic peanut butter, three egg whites, and a half a ripe banana as a topping, mix together, and cook!
2. Banana Protein Pancakes with Spinach
Banana and spinach protein pancakes are the perfect option for anyone looking for a creative way to incorporate some veggies into their morning meal. You’ll need some protein pancake mix, cinnamon, a large egg, some protein almond milk (unsweetened vanilla), a mashed ripe banana or unsweetened applesauce, some melted coconut or avocado oil, and a few handfuls of baby spinach. You’ll blend the spinach, banana, milk, oil, and egg in a mixture, then add a cup of protein pancake mix and blend until smooth, cook, then eat!
3. Organic Chocolate Protein Pancakes
The smooth taste of chocolate and the addition of some protein powder to this pancake recipe will keep you feeling full and satisfied all morning long. You’ll need a cup of buckwheat groats, some quick cook rolled oats (gluten free), chia powder, ground cinnamon, baking powder, organic unsweetened vanilla almond milk, salt, a ripe banana, chocolate protein powder, maple syrup, coconut oil, and vanilla extract.
4. Holiday Spice Protein Pancakes
If you’re craving the taste of the holiday season without all of the empty calories, these holiday spice protein pancakes will hit the spot. You’ll use the same protein pancake mix linked above and combine with a cup of unsweetened almond milk, one egg, and a dash of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves. The recipe can also be made vegan by substituting water for the milk and egg.
5. Easy Chocolate Raspberry Protein Pancakes
This sophisticated vegan protein pancake recipe is sure to impress. To make easy chocolate raspberry protein pancakes, you’ll need some chocolate protein powder, one flax egg (one tablespoon of ground flax seed combined with three tablespoons of water), half a ripe banana, some unsweetened almond milk, raw cacao powder, and half a cup of fresh raspberries. All of the ingredients will be combined except for the raspberries, which are added last for some color and a hint of fruity flavor.
If you want a slightly simpler version using Orgain’s Protein Pancake Mix, simply prep the mix as usual and mix in the raw cacao powder and add the raspberries last as usual.
6. Chocolate Pumpkin Protein Pancakes
Your breakfast can taste like dessert and autumn all at once with these chocolate pumpkin protein pancakes. You’ll be able to make enough for the whole family when you include six eggs, organic pumpkin, a large ripe banana, gluten free oats, four scoops of chocolate protein powder, almond meal, cacao powder, vanilla extract, baking soda, sea salt, and almond milk. That might sound like a long ingredient list, but we promise, the end result is worth it! Just combine all of the ingredients in a blender and get cooking!
To use with Orgain’s Protein Pancake Mix, prep as usual, then add in blended organic pumpkin and cacao powder.
7. Carrot Cake Protein Pancakes
Last but not least, these carrot cake protein pancakes offer a delicious, gluten-free way to get some veggies into your breakfast and enjoy a sweet, flavorful treat. You’ll need almond flour, Orgain Organic Vanilla Plant-Based Protein Powder, two eggs, grated carrots, almond milk, baking soda, salt, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground ginger, and some coconut oil for cooking.
If you don’t have a blender, don’t worry! You can combine all of the ingredients with a spoon or spatula before cooking, unlike some of the other recipes. Serve with your favorite natural sweetener, like maple syrup, agave, or honey!
To make with our protein pancake mix, mix the grated carrots, ground cinnamon, and ground nutmeg in!
Summary
Making protein pancakes is a delicious, healthy alternative to your standard carbohydrate-heavy and protein-light pancake stack.
Protein powder and protein pancake mix from Orgain perfectly complement each of the eight protein pancake recipes mentioned above, and many of the recipes can be made vegan. Far from boring, these recipes contain tons of flavors, offer a way to sneak a few vegetables onto your breakfast table, and are sure to satisfy the whole family.
Sources:
How much protein do you need every day? - Harvard Health Blog
Protein | The Nutrition Source - Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health
