Healthy pancakes make for the perfect snacks in your kids’ tiffin box because of two reasons – one, the ease of making pancakes at home – it is incredibly simple to cook; and second, kids love the taste when you mix different flavours and ingredients to the basic batter. The earliest known pancakes date back to the first-century, made by Romans using flour, milk, egg and lots of ancient spices. Like everything else, the pancake too has transformed over the centuries.
What Is A Pancake?
Pancakes are best known as flat cakes. The typical pancake batter consists of eggs, milk, butter, a pinch of salt, flour and baking powder. The batter is then spread out on a greased frying pan in a circular motion. As a result of which the pancake gets a round shape. With both the sides fried well, the pancake is a thin flat cake. Using baking powder can help get a fluffy texture. Most parts of the world eat pancakes for their breakfast and it is one of the most preferred breakfast recipes in the US.
Pancakes, The Perfect Snack
These delicious snacks can be filled with nutritious and wholesome ingredients to make healthy pancakes for their tiffin. For example, the banana pancakes, oat pancakes, and chocolate pancakes are filled with proteins and calories, making them excellent healthy tiffin options for kids. Similarly, if you are a strict vegetarian, you can try out our delicious eggless pancake recipe for a nourishment-filled tiffin to your kids.
If you are a working mom, hard-pressed for time, try these delicious pancake recipes at home. It will undoubtedly save you a lot of time and leave you gleefully satisfied when you see the empty tiffin boxes every day!
How To Make Homemade Pancakes?
The good thing about pancakes is that these are easy to make. You need to have all the ingredients in place, mix them well, know when to flip and what toppings to serve it with.
10 Must Try Pancake Recipes To Give Your Kids A Perfect Treat
1. Basic Pancake Recipe
This is the traditional pancake recipe. Simple to make, they are prepared using ready-to-use ingredients. This pancake is healthy, filled with a good number of calories and all essential elements like sodium, potassium, calcium and Vitamin A, protein and good fats.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup flour
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2 eggs
- 2 tablespoons butter
Time to cook: approximately 20 minutes
Steps:
- Mix all the ingredients in a big bowl
- Whisk them all till the consistency is reached
- Preheat a pan
- Take one-fourth of the batter and spread out in circles on the pan
- Cook one side till bubbles appear
- Flip and cook on the other side till it changes colour to a golden brown
2. Banana Pancakes
Go for these pancakes if your kids love the banana flavour. The good thing is that they are healthy – full of protein and filled with good fats. Also, with no flour, these are gluten-free and in the absence of milk, these are superbly rich dairy-free nutritious.
Ingredients:
- 1 banana
- 2 eggs
- 2 tablespoons oil
- Maple syrup for serving
- ½ tablespoon salt
- 2.5 tablespoons baking powder
- 2 tablespoons honey
- ½ cup chocolate chips
Time to cook: about 10 minutes
Steps:
- Peel and slice the banana into small pieces and then mash it
- Add the baking powder, salt, and honey
- Now, add the eggs and stir to mix
- Heat the pan. Add oil or butter
- Use about 2 tablespoons of batter and then repeat after a second
- Cook till the underside turns brown
- Sprinkle the chocolate chips
- Now flip the pancakes
- Cook it for 1 minute
- Transfer it to the tiffin box immediately
3. Eggless Pancake Recipe
If non-veg and eggs are a strict no-no in your family, this one is for you. You can also give this eggless pancake recipe a try if eggs get over and you need to get it ready in a jiffy.
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- A pinch of salt
- 1.5 cup milk
- 1 cup water
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Time to cook: about 25 minutes
Steps:
- Mix the dry ingredients first
- Then add milk, water, oil, and vanilla extract to the mixture and blend in a blender
- Pour a ladle of the batter to a preheated girdle
- As soon as bubbles appear to turn the side
- Once golden brown, it is ready to be served
4. Potato Pancakes
This is one of the most interesting protein pancakes. If your kids love the taste of sweet potato, then this potato pancake recipe is a must-try at home.
Ingredients:
- 2 sweet potatoes, mashed
- 2 egg whites
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon vanilla protein powder
- ½ cup flaxseed meal
Time to cook: 10 to 15 minutes
Steps:
- Mix all the ingredients well and whisk them for consistency
- Now heat the pan and add the oil
- Spread the batter with a ladle
- Cook for about 4 minutes and then flip the side. In another 3 minutes, it will be ready
- Add maple syrup and pack a delectable tiffin for your child
5. Chocolate Pancakes
Chocolates are full of calories and proteins – nutrients that your young kids need for proper growth.
Ingredients:
- 4 eggs
- 1 banana
- 2.5 cups uncooked oats
- 3 teaspoons cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Time to cook: about 15-20 minutes
Steps:
- Take the eggs, banana, oats and the cocoa powder and mix in a blender
- Now, add the oil to a preheated pan
- Spread the batter
- Wait for 2-3 minutes and then flip it
- It will take another 2-3 minutes for the other side to cook before a nutritious pancake is ready for the tiffin
6. Oat Pancakes
These are the perfect protein pancakes full of essential proteins making them ideal for kids.
Ingredients:
- A cup full of egg whites
- ½ cup uncooked oats
- â…› tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- ½ cup strawberries
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
Time to cook: about 15 minutes
Steps:
- Mix the egg whites, oats and the cinnamon in a blender
- Heat the girdle
- Use coconut oil for frying
- Spread the batter – let it cook for some time
- As soon as bubbles appear at the centre, flip it
- When the other side is cooked to a golden brown, serve it with maple syrup and strawberries as toppings
7. Custard Pancake Recipe For Kids
The good thing about custard powder is that you can buy a flavour that your kids love. Besides, taste, this is a wholesome food full of calories, minerals and vitamins present adequately.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup flour
- ½ cup custard powder of choice
- 1 teaspoon baking powder and baking soda each
- 5 teaspoons sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup milk
- 5 teaspoons butter
Time to cook: about 20 minutes
Steps:
- Mix all the ingredients in a bowl; stir and whisk them well to mix with consistency
- Add the milk last and add more custard powder to make the batter thick
- Heat the girdle
- Spread the batter evenly
- Flip it once the side starts to turn brown
- When the other side turns yellowish-brown, stack it into the tiffin box
8. Jam Pancake Recipe For Kids
Most Kids love to have a jam. Use it to your advantage to make quick jam pancakes.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups flour
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 2 cups milk
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 50 gms butter
- 1 egg
- Jam of choice
Time to cook: approximately 20 minutes
Steps:
- Mix the egg, sugar, milk, and butter well
- Keep stirring as you add the flour, baking powder, and salt
- Take the jam separately and whisk it well
- Add this whisked jam to the prepared batter
- Heat the pan, add a little butter
- Now add the batter and spread it
- As soon as you see bubbles, flip it
- When the other side cooks, pack it up in the tiffin box
9. Peanut Butter Pancake For Vegans
The whole-grain pancake is full of healthy nutrients.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup wheat flour
- 1 cup oats
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup milk
- 1 banana
- â…“ cup peanut butter
- Apple cider vinegar
Time to cook: about 15 minutes
Steps:
- Add the vinegar to the plant-based milk and keep it aside
- Mix the other ingredients and the mashed banana
- Add the curdled milk too
- Whisk the batter
- Pour the batter onto a pan – wait for the bubbles to appear
- Flip the side
- Serve when cooked to a golden brown
10. Cottage Cheese Pancakes
These pancakes are high on protein too and are easy to make. The good thing is that you don’t need to add protein powder to this recipe.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup flour
- 2 tablespoons butter
Time to cook: 15 minutes
Steps:
- Add all ingredients except the butter
- Whisk and blend then all
- Add heated butter to the batter
- To a preheated girdle, add a small portion of batter
- Wait for both sides to cook before serving with maple syrup
Packing kids’ tiffin every day is a big tussle for moms. You want to fill them with good and healthy snacks for sure. Choosing the right pancake recipes will help fill their tummies while keeping you stress-free throughout the day.
FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions
Q. The banana pancake batter is usually loose and flowy. How do I flip the pancake without breaking them?
A. There are a few ways to handle this. One ideal way is to make small-sized pancakes so that flipping is easy. Second, decide to flip only when the underside has become golden brown. Remember, you still need to be careful because the middle part will still be liquidy in banana pancakes.
Q. What are the typical toppings that should be served on pancakes?
A. Toppings used is maple syrup. But you are the boss here. You can choose any healthy topping like fresh fruits, butter, and cream.
Q. How to make homemade pancakes the perfect way?
A. You have noticed it is the preparation time that is more when you set out to make pancakes. To make the perfect pancakes, the mixture must be whisked properly. Plus, if you have time, let the batter rest for at least 10 minutes. Also, ensure that you always use utensils made from cast iron to make the best pancakes.
Q. How to make the best pancakes?
A. The secret lies in using buttermilk instead of milk. Also, use a mixture of baking powder and baking soda to prepare a tender pancake.
Q. What is the secret to making fluffy pancakes?
A. Pancakes will be fluffy if you use two separate bowls for mixing the dry and the wet ingredients. In each bowl, whisk the ingredients so that they blend well. Then add the wet mixture to the dry mixture and whisk 2-3 times.