Fluffy Protein Pancakes (2024)

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Jump To Recipe 15 reviews posted Aug 8, 2022 by Jessica Hoffman

These Fluffy Protein Pancakes are easy to make and packed with 26 grams of protein per serving! This recipe is made with simple ingredients and no banana and is perfect for when you want to get some extra protein in the morning!

Fluffy Protein Pancakes (1)

Protein powder pancakes

Protein powder is not just something to add to your morning green smoothie. It’s an amazing and versatile ingredient that can be used in cooking and baking to make recipes like protein overnight oats, chocolate protein bars and protein energy balls.

Protein powder also makes a great addition to pancakes! It’s perfect to use in your pancakes when you want a high-protein breakfast.

It’s important to use a protein powder that you like the taste of in these pancakes. If you don’t like the taste and texture of the protein powder you have, you probably won’t enjoy it in your pancakes.

Why you’ll love these high-protein pancakes

  • High in protein. Each serving of these pancakes has 26 grams of protein in them! (Compared this to regular pancakes that have about 3 grams of protein in them)
  • No Banana. Many protein powder pancake recipes are made with a banana. Which means you need to have a ripe banana on hand and also want banana in your pancakes. But not this recipe!
  • Customizable. You can use unflavored protein powder, vanilla protein powder or even chocolate or peanut butter protein powder if that’s what you’re into!

Protein pancake ingredients

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  • Flour: I use all-purpose flour in these pancakes but if you want to make them extra healthy you can use oat flour. (Made by blending up oats into flour)
  • Protein powder: Use a protein powder that you love. I recommend using whey protein powder in pancakes for a lighter and fluffier texture.
  • Baking powder: this is used to make the pancakes rise and become light and fluffy.
  • Milk: I use almond milk but you can use any type of milk you like.
  • Egg: the egg will help bind everything together and add a little more protein to the pancakes!
  • Oil: I use avocado oil but you can also use vegetable oil, coconut oil or butter.
  • Vanilla extract (optional): to flavour the pancakes. If you use vanilla protein powder you can leave this out.

How to make protein pancakes (without banana!)

Step 1

Mix the flour, protein powder and baking powder together in a bowl. In a separate bowl mix the milk, egg, oil and vanilla extract together.

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Step 2

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix together to combine the batter. Don’t overmix.

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Step 3

Heat a large pan on medium heat and lightly coat with oil. Spoon the pancake batter into the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side.

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What to serve with protein pancakes

These protein pancakes are delicious just on their own, but of course who doesn’t love adding toppings to their pancakes! Here are some great topping options you can enjoy with these protein powder pancakes.

  • Maple syrup
  • Butter
  • Cinnamon
  • Drizzle of peanut butter
  • Berries
  • Bananas
  • Chocolate chips
  • Coconut flakes
  • Yogurt (I like Greek yogurt)

How to store, freeze and reheat.

Fridge: store leftover pancakes in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Freezer: let the pancakes cool completely, then place them on a baking sheet and place in the fridge for 1 hour to lightly freeze. Once they’re slightly frozen, place the pancakes into a freezer-safe bag and freeze for up to 2 months. To defrost thaw on the counter.

Reheat: reheat the pancakes in a lightly greased pan on medium-high heat, in the oven at 350 degrees F for 3-4 minutes, in the toaster or in the microwave.

Expert tips for making protein pancakes

  • Use whey protein powder for best results. Whey protein is best for baking and will result in lighter and fluffier pancakes that don’t have a gummy texture. Plant-based protein powder will have a more dense texture.
  • Make sure you like the protein powder you use. This is VERY important. If you don’t like the taste and texture of the protein powder to begin with, you won’t like it in the pancakes.
  • Don’t overmix the batter. Overmixing will cause the air bubbles in the batter to pop and will create more dense pancakes. Mix just until combined.
  • Add your favourite mix-ins. Try adding in some blueberries, chocolate chips, a drizzle of peanut butter or whatever you like!

Protein pancakes FAQ

Are protein pancakes good for you?

Yes! These protein pancakes are good for you and are packed with 26 grams of protein per serving for a healthy breakfast.

Do protein pancakes make you gain weight?

No. Protein pancakes do not have any extra calories in them compared to regular pancakes.

Can I use protein powder instead of flour in these pancakes?

I don’t recommend replacing flour in this recipe with more protein powder. This will change the texture of the pancakes

Do these protein pancakes taste like regular pancakes?

Protein pancakes taste similar to regular pancakes but will have a slight taste from the protein powder you use in them.

Can I make protein pancakes in a blender?

Yes, you can use your blender to make this recipe. Just keep in mind that blender pancakes won’t be as fluffy as mixing them in a bowl since blending will pop most of the air bubbles on the batter.

Can I make this recipe gluten-free?

Yes! Just substitute the flour in the recipe is a 1-1 gluten-free flour blend or use oat flour. (make by blending up oats into a flour)

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Try these pancake recipes next!

  • Almond Flour Pancakes
  • Oat Flour Pancakes
  • Coconut Flour Pancakes
  • Matcha Pancakes
  • Vegan Blueberry Pancakes

If you tried theseFluffy Protein Pancakesor any other recipe on the blog let me know how you liked it by leaving a comment/rating below! Be sure to follow along onPinterest,InstagramandFacebookfor even more deliciousness!

Print

Fluffy Protein Pancakes (10)

Protein Pancakes

5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star4.9 from 15 reviews

  • Author: Jessica Hoffman
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 68 pancakes 1x
  • Category: Breakfast
  • Method: Pan-fry
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian
Print Recipe

Description

Easy protein powder pancakes that are packed with 26 grams of protein per serving!

Ingredients

UnitsScale

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup protein powder (whey protein works best)
  • 3 tsp baking powder
  • 1 1/4 cup milk (I use almond milk)
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tbsp oil (I use avocado oil)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)

Instructions

  1. Mix the flour, protein powder and baking powder together in a bowl.
  2. In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, oil and vanilla extract.
  3. Mix the wet and dry ingredients together to combine. Don’t overmix.
  4. Heat a lightly oiled pan on medium heat and spoon some pancake batter (about 1/4 cup per pancake) into the pan.
  5. Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side.

Notes

Use whey protein for best results. (it will create lighter pancakes than plant-based protein powder)

Make sure to use protein powder that you like the taste and texture of!

*Amount of protein in the recipe will vary depending on what protein powder you use.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1/2 recipe
  • Calories: 510
  • Sugar: 7.5g
  • Fat: 20g
  • Carbohydrates: 55g
  • Fiber: 2.5g
  • Protein: 26g

This post contains affiliate links which means I will make a small commission if you purchase through those links. I only recommend products that I know, trust and love!

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posted by Jessica Hoffman on August 8, 2022 (updated March 28, 2024)

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34 comments on “Fluffy Protein Pancakes”

  1. Fluffy Protein Pancakes (11)

    Tara Jo Reply

    Make this recipe every Saturday! Thank you! Any idea what I would need to do to this recipe to turn it into muffins? More milk? More baking powder? Thanks!

    • Fluffy Protein Pancakes (12)

      Jessica Hoffman Reply

      So happy you like it! I haven’t tested it as muffins…would need to play around with the baking time but i believe the ingredients would stay the same!

  2. Fluffy Protein Pancakes (13)

    Abigail Reply

    This recipe turned out very nicely! The pancakes were moist, fluffy, and flavorful! They had a nice flavor and texture. I used canola oil in my pancakes because I didn’t use a whey based protein powder and I didn’t have any avocado oil.

    I will definitely save this recipe and make these again!

    Thanks

    • Fluffy Protein Pancakes (14)

      Jessica Hoffman Reply

      Hi Abigail, so happy you enjoyed the recipe! 🙂

  3. Fluffy Protein Pancakes (15)

    Ashley Reply

    Best protein pancake recipe I’ve tried so far! Unfortunately I didn’t see much rise, our pancakes were flat. I welcome feedback on how to fix that!

    • Fluffy Protein Pancakes (16)

      Jessica Hoffman Reply

      Happy you enjoyed them Ashley! Have you checked that your baking powder is fresh? These have 3 tsp of baking powder in them so I’m surprised they didn’t rise! It’s also important not to overmix the batter. Otherewise it may be the brand of protein powder you used.

  4. Fluffy Protein Pancakes (17)

    Max Reply

    Honestly I never leave reviews on recipes but this one is just too good. Never had a protein pancake actually taste like pancakes 🥞:)

    • Fluffy Protein Pancakes (18)

      Jessica Hoffman Reply

      So glad you enjoyed them Max!!

  5. Fluffy Protein Pancakes (19)

    Mindy Pedersen Reply

    I have been documenting my weight loss journey since October 2021 and have lost almost 120lbs. Since then I have tried probably 10 different protein pancake recipes and all of them were either dry, rubbery, or just tasted like sawdust. This is the FIRST recipe I’ve tried that tastes and feels like an actual pancake. I stirred the batter together yesterday and let it rest overnight. It got VERY thick while it sat but I think that helped contribute to not only the flavor but also the fluffiness and structure. I did 1.5x the recipe (with 2 eggs) and it made 15 perfect little pancakes for me to last for breakfasts for the week.
    THANK YOU for making a pancake recipe that works for my diet!!!

    • Fluffy Protein Pancakes (20)

      Jessica Hoffman Reply

      So happy you enjoyed them Mindy! 🙂

  6. Fluffy Protein Pancakes (21)

    Samantha Reply

    I struggle to make pancakes normally – I’m not sure how! But I absolutely nailed these! And they states fantastic!! Over the moon 🙂 thank you! Could I ask, it says 26g of protein per serving – what is classed as a serving? How many pancakes? Thank you! xo

    • Fluffy Protein Pancakes (22)

      Jessica Hoffman Reply

      So happy you liked them samantha! A serving is half the recipe (so half the batter.) depending on how big you make the pancakes!

  7. Fluffy Protein Pancakes (23)

    Lau Mejia Reply

    This recipe is amazing! I loved my pancakes. I used oat flour, almond milk, and plant-based chocolate protein. I thought they were going to be a bit dense or dry, but they turned out to be fluffy and delicious! Thanks, Jess 🙂

    • Fluffy Protein Pancakes (24)

      Jessica Hoffman Reply

      You’re welcome! So happy you enjoyed them!

  8. Fluffy Protein Pancakes (25)

    Danielle Reply

    Omg this is the best protein pancake recipe! So good

    • Fluffy Protein Pancakes (26)

      Jessica Hoffman Reply

      So happy you enjoyed them Danielle! 🙂

  9. Fluffy Protein Pancakes (27)

    Alexa Reply

    I tried this recipe with my confetti cake protein powder, and the pancakes were great! I froze the leftovers and they heated up nicely in the toaster on the “frozen” setting.

    • Fluffy Protein Pancakes (28)

      Jessica Hoffman Reply

      So happy you enjoyed them!

  10. Fluffy Protein Pancakes (29)

    Amanda Reply

    . I’ve been looking for a healthier high protein breakfast option and this is just what I needed. On a weight loss journey this is a great lower carb / high protein YUMMY food to incorporate. I even gave some to my 1 year old who LOVED it. So so yummy, and even great for meal prep too

    • Fluffy Protein Pancakes (30)

      Jessica Hoffman Reply

      So happy you liked the recipe! 🙂

  11. Fluffy Protein Pancakes (31)

    Jasmine Reply

    Delicious! I tried these some weeks back and froze the remainder and they tasted great. If I wanted to use coconut flour would I have to up the liquid or is it an exact 1:1 substitution?

    • Fluffy Protein Pancakes (32)

      Jessica Hoffman Reply

      Hi Jasmine, happy you enjoyed the recipe! Unfortunately you can’t replace the flour in this recipe with coconut flour as it would be a completely different ratio of dry to liquid ingredients.

  12. Fluffy Protein Pancakes (33)

    Gabrielle Reply

    These pancakes were amazing! I used vanilla protein powder and 2tsp of baking powder and they turned out great! It will now be my go-to pancake recipe! Thanks

    • Fluffy Protein Pancakes (34)

      Jessica Hoffman Reply

      So glad you loved them!

  13. Fluffy Protein Pancakes (35)

    connor hay Reply

    I am a high schooler who just got out of summer weights and i was looking for a protien recipe that wouldn’t taste dry and THIS IS IT these pancakes are SOOOOO AMAZING

    • Fluffy Protein Pancakes (36)

      Jessica Hoffman Reply

      So happy you loved them!

  14. Fluffy Protein Pancakes (37)

    Cindy Reply

    I substituted almond flour in place of all purpose flour to make these lower in carbs.

    They were amazing.

    • Fluffy Protein Pancakes (38)

      Jessica Hoffman Reply

      Happy you enjoyed the recipe! 🙂

  15. Fluffy Protein Pancakes (39)

    Stacey Reply

    Fluffy and delicious!

    • Fluffy Protein Pancakes (40)

      Jessica Hoffman Reply

      Thanks for the review Stacey! Happy you enjoyed 🙂

  16. Fluffy Protein Pancakes (41)

    Carlos Reply

    Substituted flour for oat flour and these turned out great! If you leave the mix in the fridge overnight, they actually are much fluffier the next morning since the oat flour has more time to absorb the liquid? Used optimum nutrition whey protein vanilla flavor. Great recipe!

    • Fluffy Protein Pancakes (42)

      Jessica Hoffman Reply

      So happy you enjoyed them 🙂

  17. Fluffy Protein Pancakes (43)

    Al Reply

    I doubled the recipe so I reduced the amount of baking powder a bit. I also reduced the protein powder a little because I did use plant based powder. They were a bit dense because of this but they were still very good.

    • Fluffy Protein Pancakes (44)

      Jessica Hoffman Reply

      Glad you enjoyed them Al!

Fluffy Protein Pancakes (2024)

FAQs

Why are my protein pancakes not fluffy? ›

Don't Use Too Much Protein Powder

A key mistake when making protein pancakes is using too much protein. If your batter is more than half protein powder, the resulting pancakes tend to be dry, rubbery, and fall apart. To prevent this, reduce the protein powder and increase the flour element of the batter.

What makes pancakes more fluffy? ›

To make the fluffiest pancakes possible, you need to make bubbles in the batter. You can make bubbles by using a raising agent, such as baking powder, and by making and cooking your batter quickly.

Are protein pancakes really healthy? ›

They're a Healthy Alternative to Traditional Pancakes

This is because protein pancakes tend to be made with healthier ingredients, such as protein powder, oats, and egg whites. In contrast, regular pancakes are often made with refined flour, sugar, and butter.

Why are my pancakes not fluffy enough? ›

Make sure that your recipe DOES have baking powder and/or baking soda, and if you're not getting enough fluffiness for your liking, considering adding another 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda to the batter. Play around with amounts of the powder or soda to see how puffy it gets.

Why are my protein pancakes so dry? ›

DON'T OVERDO PROTEIN POWDER

If your pancake batter is made up mainly of protein powder you'll be turning out dry & rubbery pancakes. Not ideal. Keep protein powder to 1 – 2 scoops.

How do you make pancakes fluffy and not rubbery? ›

Over-mixing pancake batter develops the gluten that will make the pancakes rubbery and tough. For light, fluffy pancakes, you want to mix just until the batter comes together—it's okay if there are still some lumps of flour. Fat (melted butter) makes the pancakes rich and moist.

Why are restaurant pancakes so fluffy? ›

The secret to fluffy restaurant style pancakes? Buttermilk! The acid in the buttermilk reacts to the leavening agents in the pancake batter, creating air bubbles that make the pancakes tall and fluffy. It's a simple switch that makes all the difference.

What causes pancakes not to be fluffy? ›

Making pancake and waffle batter ahead of time is a huge no-no and will lead to flat, dense results every time. Even letting your batter hang out for just a few minutes after you've mixed it before you start ladling it onto the griddle will lead to less fluffy results.

How to make fluffy pancakes Gordon Ramsay? ›

Method
  1. Whisk the buttermilk, egg and oil together.
  2. Stir the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt together in a large bowl. ...
  3. Melt a small piece of butter in a frying pan over a medium heat. ...
  4. Leave to cook for 1 minute or until it has puffed up slightly and is a light golden-brown underneath.

Are Kodiak Cakes better with water or milk? ›

One of the major benefits of using milk of any kind instead of water is the added protein, which may more may not give you bear-like strength. Our Power Cakes Flapjack & Waffle Mix is crafted to deliver 14g of protein per serving when using water. Many milk alternatives increase the protein depending on the milk.

Do protein pancakes taste different? ›

The smallest suggested portion, if eaten alone, would provide 32 grams overall. But despite that relatively high protein count, the batter doesn't taste much different from conventional pancake mixes.

Are Kodiak Cakes actually healthy? ›

"Kodiak Cakes are made with whole-grain flours, so they are healthier than mixes made with refined flours," he said. However, there are 8 or 9 grams of added sugar per serving in some of the flavors — that's typically higher than other mixes.

What affects the fluffiness of pancakes? ›

The liquid helps to activate the baking soda and buttermilk, creating the reaction we just covered. These bubbles will rise as you stir. As this is happening, the CO2 bubbles will be trapped by the gluten in the batter when your pancake solidifies, leading to fluffiness! Avoid mixing the ingredients too much though.

How do I keep my pancakes fluffy? ›

15 Tricks For Making The Most Fluffy Pancakes
  1. Use a fresh leavening agent. ...
  2. Instead of all-purpose flour, use cake flour. ...
  3. Sift the dry ingredients. ...
  4. Add carbonated water. ...
  5. Incorporate mayonnaise into the batter. ...
  6. Mix with a balloon whisk. ...
  7. Don't overmix the batter. ...
  8. If using baking powder, add a bit of lemon juice.
Aug 29, 2022

Why are my homemade pancakes so dense? ›

In pancakes, gluten forms strands that give the cake its structure. But too much gluten results in a pancake that is dense and gummy.

How to make protein pancakes fluffy reddit? ›

Add slightly less liquid, thicker batter is better. If the batter is runny, the mix will flatten out on the pan and become dense. add baking powder (not soda) this will create bubbles in the batter when cooking, which makes it rise and become fluffy.

How do you make protein shakes less fluffy? ›

You can add more water to avoid foam as it mixes with water. Avoid mixing the entire scoop of protein powder at once with water, and mix the powder little by little. You can also prepare your protein shake before your workout; by the time you are done with your training, the foam will have ample time to settle.

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