As you already know, I’m all about sneaky veggies. I want my kids to love eating vgetables, and usually they do! But for days when you don’t feel like being the veggie-eating-police, kid-friendly recipes that include a hearty serving of greens are a must. These Zucchini Banana Oatmeal Pancakes are amazing! Seriously! They are fluffy and flavorful! Plus they’re gluten-free, dairy-free, refined sugar free and full of nutritious ingredients!
These Zucchini Banana Oatmeal Pancakes are another made-in-the-Vitamix creation. When I add veggies to a recipe I like to blend them so well that the only way their presence can be detected is by the color of the final product. BONUS, you score mom points for serving colored food! Woo Hoo! Everyone in my family (including my sweet, toothless baby) devours these! They’re the perfect healthy meal for kids & adults of all ages!
Let’s get started! First, grind your oats in your blender to make oat flour. Transfer from your Vitamix into a small bowl and add the rest of your dry ingredients then set it aside! Next, put all your wet ingredients except for the egg into your Vitamix and blend them together until they’re totally smooth.
After the mixture is smooth, add the dry ingredients to the Vitamix and blend well. Finally, add the egg and pulse until it’s just combined. Your batter should be smooth and just a little thick. If it seems too thick for you, add extra milk 1 TBS at a time!
Next heat up that griddle and start cooking! I love using a griddle because I can make at least 8 Zucchini Banana Oatmeal Pancakes at once so it saves a bunch of time (something I never seem to have enough of, especially in the mornings)!
My daughter has been watching me blog for a few months now. I asked her what kind of recipe she would create if she had a blog. She said, and I quote, “OooOo I know! Pancakes with chocolate chips, cinnamon chips and sprinkles.” So I told her that was an amazing idea, and that we would make it happen
So here you go…Bethany’s first blogging creation! I’d say my daughter is a genius.
Cook the Zucchini Banana Oatmeal Pancakes on the first side for about 3-5 minutes. Once you see the edges start to harden and little bubbles begin to form in the batter, flip them over! Cook on the second side for 3-5 minutes until golden brown. Remove from skillet and dive right in!
I topped these with a 1:1 mixture of warm peanut butter and maple syrup! Oh my word it was to DIE for! Just combine equal amounts of maple syrup and peanut butter and gently warm the mixture until the peanut butter is completely melted. YUM.
Most days lunch is my least favorite meal to serve because I just made breakfast (seriously didn’t we just eat like one hour ago?!) and dinner is on the horizon. I usually end up drinking a smoothie and making the kids a sandwich or something easy like cheese and crackers.
There have been many days when these Zucchini Banana Oatmeal Pancakes have saved me from the lunch-time slump! They’re super healthy, my kids never complain about eating them, and they’re so easy to make! Pancakes…not just for breakfast! 🙂
Ingredients
- 2 cups gluten-free old-fashioned oats
- ¼ cup almond meal/flour
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 TBS coconut sugar*
- 1 cup zucchini, grated
- 1 cup almond milk (regular milk works as well)
- 1 large ripe, banana
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 large egg**
- Optional mix-ins: chocolate chips, blueberries, cinnamon chips, sprinkles, etc.
Instructions
- Heat a large griddle to 350 degrees F.
- Put oats into your blender ([Vitamix|http://vitamixtrack.com/click.track?CID=292558&AFID=417333&ADID=1450715&SID=&NonEncodedURL=
- ] preferred) and blend on high until they are the consistency of flour (20-30 seconds). Pour into a small bowl.
- Add your almond meal, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and coconut sugar to the oat flour and set aside.
- Put your grated zucchini, almond milk, banana and vanilla in your blender and blend until completely smooth.
- Add dry ingredients to your Vitamix and blend on medium speed until combined.
- Add the egg and blend until just combined.
- When your griddle is hot and batter is ready, grease it with oil or non-stick spray.
- Scoop ¼ cup portions of batter onto the greased griddle. Cook pancakes for 3-5 minutes, until the batter starts to bubble and the edges get firm.
- Flip and cook on the other side for 2-3 minutes until golden brown. Enjoy!
Notes
*You can use any granulated sugar of your choice! I have used coconut sugar and raw sugar! **For vegan option: mix 1 TBS ground flaxseed with 2.5 TBS hot water. Let sit for 5 minutes until gelatinous. Use in recipe in place of egg. If batter is too thick, add extra milk 1 TBS at a time until it reaches your desired consistency!
OooOoo that peanut butter & maple syrup combo is legit!
Do you have a favorite sneaky veggie recipe? What do you feed your kids (or yourself) for lunch? Seriously suggestions would be amazing! 🙂
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Yum!!! I’ve never tried zucchini pancakes before but these look awesome! Definitely perfect for brunch 🙂 I’ve been on a protein waffle kick lately but I might have to switch things up!
I have basically put zucchini in every possible food…pancakes, muffins, cookies…I even add it to my taco meat, pasta sauce, etc! The more veggies, the better! 🙂
YUM! This looks amazing. I, too, have to hide the veggies because my little ones will refuse them 99% of the time. Maybe I’ll have to give these a try!
Yikes! I think all little ones go through a veggie-aversion phase! Thankfully they all come back around! 🙂 I’d rather meal time be a joyful experience for our family…and not an “eat your veggies or else…” situation! LOL! So sneaky veggie recipes are SO helpful! 🙂
These seriously look incredible. I’m off of oats right now (doctor’s orders) but you better believe these are entering my kitchen as soon as I can have oats again!!
Cayanne Marcus @healthyezsweet recently posted…Healthyezsweet Takes Chicago!
No oats! Oh no! I hope you feel better so that you can enjoy them again soon! 🙂
You’re TEASING ME! I WANT PANCAKES FOR DINNER DANG IT BUT I CANT HAVE THEM!
GiGi Eats recently posted…Crushing On A Cuisine
Gigi! Do you have dietary restrictions that keep you from eating pancakes? There are SO many amazing pancake recipes that comply with many different dietary needs! Let me know and I can send you some links! 🙂
I love the list of ingredients in this recipe. It sounds delicious!
Thank you Sherry! We all LOVE these pancakes in my house! 🙂
Looks like a great recipe! I have to go gluten, dairy and egg free for health reasons and this looks like a great addition to my meal plan. Pinning!
Nicole @ The Professional Mom Project recently posted…We’re not done yet. Living with thyroid cancer
Nicole! Wow that sounds like it would definitely be a challenge but worth it if it helps improve your health! Thankfully there are SO many resources for recipes on the good-old world wide web that can make your journey easier. I hope you start to see improvement and that your health is restored! <3
You are a smart, smart lady. Zucchini has such a light flavor that it’s easy to hide in almost anything. 🙂 And that peanut butter maple syrup concoction has me drooling all over my computer.
Jenn – a traveling Wife recently posted…Blender Cinnamon Roll Donuts [no flour, added protein]
Jenn! You’re SO right! zucchini hidden in baked goods…spinach in smoothies. #VeggieNinjaMom! 😉 I seriously love maple syrup and peanut butter! As a kid I used to make Egos and spread PB on them then douse with syrup! 😉
“Sneaky Veggies”?! I’ve suspected as much for years…now I have proof! I’ve never met a chef who could pull this off without compromising tastes. Way to go, Babe: reason #246 that my wife is amazing.
Love you! <3 😉
Now this is a good reicpe! Love sneaking veggies in like this.
Dang lady, these look goooood!
Ellie | Hungry by Nature recently posted…Blackened Salmon Burgers with Mango-Jalapeno Salsa
We take pancakes seriously around here…. 😉
Love that you added zucchini and banana!! These look so yummy!
rachel @ athleticavocado recently posted…Honey Mustard Pretzel Crusted Brussels Sprouts {GF + Vegan Option!}
Thanks Rachel! fruit & veggies in all the things! 😉
What a great combination of flavors! I often struggle to get in enough veggies throughout the day (and esp. in the morning), so this looks like a great way to sneak in a little more. And that peanut butter/maple syrup combo on top is making my mouth water!
Thank you! I agree! I really love getting a fruit and veggie in at every meal! How do you feel about smoothies? They’re a great option to sneak in some greens too! 😉
This is so sneaky and I love that the pancakes are like regular-colored pancakes! Usually veggie packed cakes have some funky color. Great recipe!
Thanks Charissa! 🙂 It depends really…sometimes they turn out greenish! But this batch turned out completely normal! 😉
I have the biggest pancake obsession! Seriously, I can’t wait to try these!!
Pancakes really are awesome! 🙂 <3
They’re gluten free, and they have sprinkles! That is a super duper combination, and that glaze over the top is making me want to make pancakes when we get home from Ireland as the first meal.
I can add sprinkles to just about anything and my kids think I’m the coolest. LOL! 🙂
These are really special pancakes and I can’t wait to try them. Thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and have a great weekend!
Miz Helen
Thank you! 🙂 I hope you enjoy them!
This reminds me of pancakes my grandmother used to make. I really want to make these so saving it for the weekend.
Thank you Kim! Pancakes can definitely evoke nostalgia! 🙂 A weekend where pancakes are involved is definitely one I’d look forward to! 🙂 I hope you love them!
These look absolutely delicious! Thanks so much for sharing on the Healthy Living Link Party 🙂 We hope to see you back tonight!
Easy Peasy Life Matters recently posted…We’re Certified! – What’s Up Wednesday
Thank you! 🙂 Have a great day!
Congratulations!
Your recipe is featured on Full Plate Thursday this week. Enjoy your new Red Plate and have a great weekend.
Miz Helen
Thank you Miz Helen! 🙂 It’s an honor to be featured and to get to join the fun every week! 🙂
I just made these but didn’t have a banana. I used applesauce instead and it worked out great! Next time I’ll use a banana for sure. The kids devoured them!! Yum!!
I’m SO glad that girls loved them!!! 🙂 <3 Yay! Also super glad to know that applesauce is a suitable substitute for the banana!! 🙂
These look so good!!! gluten-free oats? I didn’t know this was a thing til now! This is fantastic! thank you!
Oh YES! And grinding the gluten-free oats into oat flour opens up a whole world of baking possibilities if you are trying to avoid gluten! 🙂
Would it be okay if I leave out the almond meal/flour? As I do not have the ingredient but have everything else, and am craving for pancakes! Thank yoU!
Hey Connie! Yes! You may omit the almond meal…just increase the amount of old-fashioned oats by 1/4 cup! (So use 2 1/4 cups of oats)!
Thank you!! I will try it tomorrow 😀
is this suitable for freezing???
if ever yes HOW TO FREEZE it????thank u for the answer
These pancakes freeze beautifully! Once you have finished making them, place them in a plastic bag (or other freezer-friendly container) with wax paper between the layers and toss them in the freezer! Remove and warm in the microwave or oven!