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These vegan chocolate banana pancakes are healthy and delicious! They are plant-based, gluten-free, and make a great breakfast!
Pancakes are one of the most loved breakfast foods ever!
I remember when I was growing up, every time we had pancakes it was a treat. We wouldn’t have them on just any regular morning. They were reserved for when we had friends over for sleepovers, or special occasions like birthdays and holidays.
Looking back, I suppose this was because the pancakes we were eating, although delicious, were not that healthy. That’s why they had to be a special treat.
But wouldn’t it be great if you could have delicious, tasty, pancakes on a regular basis without feeling guilty and like you’re constantly indulging in something unhealthy?
If you said yes, you’ll love this recipe!
These healthy chocolate banana pancakes are made with simple, wholesome, healthy ingredients!
If you would rather have plain banana pancakes (without the chocolate) check out these 3-Ingredient Banana Pancakes.
You will love these pancakes! They are:
- Chocolatey
- Super healthy
- Thick
- Vegan
- Whole food plant-based
- Gluten free
- Easy to make!
- Comforting
Ingredients for these healthy chocolate banana pancakes
- Bananas
- Almond milk (unsweetened)
- Oat flour (gluten-free if necessary)
- Cacao powder or cocoa powder
- Baking powder
- Maple syrup
- Vanilla extract
How to make oat flour
The only flour you need to make these healthy chocolate banana pancakes is oat flour. It is extremely easy to make on your own, which will be cheaper.
All you need to do is buy some rolled oats (make sure they are gluten free if necessary), and blend them!
Then you simply put some oats into a blender or food processor. They should quickly become ground into a flour-like texture. Continue blending until the flour is smooth with no leftover pieces of oats.
*This may be more difficult depending on what kitchen appliance you use. For example, I have a great food processor, but it doesn’t work well to create oat flour. When I use my old blender I get much better results while making oat flour. So try both if you have both and see what works better!
Tips for making this recipe
- Make sure you use ripe bananas. They should be a bit spotty, but don’t worry, they will be perfect on the inside! If you make sure the bananas are ripe, they will be easy to blend and they will be sweeter.
- Make sure you use baking powder for fluffiness. Some people mix up baking powder and baking soda, so make sure you use the powder! It will help give these pancakes a fluffy texture. If you want your chocolate banana pancakes even fluffier, you could add an extra ½ teaspoon of baking powder.
- Make sure that you use a non-stick pan. This is absolutely essential if you want to make your pancakes oil free. The first time I tried making these pancakes, I used an old non-stick pan that had some scratches on it and my pancakes stuck to it pretty badly. It was a mess! So, it’s really important that you use a non-stick pan that is in great condition. It doesn’t have to be expensive though. I bought a new one for about eight dollars and it works perfectly.
- Check your pancakes frequently so they don’t burn. Every stove is different so you will need to keep an eye on the pancakes and flip them once you can lift them without having them fall apart. I put guidelines for timing in the recipe card, but low heat on my stove top may not be the same as on yours.
Topping Ideas
- Coconut flakes
- Peanut butter
- Maple syrup
- Fruit - banana slices, blueberries, strawberries - anything!
- More cacao powder!
- Peanut butter drizzle: 1 tablespoon of peanut butter with 2 tablespoons of maple syrup (mix and microwave for 30 seconds)
- Coconut drizzle: 1 tablespoon of coconut butter and 2 tablespoons of maple syrup (mix and microwave for 30 seconds)
Check out these other healthy chocolate recipes:
If you are committed to eating a healthy plant-based diet, check out this plant-based grocery list to help you get started! The items on this list are essential for several whole food plant-based recipes.
Recipe
Healthy Chocolate Banana Pancakes
Equipment
- Food processor
- Non-stick pan
Ingredients
- 2 ripe bananas
- ½ cup almond milk (unsweetened)
- 1 cup oat flour (lightly packed, 125 grams)
- 5 tablespoons cacao powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
Instructions
- Peel the bananas and place them in a food processor or blender.
- Add all other ingredients and blend thoroughly.
- Heat a non-stick pan on low heat.
- *Pour ¼ cup batter onto the pan and cook until you can flip it over (approximately 1½ minutes)
- Flip and cook the second side for approximately 1 - 1½ minutes
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutrition information is an estimate generated from a nutrition calculator. There may be errors here or variations based on ingredients you use.
MARA
Hi, If I am using unsweetened (bakers)cocoa, how much do I need?
Bree Sheree
I find that cocoa powder and cacao powder can usually be used interchangeably, so I would stick to the same amount as the cacao powder listed in the recipe.
Natalie
Hi Bree I can't wait to make both of your pancakes but I only have frozen bananas. If I defrost them can I successfully use them? Thanking you kindly.Natalie
Bree Sheree
Hi Natalie,
I haven't tried my banana pancake recipes with defrosted bananas, but I think it should work!