Banana Pancakes

(72)

Sweeten your breakfast spread with a stack of these homemade banana pancakes.

Yield:
Makes 8

With these banana pancakes in your repertoire, breakfast will be a real treat. The recipe comes together in minutes, making it ideal for busy mornings or surprise guests. What's more, these pancakes are freezer-friendly, so you can make a large batch and freeze them in advance. When it's time to eat, simply reheat the pancakes in the oven or toaster; they’ll taste freshly made.

Although these banana pancakes are delicious on their own, they're even better with toppings. Try them with a pat of unsalted butter and maple syrup or honey, with whipped cream, chocolate syrup, macerated berries, or jam.

Banana Pancakes
Credit:

Rachel Marek

The Best Bananas to Use

For the best flavor and texture, always use ripe bananas for this recipe.

How to Tell If a Banana Is Ripe

You can tell a banana is ripe if its peel is medium-yellow with some brown spots. It will also smell slightly sweet. If the banana is mostly brown, that is a sign it is riper and will still work well for this recipe although it may be soft and harder to slice. Avoid underripe bananas, which are too bitter and firm for pancakes. Signs of an underripe banana include a hard texture and yellow-green peel.

How to Keep Pancakes Warm While You Cook More

To keep pancakes warm before serving, place them on a plate and cover with aluminum foil. You can also place them on a baking sheet in the oven set at 200 degrees Fahrenheit.

Directions

Ingredients for banana pancakes
Credit:

Rachel Marek

  1. Mix dry ingredients:

    Preheat oven to 200°F. Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.

    Dry ingredients flour for pancakes
    Credit:

    Rachel Marek

  2. Add liquid ingredients:

    Add egg, milk, and butter. Whisk until combined but slightly lumpy.

    Banana pancake mixture
    Credit:

    Rachel Marek

  3. Place bananas on hot skillet:

    Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Place 3 banana rounds in pan, spaced about 1 inch apart.

    Banana slices on skillet
    Credit:

    Rachel Marek

  4. Spoon batter onto skillet:

    Spoon ¼ cup batter over banana rounds; cook pancake until large bubbles cover surface, 1 to 2 minutes.

    Pancake batter in skillet
    Credit:

    Rachel Marek

  5. Flip pancakes:

    Flip and cook until bottom is golden, about 1 minute more.

    Flipped pancake in skillet
    Credit:

    Rachel Marek

    Avoid pressing down on the pancakes, as this will make them gummy.

  6. Place pancakes in warm oven:

    Transfer cooked pancakes to a baking sheet and place in preheated oven.

    Pancakes on baking sheet
    Credit:

    Rachel Marek

  7. Cook remaining batter and banana slices:

    Continue cooking the remaining banana rounds and batter. Saute extra banana slices in butter until golden; serve with pancakes.

    Banana slices in skillet
    Credit:

    Rachel Marek

Variation: Mini Banana Pancakes

Use the same recipe to make mini banana pancakes. The only difference is in the cooking:

  • Place 5 slices of banana in the nonstick skillet , about 3 inches apart.
  • Spoon 1 tablespoon batter over each; cook until large bubbles cover surface, 1 to 2 minutes.
  • Flip, and cook until bottom is golden, about 1 minute more.

How to Store Leftover Banana Pancakes

Store cooled pancakes in the refrigerator in an air-tight container. Be sure to eat them within 3 or 4 days.

Freezing

You can also freeze banana pancakes; layer them between wax or parchment paper in a large plastic or silicone freezer-safe bag. Enjoy them within 3 months.

How to Reheat Banana Pancakes

The easiest way to reheat a few pancakes is to use the toaster. If the pancakes aren't warmed through after the first toast, simply repeat on a lower setting.

To reheat a larger batch, place the pancakes in the oven at 350 degrees. Frozen pancakes will need between 6 to 10 minutes, while refrigerated pancakes will need just a few minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can you make banana pancakes gluten-free?

    Yes, you make these pancakes gluten-free by replacing the all-purpose flour with an all-in-one gluten-free flour blend. Use the exact amount of flour called for in the recipe.

  • Can you use dairy-free milk?

    Yes, you can use dairy-free milk to make these pancakes. Simply replace the cow's milk with the plant-based milk of your choice. The taste and texture of the pancakes may be slightly different than when you use dairy milk, but they are still delicious.

  • Can you add other mix-ins?

    Yes, this recipe is perfect to add other mix-ins to. Try adding ingredients like chocolate chips, raisins, or chopped nuts for extra flavor and texture. Mix them into the batter before spooning it onto the skillet.

Other Pancake Recipes to Try:

Updated by
Kirsten Nunez
Kirsten Nunez, Freelance Writer
Kirsten Nunez is a writer who focuses on food, health, nutrition, and DIY. She has a master's degree in nutrition, and has been writing professionally for nearly 10 years for digital and print publications, such as decorvow, Shape, Real Simple, Healthline, and SELF. She also creates original recipes, which have appeared on product packaging in stores.

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