Give your morning a lift with easy, delicious Banana Cottage Cheese Pancakes. Both kids and adults love these fluffy pancakes, which get an extra protein boost from creamy cottage cheese and eggs. Ripe bananas and a touch of pure maple syrup add gentle sweetness to make this a perfect breakfast.
A recent visit from my daughter and grandson inspired this high-protein breakfast variation. We already love regular pancakes, and these Protein Pancakes with Bananas quickly became a new favorite.
I’ve made them several times over the past month — they’re that good.
My grandson devoured them, and so did my husband and I. These sectioned toddler plates are handy for serving pancakes and other small bites to little ones.
We also enjoy my Blueberry Bread Pudding Pancakes and Oat Flour Pancakes. This banana pancake recipe is easy enough for a weekday breakfast and special enough for a lazy weekend brunch.
Why you’ll love this protein pancake recipe
- Easy to make — A simple batter comes together in one bowl and cooks on a griddle or nonstick pan.
- Protein-packed — Cottage cheese and eggs add extra protein, making these pancakes a filling breakfast option.
- Delicious — Mashed bananas and a little maple syrup bring natural sweetness and flavor; many of us enjoy them without extra syrup.
Ingredients & substitutions
This recipe uses pantry staples plus a few fresh items. Scroll to the recipe card for full quantities.
- Ripe bananas — the riper the better for sweetness and flavor.
- All-purpose flour
- Cottage cheese
- Large eggs
- Salted butter
- Maple syrup
- Pure vanilla extract, baking powder, and kosher salt
- Fresh fruit — peaches, blueberries, strawberries, blackberries or plums make great toppings.
Substitutions
- Flour: Swap a gluten-free flour blend or white whole wheat; almond flour can also work with slight texture changes.
- Cottage cheese: Full-fat (4%) gives the creamiest results, but lower-fat varieties will also work.
- Maple syrup: Brown sugar, granulated sugar, or agave nectar can be used if needed.
- Vanilla: Almond extract is an alternative for a different flavor profile.
How to make banana cottage cheese pancakes
These pancakes come together in a few straightforward steps. Scroll to the recipe card for full, exact instructions.
Step 1: Peel and mash bananas in a large bowl.
Step 2: Add flour, cottage cheese and beaten eggs to the mashed bananas.
Step 3: Stir in melted butter, maple syrup, vanilla, baking powder and a pinch of salt.
Step 4: Combine gently, cover, and let the batter rest about 10 minutes.
Step 5: Heat a griddle or large nonstick pan over medium-low and add butter.
Step 6: Spoon about 1/3 cup batter per pancake onto the hot griddle. Cook 2–3 minutes until edges set and bubbles form, then flip.
Step 7: Cook another 1–2 minutes until golden and cooked through.
Step 8: Transfer pancakes to a plate and serve with butter, maple syrup and fresh fruit.
Expert tips
- Don’t overmix. Stir until just combined — a few lumps are fine. Overmixing makes pancakes tough and dense.
- Preheat the griddle or pan. A properly heated surface keeps the pancakes from soaking up too much butter and ensures even browning. Adjust the heat as needed for consistent cooking.
Variations
Try these ideas to customize your banana protein pancakes:
- Berries — Fold in blueberries, raspberries or chopped strawberries.
- Chocolate chips — Add dark, semi-sweet, milk or white chocolate chips.
- Extra savory protein — Mix in crumbled bacon, cooked breakfast sausage, or diced ham.
- Toppings — Use flavored syrups, warmed nut butter, chocolate-hazelnut spread, or a dollop of Greek yogurt.
Frequently asked questions
Microwaving unpeeled bananas in 30-second intervals until softened speeds ripening. For more time, roast unpeeled bananas in a 250°F oven on a rimmed sheet for 30–60 minutes to concentrate flavor and soften the fruit.
A cast-iron griddle, electric griddle, cast-iron skillet or a good nonstick pan all work well for even browning and easy flipping.
Flip when the edges look set and bubbles form and pop on the surface, leaving holes. Use a thin, wide spatula for clean flips.
Keep finished pancakes on a large baking sheet in a 200°F oven while you cook the rest to stay warm without drying out.
You can, but reheated pancakes often become tough. For best results, make the batter ahead and refrigerate it, then cook pancakes the next morning.
What to serve with pancakes
Classic sides include crispy bacon, breakfast sausage or a fresh fruit salad. For heartier meals, consider quiche squares, ham and egg cups, or savory egg muffins.
More breakfast and brunch recipes
-
Crustless Spinach and Bacon Quiche Squares Recipe
-
Super Easy Ham and Egg Cups
-
Quinoa Egg Muffins ~ A Make-Ahead Breakfast
-
Muffin Tin Scrambled Eggs ~ Keto and Paleo
One more thing
Did you try this recipe?
Leave a comment and rating below to share your experience. Thanks — Amy
Recipe
Protein Pancakes with Bananas and Cottage Cheese
Equipment
- stacking glass bowls
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- rubber spatula
- griddle or large sauté pan
- pancake spatula
Ingredients
- 3 large ripe bananas about 1½ cups mashed
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup cottage cheese
- 2 large eggs beaten
- 2 tablespoons melted salted butter plus extra for cooking
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- pinch kosher salt
- cut up fruit butter and maple syrup for serving
Instructions
- In a large bowl, add peeled bananas and mash with a fork.
- To the same bowl, add flour, cottage cheese, beaten eggs, melted butter, maple syrup, vanilla, baking powder and a pinch of kosher salt. Gently combine until just incorporated; a few lumps are fine. Cover and let rest about 10 minutes.
- Heat a griddle or large sauté pan over medium-low and add 1 tablespoon butter. When melted, work in batches: add about ⅓ cup batter per pancake. Cook until edges are set and bubbles form, about 2–3 minutes. Flip and cook another 2–3 minutes. Transfer to a platter and repeat, adding more butter as needed.
- Serve warm with butter, maple syrup and fresh fruit.
Notes
Berries: Stir in blueberries or chopped strawberries. Chips: Add chocolate chips. Protein: Fold in cooked crumbled bacon or sausage. Toppings: Try flavored syrups, warmed nut butter, chocolate-hazelnut spread or Greek yogurt.
Nutritional information is an estimate based on the ingredients and methods used.
Nutrition
| Calories: 333 kcal
| Carbohydrates: 55.8 g
| Protein: 8.7 g
| Fat: 9.1 g
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