Chunky Monkey Protein Pancakes

Sunday mornings call for having fun in the kitchen with my girls and making pancakes! Things have been a little crazy lately and we haven’t been around or had the time to make pancakes for a few weeks so when we had a lazy Sunday morning we went all out and had fun. It’s no secret we like peanut butter and who doesn’t like bananas and pancakes? Add chocolate and well now you are really in for a treat and pushing into dessert territory. Haha! The girls love the two ingredient banana pancakes, which in our house really aren’t just two ingredients because I always add oats or flour, often protein powder, and I can’t help but add vanilla and cinnamon. Weather you make these pancakes with chocolate protein, they still won’t have a strong chocolate flavor but more the chocolate Malt-O-Meal flavor you may remember as a kid, or with peanut butter powder (like PB2 or peanut flour) they are delicious! We often make ours in the Vitamix because they are just easy but you can also make them by hand and not grind the oats as fine and mash the banana leaving lumps to have more texture in your pancakes. Top them with a few, or lots, of banana slices and your favorite peanut butter and you have what the girls call Chunky Monkey Pancakes! Honestly these really should be called Not So Chunky Monkey Protein Pancakes. Where did they get the name well monkeys love bananas and according to my youngest peanut butter too because there is a monkey on our favorite Peanut Butter & Co peanut butter jar. I couldn’t argue with that! The only real debate in our kitchen is what peanut butter to use… I thought I would agree and say Dark Chocolate Dreams but after trying with Mighty Maple this Sunday my vote was with Mighty Maple, which even surprised me but they were so good! In the words of my girls they are “crazy good”. If you ask me the only thing that comes to mind is Gwen Stefani, yes this probably dates me but really these pancakes are bananas, B.A.N.A.N.Annas….bananas!

What kind of peanut butter will you put on you Chunky Monkey Protein Pancakes?

Chunky Money Protein Pancakes
Makes 4-6 servings
2 large ripe bananas
4 eggs, or flax eggs
2c oats (used Purely Elizabeth Ancient Grain Granola, gluten free)
2 tsp vanilla extract
2c almond milk, or non dairy milk of choice (used So Delicious Almond Milk, Plus)
2/3c chocolate protein powder, or peanut butter flour/ powder (used Vega Sport Protein, Chocolate)
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, optional

Toppings:
sliced bananas
peanut butter (used Peanut Butter & Co Dark Chocolate Dreams and Peanut Butter & Co Mighty Maple)

If making in a Vitamix, or blender, blend banana, eggs (or flax eggs), vanilla, and milk until smooth. Add in oats, protein powder/peanut flour, baking powder, and cinnamon and blend until just combine. Spray pan or griddle with coconut oil spray, or non-stick spray/ oil, and heat to medium. Pour pancakes into desired size and wait until they bubble and edges start to look set, flip and cook until done. Serve topped or layered with peanut butter and bananas. Enjoy!

If making by hand, grind oats to a flour texture if you want smooth pancakes or as desired. In a large bowl mash bananas with a fork or spoon. Whisk in eggs, vanilla, and milk. Add in oats, protein powder/peanut flour, baking powder, and cinnamon and whisk/stir until just combine. Spray pan or griddle with coconut oil spray, or non-stick spray/ oil, and heat to medium. Pour pancakes into desired size and wait until they bubble and edges start to look set, flip and cook until done. Serve topped or layered with peanut butter and bananas. Enjoy!

And then we made bite size little pb and banana pancakes sandwiches….

Linking up with some fellow bloggers for Foodie Friday! Find other great recipe below.