Protein pancake bowls are healthy as oatmeal, quick as toast, and delicious as…pancakes! Microwave your yummy pancake bowl in 1 minute!
If you love pancakes but don’t make them because they’re too much trouble, too many calories, or not on your diet, these one minute pancake bowls are for you!
If you were my best friend, my neighbor, or my sister I’d be looking you straight in the eye and insisting that you try this best breakfast ever. If you have kids, omg you’ll win parenting right here. I’ve been making them on a daily basis because I’m still in the obsession phase of my love affair with these pancake bowls.
If you think pancakes can’t be a healthy option for breakfast, think again. I’ve always loved pancakes made with whole grains ~ in fact I think pancakes are one of those rare foods that taste even better in their ‘healthy‘ form. Whole grains give pancakes great flavor and texture. These protein pancake bowls are my new healthy breakfast obsession and they take just a minute in the microwave!
To make these bowls easy enough for busy mornings I use a good quality whole grain protein pancake mix. There are so many on the market and they’re easy to find in the regular supermarket. If the mix contains whole food ingredients such as oats, whole wheat flour, and protein powder, it can be a good source of fiber, complex carbohydrates, and protein making it a healthy idea for breakfast.
How to choose a healthy mix for pancake bowls
My personal choice is Kodiak whole grain protein pancake mix. I discovered the brand by accident when I bought one of their single serve pancake cups (you know I love my pancakes in a mug.) There are quite a few good healthy brands out there, so if you want to experiment here are some guidelines:
- Read the ingredients list: Look for mixes that contain whole food ingredients such as whole grain flour, oats, nuts, and seeds.
- Avoid mixes that contain a lot of added sugars.
- Avoid flavored mixes which can contain sugar and artificial flavors and additives.
- Check the numbers: Look for mixes that are high in fiber and protein, and low in added sugars and saturated fat. Aim for a mix that has at least 3 grams of fiber and 5 grams of protein per serving.
- Look for ‘just add water’ mix which works best for these easy pancake bowls.
your toppings
My bowls get an added boost from fresh fruit, nuts, and seeds, although all you really need is butter and maple syrup!
- strawberries + flax seeds
- blueberries + granola or muesli
- blackberries + hazelnuts
- oranges + chia seeds
- bananas + wheatgerm
- raspberries + almonds
- mini chocolate chips (you didn’t hear it from me.)
100% pure maple syrup
Pure maple syrup is a sweetener, yes, but it also contains antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals such as zinc and manganese, which provide some nutritional benefits.
Compared to other sweeteners, pure maple syrup has a lower glycemic index, which means it doesn’t cause a spike in your blood sugar. Use it in moderation; I use about a tablespoon per pancake bowl. And make sure you always buy the real deal: pure maple syrup!
how to make a protein pancake bowl
step 1. Add pancake mix to a bowl
For a single bowl I use 1/3 cup mix. Choose a bowl with a deeper cup shape rather than a flat wide shape.
step 2. stir well
Stir just until there is no dry mix left. Small lumps are ok. The batter will be thin.
step 3. microwave
This takes 60 seconds on high in my microwave. (You may need to test yours to find your perfect time.)
step 4. add toppings
I add a pat of butter, fruit, and maple syrup.
questions…questions!
How many pancakes is a pancake bowl equal to?
- One pancake. But it feels like you’re getting so much more 🙂
Can I use milk or buttermilk in place of water?
- Test it to see how you like the results. I find that water results in the fluffiest pancake bowl.
Can I use regular pancake mix this way?
- It depends. The regular pancake mixes I tested did not work as well, but you may find one that does. Make sure it’s an ‘add water only’ mix for best single serve results. Or you can make a batch of the mix according to instructions (with milk, eggs, oil etc.) and then divide between several bowls.
Can I use my own homemade pancake batter this way?
- Yes, but if your batter is thick you may need to thin it a bit to work better in a microwaved bowl.
Can I make a bigger pancake bowl?
- I found 1/3 cup mix to be the best amount. Anything more and the pancake doesn’t cook properly.
Can I put fruit in the batter, rather than on top?
- Yes, that works! Be careful though, the fruit gets hot in the microwave.
Can I make a low carb or vegan pancake bowl?
- Yup, Kodiak brand makes both a carb conscious and a plant based protein pancake mix.
I love to get creative with breakfast
- Strawberry Sheet Pan Pancakes
- Beautiful Breakfast Tart (Gluten Free)
- Breakfast Burritos
- Glazed Old Fashioned Buttermilk Doughnut Bundt Cake
- Sheet Pan Frittata with Spring Greens
- How to Make a Pancake in a Mug!
- Blueberry Pancake Muffins
Protein Pancake Bowls
Equipment
- microwave-safe bowl mine has a 2 cup capacity and is 5 inches in diameter.
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup whole grain protein pancake mix
- 1/3 cup water, experiment with the exact amount, you might want to add a bit more water as pancake mixes vary.
- butter
- maple syrup
optional topping ideas
- strawberries + chia seeds
- blueberries + granola or muesli
- blackberries + hazelnuts
- bananas and wheat germ
- oranges + flax seeds
- raspberries and almonds
- mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- Put your pancake mix in your bowl and add the water. Stir to mix until no dry flour is left. Small lumps are fine. The batter will be thin.
- Microwave on high for 1 minute.
- Remove and top with butter and maple syrup. Add any optional fruit toppings.
- Enjoy!
So simple and so delicious! I added a pinch of salt and a bit of cinnamon to the batter–just my taste. It seemed like magic, but it worked perfectly. I’ll be having these for breakfast often.
(I’d like to take this opportunity to say that I don’t understand why the Search option on your new Web site doesn’t work–and where did all my saved recipes go?)
I’m so glad you loved these! The search bars work for me, if you email me I can help you troubleshoot.
This was really good! I wanted a taste before I added the fruit and the next thing I know, it was gone and I never did add the fruit. Next time! I did have to add about 15 more seconds to the cook time, probably due to my higher altitude though.
I don’t use a microwave. Can I use my regular oven? Or perhaps an air fryer?
Unfortunately this is formulated for a microwave Lillian. The microwave is such a unique way of cooking that it can’t really be replicated. The best I can suggest is to make your protein pancake the traditional way and enjoy it with the toppings!
You can use club soda instead of plain water. Makes a fluffy pancake.
I like that!