10 healthy alternative choices for Pancake Day

Our favourite healthy alternative pancake toppings are all super easy to make and will inspire you to make plenty of pancakes to try them all!

As well as vegan and gluten-free options, we’ve also stepped into the savoury corner of Shrove Tuesday, so we’ve got your mains and desserts covered too!

1. Healthy pancake batter

Classic pancake recipes often include added sugar and white flour rather than whole grain. If your topping of choice is a relatively healthy one then following a standard pancake recipe isn't the end of the world.

However, starting off with a pancake batter that still tastes great but is a healthy alternative means that you're getting much more benefits from the mixture. This includes fibre, protein and vitamins. Here's an easy to follow healthy pancake recipe:

(To serve 1)

40g of porridge oats

200ml milk

½ an egg

½ teaspoon of baking powder

1 tablespoon of honey

To make the batter: add the oats and milk into a saucepan and cook over a medium-heat until the milk is absorbed. Transfer to a bowl and add the rest of the ingredients and mix until combined and you’re good to go. Cook the batter like normal, 2-3 minutes and once the edges look cooked you're ready to flip!

2. Apple & Cinnamon

The perfect combination and a delicious winter warmer. Prep your topping by cutting medium-thick slices of apple, add a sprinkling of cinnamon and bake in the oven for 20 minutes.

3. Almond Butter & Bananas

Protein-packed with natural sugars - perfect for all those sweet tooth’s! Simply add some almond butter and slice up your banana.

4. Sweet Potato & Bacon

Everything in moderation is fine, so adding a few rashers of bacon to your pancakes is more than acceptable. Coupled with mini sweet potato roasties, peppers and red onion and you’ve got yourself a delicious dinner time treat.   

5. Mixed Berry Bonanza

Mix together blackberries, blueberries and raspberries in a saucepan, adding in a splash of water and a spoonful of honey to create a naturally sweet sauce.

6. Peaches & Cream

Minus the cream…Swap the calorific cream for smooth, fat free greek yoghurt and finish with a drizzle of honey or maple syrup.

7.Gluten Free pancakes

Not a sprinkling of flour in sight and they taste just as good (if not better!) You’ll need to mash up 2 large bananas, whisk 1 egg, add a pinch of cinnamon and baking powder and mix together to form the batter. Then add blueberries and maple syrup for the topping!

8. Lemon & honey

Bottled lemon juice lacks all the vitamins that fresh lemon provides, give half a lemon a squeeze over your pancakes. The bitterness pairs perfectly with a teaspoon of honey.

9. Feta Cheese & Broccoli

Try something a bit out of your comfort zone and pack your pancakes with some tasty feta and roasted broccoli before moving onto dessert!

10.Vegan Pancakes Featuring Tomatoes & Mushrooms

Swap normal milk for soya milk (400ml), plain flour for self-raising flour (140g) and 1 teaspoon of soya flour instead of eggs. For the topping: chop up some tomatoes and mushrooms, cook in a pan and add 2 tablespoons of soya cream/milk to make a thick sauce and spoon over the pancakes.

We want to see what topping choice you make on Shrove Tuesday, so tweet us your healthy pancakes recipes this Pancake Day @ypoinfo!