Medically reviewed and cowritten by Jamie Johnson, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), and Lauren Braaten, Pediatric Occupational Therapist (OT).
Banana Pancakes Video
Watch this video to see just how easy these banana pancakes are to make!
These Banana Pancakes are a ridiculously easy and quick breakfast, lunch, or snack for your kids! This is my go-to recipe that only requires three simple ingredients—banana, egg, and flour—and yet they turn out perfectly fluffy and soft every time! Great for 6+ months, babies, baby-led weaning, toddlers, kids, and adults (yes, you!).
Banana Pancakes for Baby & Toddler
Are you looking for an easy and healthy pancake recipe you can toss together for your baby or toddler in less than 10 minutes? 🤔
I’ve got you!
These 3-ingredient Banana Pancakes are going to be your jam if you want a recipe that:
✓ requires 3 pantry staple ingredients
✓ is made in one bowl and takes less than 10 minutes to make
✓ is great for your baby, blw, toddlers, and kids
✓ leftovers (if there are any) are freezer-friendly
Both of my girls started their pancake journey with cut-up strips of my Spinach Blender Pancakes and Whole Wheat Pancakes, but one morning I was sleep-deprived due to a teething baby, out of coffee, and generally not feeling like making breakfast for a food-resistant toddler, but I dug down deep into my caffeine-deprived reservoir, riffled into my pantry and whipped up this easy recipe on a whim. I was shocked when the recipe turned out! I was probably even more shocked when my toddler, who was turning their nose at everything, dug into 3 huge servings of pancakes!
Since that fateful morning, I have made this recipe HUNDREDS of times (with varying caffeine levels) and my entire family still devours these pancakes every-single-time.
#momhack—Over the years, I have learned to double or triple this recipe, depending on how many ripe bananas I have on my counter. No matter how many batches of these banana pancakes I make, they are always eaten by the end of the day. If you have some leftovers, you can place them in a stasher bag and keep them in the freezer.
And while these pancakes are made to be easy, so don’t feel like you need to serve them with anything too complicated, here are some of my favorite ways to serve them:
- smeared with peanut butter, cut in half and served for baby-led weaning
- cut into strips and served with a side of spiced yogurt to dip them in
- spread with cream cheese or nut butter and made into a sandwich
- cut into chunks and serve with maple syrup on the side
- drizzled with honey and sprinkled with hemp seeds (for toddlers 1+ years)
Are you ready to make these 5-Star Banana Pancakes for your family? YES! That’s what I thought. Let’s get cooking.
Ingredients
Make sure to read the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions!
- Banana: you are looking for a ripe banana with a couple of brown spots on it. Bananas with brown spots are not only sweeter but they also help with constipation instead of aiding to it (like yellow bananas).
- Egg: one large egg is needed to bind everything together.
- Flour: I used whole wheat in this version, but all-purpose, white whole wheat, oat flour or a one-for-one gluten-free flour also works.
- Cinnamon: I love adding a pinch of cinnamon to my banana pancakes to really up the taste factor. But you can also omit this spice if you prefer. I also have a list below of other fun ingredients you can add into the pancakes if you are feeling fancy.
Let’s Make the Perfect Banana Pancakes!
In a medium bowl, mash the banana until smooth. Add in the egg, flour and cinnamon.
With a fork or whisk, mix the ingredients until just incorporated. Don’t go crazy here, just mix until the flour is absorbed.
Spoon the batter onto a medium skillet over medium-low heat and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side.
Tools Needed
- Mixing Bowl
- Skillet
- Purple Plate
- Grabease Purple Baby Fork
- Catch Pocket Bib
- Open Lid Cup
- Bumpkins Baby Grip Plate
If you are here, then I know you need even more kid-friendly meals. I’ve got you! Check out my best-selling cookbook Little Foodies: Recipes for Babies and Toddlers with Taste.
Add-Ins
You can make these easy pancakes as-is or add in a pinch of spices or finely chopped fruit. Here are a couple of my favorite additions:
- Cinnamon
- Cloves
- Pumpkin Spice Mix
- Nutmeg
- Vanilla
- Strawberries (finely chopped)
- Blueberries (finely chopped)
- Peaches (finely chopped, towel-dried)
Baby-led Weaning Pancakes
These pancakes are perfect for baby-led weaning or as a finger food because they are soft to eat and your baby can easily pick them up in their hands for a palmar grasp or with their pincer grasp if they cut into smaller chunks. You can serve them to your baby sliced in half or cut into small chunks.
Banana Pancakes for Toddler and Kids
These quick and easy pancakes are also great for toddlers and kids. You can serve them a smear of cream cheese or peanut butter, topped with yogurt and berries or the classic version with butter and syrup.
BLW Feeding Tips
- Be aware of changes that may be needed in your own diet. Foods prepared for adults may not always be suitable for infants, especially depending on sodium levels, seasonings used, or style of cooking.
- Serve and cut foods to help with grasp and minimize frustration – cut food into 2-3′ strips or sticks (about the size of 2 adult fingers) for babies 6-9 months old. You can shred or cut foods into pea sized pieces once baby reaches 9-12 months old to promote fine motor grasp.
- Have a plan for making clean-up easier, such as bibs that double as “food catchers,” a large mat underneath the highchair, a good vacuum, or a helpful dog! It might feel tempting to do so, but hold off on wiping your baby’s face and hands until the end of the meal. You might even consider taking your baby to the sink and letting them rinse their hands and face there afterward.
Storing and Freezing
Because we are not using any salt or preservatives in these pancakes, they tend to store in an air-tight container for only 1-2 days. You can freeze pancakes and will last up to 3 months in the freezer. To reheat, gently heat in the microwave or toaster.
3-Ingredient Banana Pancakes for Baby
Ingredients
Instructions
- Mash: in a medium bowl, mash the banana until very smooth with only a few lumps.
- Add: add in the flour, egg and cinnamon (if using).
![Small pink bowl with 3 ingredients for banana pancakes.]()
- Mix: with a fork or whisk, mix until everything is combined.
![Pink bowl with 3 ingredients for banana pancakes for baby.]()
- Cook: heat a medium skillet over medium heat, spray with cooking spray or add a little butter if needed. Drop one tablespoon of batter on the skillet and let cook for 3-4 minutes or until the sides are starting to become firm and the bottoms are golden brown. You will not see any bubbles like traditional pancakes. Flip and cook for another 2-3 minutes or until golden brown.
![Pan with banana pancakes cooking.]()
- Serve: let cool slightly and serve.
![Hand holding a piece of banana pancakes for baby or toddler.]()
Video
Notes
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- Size: these pancakes are supposed to be on the smaller size, so roughly 1 tablespoon of batter will make the perfect size for a baby or toddler. If made any bigger, they start to fall apart when flipped.
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- Ripe Banana: you will want to use a banana that is ripe with a few brown spots on it for this recipe. Riper bananas are sweeter than green bananas, and since we are not adding any sugar to this recipe, the ripe bananas will provide more flavor and sweetness. Also, ripe bananas with brown spots actually help relieve constipation, as opposed to unripened bananas (green or all yellow) that may cause constipation because they have more starch in them.
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