Chocolate Banana-Oat Pancakes

AKA Good Night Gorilla Pancakes inspired by the children’s book by Peggy Rathmann. Monkey-around with this yummy pancake recipe! Chocolate Banana-Oat Pancakes (with a handful of spinach blended it!) for a fun story and snack combo to get your child excited about trying something new or just a great way to spend some time in the kitchen together and have some fun. These chocolatey pancakes could be served as a healthy snack or a nutritious breakfast!

Our copy of this classic children’s book is very well loved. I think there was a period of a couple of months where Henry insisted we read it several times a day. You’ve been there, right?

Kids in the Kitchen: Chocolate Banana-Oat Pancakes

• This pancake batter is super easy to make with any aged child. Just add everything to a blender and blend away! A little cocoa powder adds some extra fun and a little spinach adds a little veggie power. With the natural sweetness of banana, it’s a winning combo! If you want your child to be more likely to eat his veggies in the future, be sure to have him add the spinach to the blender. It counts as great exposure to those greens!
• Up at the stove and want to keep your little one occupied (and out of the way)? Get out a child-safe knife or butter knife and have her slice a banana or some strawberries while you cook the pancakes. You can then use the fruit to decorate the pancakes or just eat on the side.
• Decorate: For some extra fun, spread a couple of pancakes with peanut butter (or any spread you like), slice up some bananas together, and top the pancakes with banana and blueberries to make a monkey/gorilla face. See picture for some ideas.

Chocolate Banana-Oat Pancakes

Easy blender pancakes. Super healthy and kid-approved.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 25 minutes mins

Course Breakfast

Cuisine American

Servings 10 pancakes

Equipment

• Blender

Ingredients

  

• 1 ripe banana
• 1 egg
• 1 1/2 cups rolled oats gluten-free if desired
• 1 cup baby spinach one big handful
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup milk (any kind)
• 1 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder or raw cacao powder
• 1 pinch salt
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• oil or butter, for cooking

Instructions

 

• Add all ingredients to a blender. Blend until smooth, scrapping down the sides of the blender a few times to make sure nothing is stuck and the batter is well combined.
• Heat a skillet or cast iron pan over medium heat. Grease with oil or butter. Scoop a 1/4 cup of batter per pancake and cook for 1 to 2 minutes per side. Serve warm.

Keyword breakfast, pancakes

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