Want a breakfast that is full of protein and good-for-you carbs? Look no further! You are going to love these fluffy, flavorful pancakes!
I love making a big batch of these pancakes and then sticking them in the freezer so that I can have quick breakfasts for busy mornings.
Let’s jump right in!
How to make Cinnamon Vanilla Protein Pancakes
The first key ingredient is Kodiak Cakes. Have you heard of Kodiak Cakes? It’s a pancake mix that is made with 100% whole grains, packed with fiber, and loaded with vitamins and nutrients. The best part about this pancake mix is the ingredient list – I can pronounce every ingredient on that label!
Did I mention that their pancake mixes are also loaded with PROTEIN?!
Basically every healthy eaters dream come true!
To make these pancakes, you are going to mix Kodiak Cakes (I used buttermilk) mix with a scoop of vanilla protein powder. Add in some baking soda, vanilla extract, an egg, milk, and cinnamon.
Mix it all together, cook them on a griddle – and BAM! Healthy breakfast (or lunch, dinner, or snack) is served!
Why is protein so important?
Protein is a naturally-occurring organic compound that is essential to the structural components of body tissue, especially muscle and collagen.
In simple terms: protein helps build and repair cells that are damaged and need to be rebuilt/replaced (i.e. after a killer workout! Need a good workout? Try this one!).
Need more reasons why you should have more protein in your diet?
- Because it is such a great source of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA’s) protein serves to repair body cells, muscles, and bones – especially when taken immediately after a workout.
- Some studies say that there may be some anti-inflammatory properties in protein which may ameliorate delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) (the whole “2-days-after-my-workout-and-I-can-barely-move” thing!).
- A little-known benefit of regular protein consumption is that it can actually help you to lose weight! When taken before meals it has been proven to help people drop pounds. But that’s not all – when combined with regular exercise it can actually boost metabolic rate and help you naturally burn more calories each day.
If you want to learn more about protein, you can read all about it here: What is Whey Protein and Why Should I Take It?
What kind of protein is in Kodiak Cakes?
For the Power Cakes Buttermilk Flapjack and Waffle mix, they use the following proteins:
- wheat protein isolate (a dietary supplement that is rich in protein and low in carbohydrates and fat; not made from dairy products)
- whey protein isolate (comes from dairy; higher protein and less carbs and fat than whey protein concentrate)
- milk protein isolate (filtered product designed to concentrate the protein in milk)
Per serving of Kodiak cakes, you get 14 g of protein. If you prepare the mix with an egg and milk, you can have up to 21 g of protein per serving.
How to Freeze Protein Pancakes
It’s easy to make these ahead of time and then freeze them for another date. Here’s how:
- Make pancakes as directed and let them cool completely.
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and place the cooled pancakes in a single layer on top of parchment, making sure they do not overlap or touch each other.
- If you are freezing more than one layer, just add another sheet of parchment paper to separate the layers.
- Place baking sheet in the freezer for about 5-6 hours or until pancakes are frozen.
- Stack pancakes in a resealable gallon-sized freezer bag. Stick in the freezer and pull out as needed. They will stay good for up to 60 days (possibly longer – I have never had them last that long at my house because we always eat them).
When you are ready to reheat your pancakes, put in the microwave for 60-90 seconds or until pancake is heated through. You can also reheat them in the oven – put them in a single layer on a baking sheet and cover baking sheet with foil. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes or until pancakes are heated through.
You could also put the pancakes in a toaster to heat them up quickly.
The Best Calorie-Free Syrup
If you are counting calories but still want to enjoy syrup, try this calorie-free syrup!
This blueberry syrup has great taste (this isn’t sponsored, I am just sharing my honest opinion), but it’s Sugar Free, Calorie Free, Fat Free, Carb Free, Gluten Free!
It also comes in maple syrup, strawberry syrup, caramel, and chocolate.
What are the nutrition facts of these protein pancakes?
One batch of these pancakes will make about 6 4-inch pancakes. Each pancake has 72 calories, 1.7 g of fat, 5.4 g of carbs, and 7.8 g of protein.
I love starting my day with some healthy carbs and a good balance of fats and proteins.
If you are counting macros, this is a great choice for breakfast, lunch, or snack!
Want to know what I eat in 4 weeks to lose weight?
Here’s my 4 Week 1500 Calorie Healthy Meal Plan – breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks.
Each day is perfectly calculated to 1500 calories by a registered dietitian.
All recipes are family-friendly and budget-friendly – it makes weight loss taste good!
Check out these other healthy breakfast choices:
- 100% Whole Wheat Freezer Waffles
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Protein Smoothie
- Frozen Healthy Breakfast Burritos
- Honey Banana Muffins
- Healthy Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies
- ½ cup Kodiak Cakes Power Cakes (I used buttermilk)
- ⅓ cup vanilla protein powder (I used Body Fortress Whey Protein)
- 1 egg
- ⅓ cup skim milk (more if needed; almond milk also works great)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Dash of cinnamon (more or less, depending on how much you like)
- Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Add more milk if your mixture is too thick, but dry not to overstir the batter (that can make the batter tough).
- Pour about ¼ cup of batter onto a hot non-stick skillet or griddle (I have my griddle set at 350 degrees or cook them on a skillet on the stove top over medium heat).
- Flip once during cooking, after a minute or two.
- Serve with your favorite fruit, nut butter, or the best calorie-free syrup on top!
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