Banana Pancakes for Babies and Toddlers

4 Ingredient Banana Pancakes for babies and toddlers with no sugar added and sweetness entirely from banana! Perfect for baby led weaning and toddlers alike. The whole family will love this easy baby pancakes breakfast recipe made from simple ingredients!

I promised myself that in 2023 I would start to share some of the recipes I make frequently for Sydney. The baby food world has A LOT of opinions so I’m not going to get into any of that or the “right” way to feed your baby (hint: there’s no right way) but I love being able to share some of our hit baby food recipes with you.

The hardest part of feeding Sydney has been coming up with recipes that are baby-friendly and also delicious. Would my kid eat cheerios everyday? Probably. But I like to at least offer some homemade food like these baby pancakes.

But let’s be real, new parents and parents of young kids have NO time. Quick and easy baby food recipes are the only option. These banana baby pancakes are no exception. Just 4 ingredients and a blender (though the blender is entirely optional). These are consistently a hit and honestly, I oftentimes find myself eating any leftovers.

What You Need for Baby Pancakes

• Oat flour – purchase store-bought or grind in your blender (if purchasing store-bought you can avoid using your blender for this recipe).
• Banana– very ripe banana for sweetness.
• Egg – a great source of protein and allergen exposure for your baby. If allergic or sensitive to eggs you can substitute a flax egg.
• Milk – regular whole milk, plant-based milk or even breastmilk or formula can be used in this recipe.
• Optional: cinnamon or other spices.

How to Make Pancakes for Babies

These banana pancakes can easily be made in a blender or if using store-bought oat flour can be made in one large bowl.

STEP 1: BLEND OATS

Add your rolled oats to your blender and blend until it forms a flour. Alternatively skip this step if you purchased store-bought oat flour.

STEP 2: FORM BATTER

Add your banana, egg and milk to the oat flour and blend until smooth in the blender. If you don’t have a blender and/or are using store-bought oat flour, mash your banana with a potato masher or the back of a fork and then mix with oat flour, egg and milk and any other add-ins.

STEP 3: COOK PANCAKES

Heat up a non-stick skillet over medium heat and add butter or coconut oil to pan. Pour a little dollop of batter from the blender or use a spoon to form miniature pancakes (or full-size for older kids or if cutting into finger foods).

Cook for 2-3 minutes or until all bubbles have popped. Flip pancakes with a spatula and cook for 1 more minute.

How to Serve Pancakes for Babies and Toddlers

How you serve these pancakes depends on the age of your baby or toddler.

For babies 6-9 months: Serve as miniature pancakes that they can easily grab and gnaw on. Perfect for parents doing baby led weaning.

For babies 9-18 months: cut into small pieces that they can easily pick up to practice their pincer grasp and fine motor skills. Ideal for helping babies practice with finger foods.

For toddlers 18 months+: Serve as mini or full size pancakes and top with an assortment of toppings. Allow toddlers to practice using utensils to cut their pancakes.

Toppings for Baby Pancakes

These banana baby pancakes are a great base for toppings and testing allergens. I would cycle through different nut butters on top to expose Syd to different nuts or even just butter or yogurt to get in a little more calcium. Truly the sky’s the limit with these baby pancakes. Here are some ideas:

• Peanut butter or other nut butters
• Yogurt
• Chia seeds and hemp seeds
• Fresh berries or fresh fruit (cut appropriately for baby’s age)
• Banana slices
• Maple syrup (for older babies)

Prepping + Storing Pancakes

These banana pancakes can easily be prepped ahead of time and stored in the fridge or freezer.

You can store them in fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

I recommend freezing in packs of 2 or 3 and you can pop them in the microwave for 20-30 seconds first thing in the morning. Just wrap in tinfoil and place packs in a ziploc bag. Remove from tinfoil before microwaving.

FAQs

Can I make these with other types of flour? Yes, you will likely need to adjust the amount of milk. Whole Wheat flour should work but add in extra splashes of milk, 1 tablespoon at a time.

What if my baby can’t have eggs? Replace the egg with a flax egg by combining 1 tbsp of ground flax to 3 tbsp of warm water. Let sit for 5 minutes. Ground flax is also a great source of fiber!

Can I double or triple this recipe? Yes! I oftentimes double this recipe so I have lots of extra to freeze.

What if my baby doesn’t like banana? You can make a savory version of these baby pancakes by replacing each banana with 1/2 cup of pumpkin puree. Add in spices that baby likes or you want to test out. Both banana and pumpkin are great sources of potassium.

Can I add spinach to these baby pancakes? Absolutely! I will add a cup of spinach to the blender when I make these. Your kid won’t taste them but it’s an extra dose of vitamins and nutrients.

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