Healthy Chunky Monkey Banana Pancakes

Name: Healthy Chunky Monkey Banana Pancakes
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 1 large egg; 1 medium spotty banana (with lots of brown spots = sweeter); 2 tbsp almond milk or oat milk; 1 tsp vanilla extract; ⅔ cup rolled oats; 1 ½ tsp baking powder; ½ tsp cinnamon (optional but I LOVE it); ¼ cup chocolate chips (or chunks); ¼ cup chopped walnuts (leave off if you are nut-free)

The fluffiest healthy chunky monkey banana pancakes that are flourless! Made in a blender with six simple ingredients, they're naturally sweet and gluten-free. Best pancakes ever!

Pancakes are my favorite breakfast! My protein oatmeal pancakes and 3 ingredient banana oat pancakes are both ranked #1 on Google, but these chunky monkey banana pancakes are for all my fellow pancake lovers.

They're insanely delicious-fluffy, buttery, and so easy to make with simple ingredients like oats, banana, egg, milk, and cinnamon. The best part? They're made healthier with oat flour (homemade or store-bought).

I make these at least once a week for a cozy weekend breakfast or quick weekday meal prep. Can't wait for you to try them!

For a fancier weekend version with a caramelized banana topping, my banana foster pancakes are the move.

Why you'll love this recipe:

Flourless & Gluten-Free - Made with oat flour for a wholesome twist!
Ultra Fluffy & Soft - Light, airy texture with crispy, buttery edges.
Quick & Easy - Just blend, cook, and enjoy in minutes!
Naturally Sweet - No refined sugar, just banana goodness.
Meal-Prep Friendly - Perfect for busy mornings or a weekend treat!

stack of healthy oat flour chunky monkey banana pancakes with maple syrup on top and banana slices

What makes these banana pancakes healthy?

These fluffy oat flour chunky monkey banana pancakes are both delicious and nutritious! Here's why:

Naturally Sweetened - No refined sugar, just ripe bananas for natural sweetness.
Oil-Free - No butter or oil, yet still soft and fluffy.
Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free - Made with oat flour and almond or oat milk.
High in Fiber - Oat flour adds fiber and keeps you full longer.

Ingredients & subsitutions

You only need 6 simple ingredients (plus mix-ins!) for these flourless chunky monkey pancakes. Here is a list:

all ingredient in the pancakes including rolled oats, egg, milk, walnuts, chocolate chips, banana, maple syrup, and cinnamon

Banana - Use a super spotty banana for natural sweetness and the best flavor.
Egg - Just one egg makes these pancakes extra fluffy and holds them together.
Milk - I use unsweetened vanilla almond milk, but any milk works (oat, cow's, skim, or cashew).
Vanilla Extract - Adds warm, cozy flavor.
Rolled Oats - Blended into oat flour for a gluten-free base. Quick oats work too, but skip steel-cut oats.
Cinnamon - A touch of spice for extra flavor.
Baking Powder - Makes the pancakes rise and stay fluffy (not the same as baking soda!).
Mix-Ins - Chocolate chips and walnuts make these extra delicious!

How to make healthy chunky monkey banana pancakes

These pancakes come together in just 15 minutes! Here's how to make them step-by-step:

Blend Ingredients - Add all your ingredients to a blender and blend on high for 20-30 seconds until smooth and fully combined.

oat flour pancake batter in blender after blending

Let the Batter Sit - Let the batter sit for 3-5 minutes to thicken. Meanwhile, heat a large nonstick pan over medium heat and lightly grease it with butter or nonstick spray.

cooking chocolate chip walnut banana pancakes in pan

Cook the Pancakes - Pour about ¼ to ⅓ cup of batter onto the hot pan. Top each pancake with chocolate chips and walnuts. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the pancakes puff up and the edges are crispy. Gently flip the pancakes and cook for another 1-2 minutes. Be careful not to overcook them.

Top Tips

Since oat flour is denser than all-purpose flour, you won't see bubbles forming on top of the pancakes. To check if they're ready to flip, lift one gently with a spatula to see if the bottom is browning. If they're browning too quickly, lower the heat!
Let the batter sit to thicken. This is my #1 tip for oat flour pancakes. Oat flour needs to sit for 5 minutes to soak up all the liquid and wet ingredients. If you skip this step, the batter will be loose, and your pancakes will be flat.

Equipment Needed

High-Speed Blender
Large Nonstick Pan
Spatula
Measuring Cups

Topping ideas:

The sky is the limit when it comes to what to top these healthy banana pancakes with. Here are a few ideas:

Banana slices
Maple syrup
Chocolate chips
Walnuts
Pecans
Chocolate shavings
Honey
Whipped cream
Greek yogurt or vanilla yogurt
Fresh berries

pouring syrup on top of healthy oat flour chunky monkey banana pancakes

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are these pancakes called chunky monkey?

Chunky Monkey is inspired by the classic Ben & Jerry's banana ice cream flavor, which features banana, fudge chunks, and walnuts. These pancakes have a similar vibe with banana, chocolate chips, and walnuts, making them a fun, healthy twist on the flavor!

Can I use quick oats?

Yes, you can use quick oats instead of rolled oats for these pancakes. Since all the ingredients are blended together, either works just fine!

Are they gluten-free?

Yes, these pancakes are gluten-free! Just be sure to use certified gluten-free rolled oats.

Can I freeze them?

Absolutely! After making and cooling the pancakes, wrap them loosely in plastic wrap, place them in a freezer-safe bag, and freeze for up to 3 months.

What can I add to these pancakes?

Chocolate chips, walnuts, or even sliced banana are great additions. You can also try adding peanut butter or chopped nuts for extra crunch!

Storage

Storage: If you have leftovers, store the pancakes in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Reheating: For best results, reheat them in the microwave for 30 - 90 seconds until warm.

healthy oat flour chunky monkey banana pancakes

More pancake recipes!

Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

Did you make this recipe?

If you make this recipe, be sure to comment and rate it down below. Also, don't forget to tag me @healthfulblondie on Instagram and use the hashtag #healthfulblondie so I can see your delicious creation and share it with my followers!

📖 Recipe

Healthy Chunky Monkey Banana Pancakes

By: Tati Chermayeff

The fluffiest healthy chunky monkey banana pancakes that are flourless! Made in a blender with six simple ingredients, they're naturally sweet and gluten-free. Best pancakes ever!

5 from 39 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 10

Total Time 15

Serving servings

Ingredients

▢ 1 large egg
▢ 1 medium spotty banana, with lots of brown spots = sweeter
▢ 2 tablespoon almond milk or oat milk
▢ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
▢ ⅔ cup rolled oats
▢ 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
▢ ½ teaspoon cinnamon, optional but I LOVE it
▢ ¼ cup chocolate chips, or chunks
▢ ¼ cup chopped walnuts, leave off if you are nut-free

Instructions

Add all the ingredients into a blender and blend on high for 20 - 30 seconds until fully combined. Let the batter sit for 3 - 5 minutes (to thicken).
Meanwhile, heat a large nonstick pan over medium heat. Lightly butter or oil the pan with non-stick spray.
Pour about ¼ - ⅓ cup of batter onto the hot pan. Top each pancake with a sprinkle of chocolate chips and/or walnuts. Cook for about 2 - 3 minutes until the pancakes puff up and the edges are crispy and firm up. Since oat flour is denser than all-purpose flour, bubbles will not form on the tops of the pancakes. To check if they are ready to flip, gently lift them with a spatula to see if the bottoms are browning. If you find that pancakes are browning too quickly, then you need to lower the heat.
Gently flip and cook the other side for about 1 - 2 minutes. Don't overcook them.
Serve immediately with banana slices, extra chocolate chips, walnuts, maple syrup, or honey!

Notes

Almond Milk: Substitute almond milk for any nut milk or regular milk; cashew, oat, and 2% work well.

Rolled Oats: You can substitute with quick oats but don't substitute with steal-cut oats.

Make them Vegan: You can make these healthy banana pancakes vegan by substituting the egg with one flax egg. Make sure to let the batter sit for 5 minutes to thicken as directed in the original instructions.

No Blender Instructions:

Mash your banana in a mixing bowl.
Whisk in the egg, milk, vanilla, and cinnamon.
Add ½ cup of oat flour (store-bought or homemade) and baking powder.
Let the batter sit to thicken & cook the pancakes as directed in the instructions.

Storing: If you have leftovers, store the oat flour pancakes in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Freezing: Simply make the pancakes as directed, let them cool, then loosely wrap them in plastic wrap, place them in a freezer-safe bag, and freeze them for up to 3 months.

Reheating: For best results, reheat them in the microwave for 30 – 90 seconds until warm.

The nutritional information below is calculated with all the ingredients except walnuts. It includes regular milk chocolate chips.

Nutrition

Course Breakfast

Cuisine American

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Comments

5 from 39 votes (6 ratings without comment)