Baby Banana Pancakes (3 Ingredients)
Soft 3 ingredient baby banana pancakes made with banana, egg, and a nutrient booster like iron cereal. Ready in 10 minutes for babies 6 months+.
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I (Nita) first started making these banana egg pancakes when my baby began solids back in 2017. Nearly a decade later, my kids still gleefully ask for them by name! And honestly, it's my favourite kind of recipe anyhow: quick, easy, and nutritious.
They're a great option for babies starting solids too, whether you're jumping into baby led weaning or even if you're just exploring purées or mashed textures. Besides-the research is clear, one feeding method is not better than the other. 😉
They're also wonderfully forgiving. No fancy techniques or perfectly round pancakes required! Just a simple recipe that offers your baby the stuff they need like iron and choline plus natural sweetness from bananas.
Pair these easy baby banana pancakes with other iron-rich foods throughout the day to help meet your baby's iron needs, and you've got a breakfast worth keeping in your rotation.
Looking for more nutrition baby recipes? Try these fruit pouch pancakes, tahini oat bars, or this family recipe for baby's first Indian daal.
Recipe Overview: Baby Banana Pancakes
- 3 ingredients. Nothing fancy. All nourishing.
- Takes 10 minutes to make = perfect for busy mornings
- One breakfast for everyone - all the little ones love 'em.
- Nutrients little ones need (Iron! Choline! Fibre!)
- No added sugar here! Thank you bananas.
- Use what you have! Lots of options for the nutrient booster.
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- Recipe Overview: Baby Banana Pancakes
- Key ingredients
- Allergen information and substitutes
- How to make these baby banana pancakes
- Serving suggestions for each age & stage
- Baby Banana Pancakes FAQs
- Play + books that match this recipe
- More baby led weaning breakfast recipes
- Baby Banana Pancakes (3 ingredients)
Key ingredients
Banana
Banana's natural sweetness allows these pancakes to be free of added sugar, while still being tasty! Be sure to pick a ripe banana-this helps with the taste and texture.
If your baby loves bananas you may want to also give our one bowl baby banana waffles a try or these tahini porridge fingers too. They're viral for a reason and we love them just as much as our kids!
Egg
On top of keeping these pancakes together, 1 egg also provides 6.5g of protein. Eggs are also a top source of choline, an important nutrient for growing brains.
Nutrient booster
You have a few options to from! Choose a nutrient booster based on what you have on hand or the nutrients you'd like to add to your little one's meal.
Pro tip: Keep the 'boosters' in the freezer to lengthen their shelf-life!
Almond flour
For healthy fats, vitamin E and allergen exposure. Plus, a nutty flavour that pairs really well with the banana!
Iron fortified baby cereal
You know we are huge fans of iron for little ones, since babies' iron needs are so sky high! Iron fortified baby cereal is an easy way to boost the iron in these pancakes.
Your pancakes will be a little more delicate with this booster, which honestly works well for new eaters as the pancakes will almost dissolve in their mouths.
If you find yourself unsure about iron cereal, you're not the only one. There are a lot of mixed messages about it on social media. That's why we wrote a guide with everything you need to know about iron cereal for babies.
Wheat germ
If you're looking to give your pancakes a little more texture (in a good way) and include more some plant-based protein, fibre, and even some iron then wheat germ is the booster for you!
Allergen information and substitutes
There are three potential allergens in this recipe, depending on which nutrient booster you use - eggs, almonds, and/or wheat.
While we often recommend substituting a flax egg if you are looking to avoid eggs (like these lentil fritters), we don't recommend it for these baby banana pancakes! The recipe just will not work.
To avoid almonds simply choose iron cereal or wheat germ as your booster.
Similarly, to avoid wheat your booster choice could be almond flour or an oat-based baby cereal.
If you're feeling unsure about allergens for your baby, we got you too! We have an entire lesson on introducing allergens in our 5-star Start Solids Confidently ecourse that will leave you feeling empowered to feed your baby all the things!
How to make these baby banana pancakes
Step #1: In a small bowl, mash banana until slightly runny. Whisk in egg, nutrient booster and any other add in until well combined.
Step #2: Heat your pan to medium heat and drizzle in vegetable oil. Spoon 2 tablespoon of batter onto the pan.
Step #3: Flip once the the pancakes start to bubble or the edges appear golden brown.
Step #4: Once cooked through, serve a balanced baby plate to your little eater.
Serving suggestions for each age & stage
4-6 months: If your baby is ready to start solids at this age, we recommend sticking with purées. Mashing a cooked banana pancake with some formula or breastmilk to a puréed or mashed consistency works great!
Alternatively you could simply mash a ripe banana with one of the nutrient boosters as even an easier nutrient dense baby breakfast.
Or if you want to get fancy, try this easy banana baby custard!
6-9 months: Serving these pancakes whole is our favorite way at this age. They are just the right size and texture for new eaters to pick up, play with, and eat!
9-12 months: Serving the pancakes whole is still an option. When your baby develops their pincer grasp, you can slice the baby banana pancakes into bite-sized pieces. We're also fans of smearing a thin layer of nut butter on the top for some added fat and an allergen exposure.
Toddlers and the rest of the family: No need to modify. Our kids love dipping them in our fan-favorite chia berry sauce.
Baby Banana Pancakes FAQs
To ensure your pancakes flip well and don't break apart, follow these tips:
- Use a non-stick pan
- Add enough oil to coat the pan
- Allow time for the oil to heat in the pan prior to adding the pancake batter
- Cook at a low temperature for a longer time (low and slow, baby!)
Mashing your banana to an even consistency without too many lumps will also help your pancakes flip well.
If your pancakes are still sticking, you probably need to add a bit more booster. Start with adding 1 teaspoon and work up from there till your pancakes flip more easily. A bigger banana is usually the cause.
You'll know that the pancake is ready to be flipped when the edges firm up and the top loses its sheen. After flipping, the center should feel set, not wet, when gently pressed. Both sides sides will be slightly golden brown. Since eggs cook quite fast, rest assured your pancakes will be ready in about 6-7 minutes.
These pancakes are a great option for quick nutritious breakfasts for babies and toddlers, but they're not freezer friendly. Their delicate egg-forward texture doesn't hold up when frozen and thawed. However, if you have leftovers, just store the pancakes in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two days and reheat in the microwave or on a pan to serve again.
If you're looking for freezer friendly baby recipes that hit every time, try our fluffy cheddar egg muffins, strawberry frozen yogurt bark, or sweet potato lentil fritters - they're all great from the freezer and can be served at breakfast, lunch, or dinner!
Using fresh ripe bananas is going to give you the best texture and consistency with these banana egg pancakes. Frozen bananas are too watery and lead to a batter that won't hold up or flip well.
If you have frozen bananas to use may we suggest you give our coconut banana baby muffins a go? This is a recipe that might even work BETTER with frozen bananas!
We don't recommend adding other fruit to this pancake batter as it is too delicate and wouldn't flip well. The berries will be too heavy for the batter.
Play + books that match this recipe
When kids get the chance to interact with "food " during playtime, they become more comfortable with the food, and are more likely to want to eat it at mealtimes! Here are some options to include bananas and pancakes during play and story time.
More baby led weaning breakfast recipes
If you tried these baby banana pancakes or any other recipe on our blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let us know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Baby Banana Pancakes (3 ingredients)
Ingredients
- 1 medium ripe banana
- 1 large egg
Nutrient Booster (choose one)
- 2 tablespoon almond flour
- 1 tablespoon fortified infant cereal
- 1 tablespoon wheat germ
Optional/for Cooking
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon optional
- 1 teaspoon vegetable oil for cooking
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mash banana with a fork until slightly runny.
- Mix in egg until well combined.
- Add in your choice of nutrient booster and cinnamon, if using.
- Heat a large non-stick pan to medium low heat and coat the bottom with vegetable oil.
- Spoon 2 tablespoon of batter onto the pan.
- Cook for about 4-5 minutes, until the edges firm up and the top loses its sheen. If you try to flip too early, the pancake will fall apart. Patience is key!
- Flip and cook for another 1-2 minutes, until the center feels set, not wet, when gently pressed.
- If your pan is too small to fit all the pancakes at once, re-oil the pan in between batches.
