I don’t know about you but this whole quarantine thing has me ridiculously excited about breakfast every morning. I treat it as a little adventure where every day I have to peek into my fridge or pantry and find something new and exciting to make. I mean, who doesn’t love mixing it up?!
These carrot cake pancakes were a result of me finding carrots in my fridge and oats in the pantry — and admittedly inspired by my obsession with all things carrot cake including: carrot cake smoothie, healthy carrot cake muffins, the best healthy carrot cake (it’s gluten free), carrot cake oatmeal cups, carrot cake cookies and now, these ridiculously delicious healthy carrot cake pancakes!
Just call me the carrot cake queen plz.
Pancake batter made right in the blender
What I love about these carrot cake pancakes is how simply they are to whip up. You just need a blender, a few pantry staples and a nonstick pan. Add all the ingredients minus the mix-ins to a blender and you’ve got yourself an easy carrot cake pancake batter that’s made without any flour — just oats! Yum.
Feel free to try some of my other reader favorite blender pancake recipes that use minimal pantry staples:
Ingredients in carrot cake pancakes
These healthy carrot cake pancakes are made with super simple ingredients that keep them gluten free, dairy free and packed with both fruits & veggies—making them perfect for kids! Here are the ingredients you need:
- Unsweetened applesauce: applesauce keeps these pancakes super moist and flavorful, and adds a touch of natural sweetness from fruit. If you don’t have applesauce, feel free to sub in a mashed ripe banana.
- Eggs: these will help your carrot cake pancakes stay together nicely. I haven’t tested with a flax egg but let me know if you give it a try!
- Unsweetened almond milk: for additional moisture. Please note that you can use any milk you want in this recipe!
- Maple syrup: to add a natural sweetness. Feel free to use coconut sugar or honey as well.
- Rolled oats: oats make the pancakes nice and hearty! Feel free to use gluten free rolled oats, but do not use steel cut oats.
- Baking powder: to make the pancakes super fluffy.
- Spices: I used cinnamon & nutmeg in this recipe for a cozy carrot cake flavaaaa.
- Salt: just a pinch to bring the flavors together.
- Shredded carrots: for that amazing carrot cake flavor plus a sneaky boost of veggies!
- Chopped walnuts: walnuts add a little crunch plus omega-3s in every bite. Feel free to use pecans instead if you’d like.
- Raisins: love a good carrot cake with raisins. Totally optional, but they make these pancakes extra delicious!
How to make carrot cake pancakes
- Place all of your ingredients besides the mix-ins into a blender and blend until smooth, about 1 minute. Then, stir in your shredded carrots, walnuts and raisins.
- Add olive oil, coconut oil or vegan butter to a griddle or large nonstick pan and place over medium heat. Add carrot cake pancake batter 1/3 cup at a time and use a spoon to spread it out a bit into circles. Cook for about 2-4 minutes or until golden brown and tiny bubbles appear around the edges.
- Flip pancakes and cook until golden brown on underside. If you find that pancakes are browning too quickly, then you need to lower the heat. I normally start on medium heat, then reduce to medium low later so that my pancakes don’t burn. If at any point your griddle starts smoking, it means your pan is too hot.
- Wipe skillet clean and repeat with more oil and remaining batter.
- Serve pancakes with almond butter, cream cheese or yogurt and a drizzle of maple syrup!
How to keep pancakes warm
You can also make these gluten free carrot cake pancakes ahead of time and keep them warm in the oven. Simply place oven at 200 degrees F, then add pancakes to a baking sheet or oven-safe plate and place in the oven until ready to serve.
How to freeze pancakes
If you want to make your carrot cake pancakes ahead of time and serve them at a later date, you can place the pancakes on a baking sheet so they aren’t touching and place in the freezer for 30 minutes, then place them in freezer safe containers and freeze for up to 3 months. Once ready to reheat, simply add pancakes to a plate and microwave for 30-60 seconds or until warm.
More carrot cake recipes to try
Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal Cups
Healthier Carrot Cake Banana Bread with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting
Healthy Carrot Cake Cookies (made with coconut oil + dairy free!)
Healthy Carrot Cake Muffins with Cream Cheese Glaze
I know you’re going to love these healthy carrot cake pancakes! Please let me know if you make it by leaving a comment and rating the recipe below. I’d love to hear from you and it helps encourage others to make the recipe too! Enjoy xo!
Healthy Carrot Cake Pancakes
Fluffy, healthy carrot cake pancakes made right in your blender with delicious spices. These easy carrot cake pancakes are dairy free, naturally sweetened and packed with yummy mix-ins like walnuts and raisins. Top with almond butter, cream cheese or yogurt and a drizzle of maple syrup for a wonderful, cozy breakfast!
-
1/2
cup
unsweetened applesauce -
2
eggs -
1/3
cup
unsweetened almond milk (or milk of choice) -
1
teaspoon
vanilla extract -
1
tablespoon
pure maple syrup (or sub coconut sugar or honey) -
1 ½
cups
old fashioned rolled oats, gluten free if desired -
2
teaspoons
baking powder -
1
teaspoon
ground cinnamon -
¼
teaspoon
nutmeg -
¼
teaspoon
salt - Mix-ins:
-
1
cup
shredded carrots (shred with a cheese grater) -
¼
cup
chopped walnuts or pecans -
3
tablespoons
raisins - For cooking:
- Olive oil or coconut oil, for cooking
Add all of the ingredients (besides the carrots, walnuts and raisins) to a blender and blend on high until completely smooth, about 30 seconds to 1 minute. Stir in the carrots, chopped walnuts and raisins (DO NOT BLEND).
Lightly coat a griddle with coconut oil or olive oil and place over a medium heat. Once the pan is hot, add about 1/3 cup of the batter to the griddle for each pancake and use a spoon to spread them out a bit into circles; cook for 2-4 minutes until pancakes slightly puff up and you see a few bubbles along the edges.
Flip cakes and cook until golden brown on underside. If you find that pancakes are browning too quickly, then you need to lower the heat. I normally start on medium heat, then reduce to medium low later so that my pancakes don’t burn. If at any point your griddle starts smoking, it means your pan is too hot.
Wipe skillet clean and repeat with more oil and remaining batter. Makes 6 pancakes total. Serves 3, 2 pancakes each.
I love topping these pancakes with almond butter or cream cheese and a drizzle of pure maple syrup. You can also top them with yogurt! Yum.
To freeze pancakes: if you want to make your carrot cake pancakes ahead of time and serve them at a later date, you can place the pancakes on a baking sheet so they aren’t touching and place in the freezer for 30 minutes, then place them in freezer safe containers and freeze for up to 3 months. Once ready to reheat, simply add pancakes to a plate and microwave for 30-60 seconds or until warm.
Nutrition
Servings: 3 servings
Serving size: 2 pancakes
Calories: 351kcal
Fat: 12.8g
Saturated fat: 1.3g
Carbohydrates: 52.4g
Fiber: 7.1g
Sugar: 18.8g
Protein: 11.5g
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