Plantain Pancakes (Paleo, Gluten Free)

These plantain pancakes are paleo friendly, gluten free and have no added sugar. They're made with ripe plantains, eggs and a little coconut flour; making these fluffy plantain pancakes perfect for a healthy breakfast the whole family will love!

Plantains aren't given enough credit and I think they're far underused here in the US. They're great for baking and an excellent alternative to your regular potato fries.

Many people think they're just funny looking bananas, but they're so much more! Plantains have a starchier texture and are great for baking because they add moisture to baked goods and work well as a binding agent. In addition, they're relatively inexpensive and high in fiber.

I love using plantains to make fries, brownies and even bread. One of my new favorite plantain recipes are these easy plantain pancakes.

These pancakes are paleo friendly, gluten free, dairy free and don't contain any added sugar. They're great for a healthy breakfast and my whole family loves them!

Ingredients

These healthy paleo pancakes are made with a few simple ingredients. Here's what you need:

• ripe plantains (1-2 depending on size)
• eggs
• avocado oil
• vanilla extract
• coconut flour (optional, added for texture purposes)
• paleo baking powder
• cinnamon
• salt

I recommend using ripe plantains for this pancake recipe because of their texture and sweetness. These pancakes don't have any added sugar, so ripe plantains are perfect for adding a little sweetness and flavor.

This recipe uses a small amount of coconut flour to thicken the batter and fluff up the pancakes. You may omit the coconut flour or swap it with another gluten free flour (like cassava flour), but this will slightly change the texture.

How to Cut a Plantain

If you've never cut a plantain before, it can be hard to know what to do! They don't peel easily like a banana, so you'll need a sharp knife to cut them.

1. First, cut off both ends of plantain.
2. Cut the plantain in half (so you have two small plantains).
3. Use the knife to slice the plantain skin lengthwise (tip to tip).
4. Peel off the skin.

How to Make Plantain Pancakes

These paleo plantain pancakes are made in a blender, then cooked on a frying pan. I used my favorite ceramic frying pan to cook these, which is great for even cooking and easy flipping. Here's what you need to do:

1. Preheat a frying pan on medium heat and grease with a little oil (I used coconut oil).
2. Place the sliced plantains in a food processor or high powered blender.  Blend to a chunky liquid.
3. Add remaining pancake ingredients to food processor and blend until batter is smooth.

4. Let batter sit for 5 minutes to thicken.
5. Scoop ¼ cup batter per pancake onto preheated frying pan.  Place lid over pan (I find this helps pancakes fluff up and cook evenly) and cook on medium heat until bubbles form.  Then flip pancakes and cook until done.

I topped these coconut flour plantain pancakes with raspberries, wild frozen blueberries and maple syrup, but they're great on their own too.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can these plantain pancakes be made without coconut flour?

Yes! You can make these plantain pancakes without flour. I used coconut flour to thicken the batter, which makes the pancakes fluffier. However, I've tested the recipe without flour and they worked well too. As an alternative, you could use a tablespoon of cassava flour or your favorite gluten free blend.

Do you have to use eggs?

Yes, these paleo plantain pancakes contain eggs and I have not tried an egg substitute. If you would like to make egg free plantain pancakes, I suggest taking a look at my plantain waffle recipe.

How ripe should your plantains be for making pancakes?

For this recipe, I suggest using plantains that are yellow with a few to many black/brown spots. Ripe plantains are not only sweeter, but have a softer texture, which is better for this recipe.

More Recipes Using Ripe Plantains

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