This Easy Formula For Hearty Oatmeal Pancakes Uses Only 3 Ingredients

Pancakes are a quintessential breakfast dish. Unfortunately, despite being delicious and versatile with plenty of ways to upgrade them, a traditional buttermilk pancake recipe isn't going to satisfy everyone's nutrition needs. Simplified pancake recipes using minimal ingredients to mimic their traditional brethren are becoming increasingly popular; you've almost certainly come across egg- or banana-based "pancake" recipes on social media. Without standard flour, these substitutes usually don't have the satisfying bite and heft of a traditional pancake. So what's the secret to a simple but hearty pancake that only requires a few ingredients? The key is oatmeal. 

Oats are so much the star of these pancakes that each of the other two ingredients can be swapped out or traded for another. In fact, you don't even really need a recipe. Instead, you just need to remember this three-ingredient formula: blended oats plus a binder and enough liquid to achieve your desired consistency equals delicious oatmeal pancakes. 

So here's what you need to do. First, blend the oats until they have the consistency of flour, otherwise your pancakes might come out chewy and have an unpleasant texture. You'll then add your binder — say, bananas, eggs, yogurt, or cottage cheese — and some type of liquid — a bit of milk, water, egg (both a binder and liquid), or egg white, for example, and blend again. While the exact amount of each ingredient depends on your binder's moisture content and the pancake texture you're going for, if you have 1 cup of oats, start with 1 banana or 1 cup of yogurt or 2 eggs, and 1 egg or ¾ cup of liquid, then add more oats, binder, or liquid as needed. From there, there's plenty of room for experimentation based on your diet and what ingredients you have on hand.

Because this pancake recipe is so simple, its three ingredients are also incredibly versatile and can be swapped to suit your preferences and dietary needs. If you love banana pancakes, opt for oats, a banana, and milk. Want a vegan version? Simply use oats, a banana, and water or plant-based milk. If you're not bananas about, well, bananas, consider a protein- and probiotic-packed option with oats, Greek yogurt, and an egg, plus a little milk if needed. Cottage cheese is also a popular addition for pancakes and can be used in place of yogurt; just note that you may want to add some honey or maple syrup to your batter to compensate for the dairy's saltiness. The same goes for Greek yogurt's tanginess.

When it comes to texture, there's also room to tweak this simple recipe to your tastes. If you're in the mood for thin crepe-like pancakes that you can spread with jelly, peanut butter, or cottage cheese, increase the amount of eggs and liquid. For heartier pancakes, use oats, banana, and an egg with less additional liquid, leaving the batter consistency thicker. 

If you're feeling fancier than three basic ingredients, there are a few other add-ins that can make these oatmeal pancakes even better. For fluffier pancakes, add in baking soda to your blended oats to help the batter rise as it cooks. In terms of flavor, peanut butter is another popular addition, especially for banana-based recipes. You can also swap your go-to binder for pumpkin puree and a dash of cinnamon for sweet and earthy flavors fit for fall. And as always, a little butter, a sprinkling of powdered sugar, your favorite syrup, and some fresh fruit are all perfect pancake toppings.