This super scrumpdidlyicious healthy Banana Chocolate Chip Pancakes recipe is made with 7 ingredients total. That includes the coconut oil in which you sauté them! These pancakes are one of my super easy low-carb breakfast recipes that will make your mornings stress-free and extra tasty.
Low-Carb Pancakes Recipe Made with Cashews
Replacing high-carb wheat flour with lower-carb cashews is fantastic for those watching their blood sugar. Cashews work very well in baking for folks who are gluten-free, which is another reason I use them.
Cashew Recipes for Budget Cooking
I wrote the book on almond flour in 2008. Paleo Cooking from Elana’s Pantry was the first grain-free cookbook from a major publisher. Still, not everyone wants to invest in almond flour, which can be costly. If you’re cooking on a budget, you’ll want to check out my easy Cashew Recipes. No flour is needed in these easy recipes! My one-bowl Cashew Bread recipe is a fan-favorite sandwich bread with 5 ingredients total!
My Journey into Low-Carb Gluten-Free Eating
I was diagnosed with celiac disease in 1998, the dark ages of gluten-free, and went on a gluten-free diet right away. A short time later, I realized that wouldn’t be my ticket to healing and went on a grain-free paleo diet. I love creating grain-free recipes that do not contain high-carb ingredients like rice flour or potato flour. During this decades-long passion of mine, I’ve written almost 2,000 grain-free recipes.
The Grain-Free Paleo Diet
I don’t ever eat grains because they cause me severe digestive distress. Same with potatoes and corn. Nut-based foods, on the other hand, work very well, I digest them quite easily. Since we are all biochemical individuals what works best for me may not work for you.
Gluten-Free Pancakes Recipe for Dinner
While these quick and easy pancakes are a fantastic breakfast on a weekend morning, I also like to serve them along with an egg dish on Sunday nights for dinner. Breakfast for dinner is a family favorite in our house, and the boys especially appreciate the change in routine.
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Banana Chocolate Chip Pancakes
Ingredients
- 1 cup cashews
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup mashed banana
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup chocolate chips
- coconut oil for cooking
Instructions
- In a food processor, pulse cashews until finely ground
- Pulse in baking soda, then pulse in eggs, banana, and vanilla until very smooth
- Stir in chocolate chips by hand
- Heat oil in a 9 inch skillet over medium heat
- Spoon batter 1 tablespoon at a time onto skillet
- Flip pancakes when bubbles form
- Cook for 1 to 2 minutes on second side
- Serve with maple syrup or Cherry Berry Syrup
Banana Chocolate Chip Pancakes Made with Cashews
I have a couple of quick notes regarding this grain-free pancake recipe. First, do not be alarmed if the cashews start to form a paste when you grind them in the food processor. This happened to me with a couple of batches and the recipe still turned out wonderfully. For newer readers, I do use one tablespoon of vanilla in this recipe. That is not a typo. I love vanilla and find this larger amount typically adds extra sweetness and flavor to my recipes.
Substitutions for This Easy Pancake Recipe
For those of you wondering about substitutions, I tried replacing the cashews with almond flour in this Banana Chocolate Chip Pancake recipe and it did not work. If you decide to experiment with this pancake recipe, please let us know how it goes. As always, I don’t know if a substitution will turn out well unless I try it myself. The comment section below is a great place to chat and share knowledge with other readers about your substitution trials and tribulations.
Get the New York Times Best Seller, Paleo Cooking from Elana’s Pantry
If you’re looking for a pancake recipe made with almond flour, try the Paleo Pancakes in my latest book Paleo Cooking from Elana’s Pantry. And if you’re a beginner cook or a busy parent wondering how to make homemade pancakes either the Paleo Pancake recipe in my book or this Banana Chocolate Chip Pancake recipe is a great place to start!
Totally Kid Approved Pancakes
One afternoon when I was testing this easy flourless pancakes recipe my older son brought home most of the Boulder High School freshman baseball team. They devoured ’em topped with maple syrup before they headed off to practice. I guess you could say that this kid-friendly Banana Chocolate Chip Pancakes recipe is not only teen approved, it is baseball team approved. I hope you enjoy these gluten-free, paleo Banana Chocolate Chip Pancakes as much as those 9 boys did!
This post is an oldie but goodie from the archives. I first published this recipe in 2014.
Nicole says
Great recipe. Didn’t have the cashews so i used a 1/2 cup of almond butter and it worked great :) nice being able to eat pancakes and not feel guilty at all ???
Elana says
Nicole, thanks for letting me know these pancakes are great!
Kari says
BEST GRAIN FREE PANCAKE RECIPE I have found! In fact it might be the best pancake recipe period!!! Thank you! My 2 year old daughter devours them. I can’t keep them coming fast enough!
Elana says
Kari, I’m so happy to hear this is the best grain-free pancake recipe you’ve found :-)
Ilana says
Thanks so much for this easy to make, tasty recipe. I was looking for something low carb that still “hit the spot” and these pancakes were perfect. (I left out the chocolate). Do you happen to have a similar type of recipe that could be made as muffins or bars?
Elana says
Ilana, thanks for your comment, I’m so happy you enjoyed this recipe! Here’s a link to my muffin recipes for you:
https://elanaspantry.com/category/breakfasts/muffins/
I hope you find something you like!
Elana
Margaret says
These are incredible! My son has hated having to give up his favorite breakfast of pancakes. Haven’t been able to find the right replacement pancake recipe for him until now! Thank you for these and all the amazing recipes you have shared.
Elana says
Margaret, glad to hear these are incredible!
Susana says
Did this recipe as it said and turn out to be fantastic!! These pancakes are even better than regular pancakes! Rich and moist flavor! bananas give a special touch, also cashews (not sure if this will work with almonds or other nut) Thank you for this amazing recipe!!!!
Elana says
Susana, great to hear these were fantastic!
Alicia says
I used cashew butter instead of cashews. I halved the amount (1/2cup of butter for the 1 cup of nuts) because of the way they condense when you blend them. Also, I used a fork instead of the food processor, and there was no problem at all. Of course, I quadrupled the recipe so we could have a handful of leftovers. Everyone liked them, and my daintiest eater can eat a whole batch by himself!
We will keep these as a once-in-a-while treat because a small jar of cashew butter is an investment. It is now on our list of favorites!
Elana says
So glad to hear this is one of your favorites Alicia!
Bronwyn says
I made these today, doubling the recipe. I had to add a 1/4c of pine nuts as I was slightly short of cashews. I dont bother with the choc chips. Put it all in the blentec and cooked silver dollar sized pancakes. This is a wonderful recipe. light, fluffy and delicious! Thanks Elana, another genius recipe :)
Elana says
Bronwyn, you’re welcome, and thanks for the compliment that this is another genius recipe!!!
Allison Orr says
HI Elana- my daughter cannot have eggs- any suggestions on an egg substitute for these pancakes? Thank you! – Allison. ps- we so adore you and all of your amazing recipes!
Elana says
Hi Allison, I haven’t tried making these without eggs so not sure what would work in their place. Here’s a link to my Egg-Free Recipes page for you:
https://elanaspantry.com/diets/egg-free/
I hope you find some recipes that you and your daughter enjoy!
Elana
Krista Smith says
Allison, according to our doctor, who is allergic to eggs, duck or quail eggs can usually be tolerated by those that are allergic to eggs. Something about them does not cause the same reaction in the body as chicken or other eggs. Quail eggs can be quite expensive but we found several local farms that sold duck eggs on Craigslist for a reasonable price. My son who gets migraines from chicken eggs can eat duck eggs with no issues.
Lynn says
Hi Elana…so sorry to hear about your recent set-back. Glad that you are recovering and feeling better. Your trip sounds awesome! I too have celiac disease and RA and a bunch of food allergies and sensitivities. Can’t digest any kind of grain either as I recently tried a few and they didn’t work. I love your recipes!!! Your cookbook is my go-to for most things. I know that cashews are the latest and greatest but I’m very allergic to them. What is the best nut substitute to use?. I’ve read macadamias but they are hard to find and expensive.
Elana says
Lynn, thanks for your comment and warm words! I haven’t tried making this recipe without cashews so not sure what would work instead. Here’s a link to another pancake recipe you might like:
https://elanaspantry.com/silver-dollar-pancakes/
Enjoy!
Elana
Susannah says
Is it possible to use raw walnuts in place of cashews?
Elana says
Susannah, I haven’t tried that so not sure.
Susannah Santamaria says
Thanks Elena for your reply. I tried the walnuts this morning and they were delicious. Tasted just like chocolate chip cookies in pancake form. They were all gobbled up.
Elana says
That’s great to hear :-)
Kimberly says
Hi Elana. I have a Fairview freshman football and basketball player. He is psyched to eat a grain free diet…and I have a Monarch middleschooler with a gluten allergy. I am tired of rice and corn…and want to shed a few pounds. I will order your book. Any other suggestions of resources for a full-time working mom of 3? Breakfast is the hardest meal for me. Also. I have almond meal to use not almond flour. What’s the difference? Headed to wholefoods now to buy some coconut flour
Elana says
Hi Kimberly, our children are similar in age and we both live in Boulder, such a great place. Nice to meet you! First, here’s some information on the differences between almond flour and almond meal (almond meal does not work in my recipes):
https://elanaspantry.com/ingredients/almond-flour/
Second, I buy all of my ingredients in bulk online to cut down on expense. If you click the green text in my recipes you will get info on each product that I buy. Finally, here’s a link to my breakfast recipes for you:
https://elanaspantry.com/category/breakfasts/
Often we have scrambled eggs or a smoothie for breakfast because we all like to sleep as late as possible!
Elana