Looking for a fun, nutritious twist on your traditional breakfast? This Mini Pancake Cereal with Berries Recipe delivers tiny, fluffy pancakes made with wholesome ingredients, topped with fresh raspberries and a drizzle of maple syrup. It’s an absolute morning game-changer.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
I’m genuinely obsessed with how these mini pancake cereal bowls turn out—each little pancake is perfectly tender and packed with flavor. It feels like a playful breakfast you actually look forward to making on busy mornings.
- Wholesome Ingredients: Uses gluten-free oats, banana, and protein powder for a nutritious boost.
- Fun, Bite-Sized Pancakes: Mini coin-sized pancakes make breakfast feel playful and unique.
- Quick and Easy: Ready in just 20 minutes, perfect for busy weekday mornings.
- Customizable Toppings: Fresh raspberries, peanut butter, yogurt, and maple syrup bring a perfect balance of flavors.
Ingredients & Why They Work
When I shop for this recipe, I focus on whole, natural ingredients that blend easily and give the pancakes a great texture without any gluten. Having a trusty protein powder on hand helps this breakfast stay filling well into the day.
- Gluten-free old-fashioned rolled oats: The base of the batter, these provide fiber and a naturally mild oat flavor.
- Banana: Adds natural sweetness and moisture, eliminating the need for refined sugars.
- Vanilla extract: Enhances the flavor with a warm, sweet aroma.
- Baking powder: Gives the mini pancakes a nice lift and fluffiness.
- Ground cinnamon: Offers subtle warmth and pairs beautifully with the banana.
- Unsweetened cacao powder: Adds a rich, chocolatey depth without extra sugar.
- Protein powder: Boosts the nutrition and keeps you full longer—feel free to choose your favorite kind.
- Large eggs (room temperature): Help bind everything together and ensure a smooth batter.
- Unsweetened milk of choice: Creates the perfect batter consistency; plant-based or dairy options work equally well.
- Fresh raspberries: Bright, juicy berries add refreshing bursts of flavor.
- Pure maple syrup: All-natural sweetness that’s perfect for drizzling.
- Smooth peanut butter: Adds creamy richness and protein to complement the pancakes.
- Yogurt: Creamy texture and tangy flavor add balance and nutrition.
- Milk of choice (optional): For serving the pancake cereal just like you would traditional cereal.
Make It Your Way
One of the best things about this Mini Pancake Cereal with Berries Recipe is how easy it is to customize to fit your taste buds and dietary needs. Whether you're after a richer bite or a lighter touch, there’s room to play and make it truly yours.
- Variation: For a chocolaty twist, I sometimes like to add a pinch more cacao powder or mix in mini dark chocolate chips right before cooking—perfect for a cozy weekend treat.
- Vegan Option: Swap out the eggs for flax eggs and use your favorite plant-based milk and yogurt. It results in a wonderfully satisfying vegan breakfast that’s just as fluffy and yummy.
- Seasonal Spin: Try swapping raspberries with sliced strawberries or blueberries depending on what’s fresh. It keeps the bowls exciting and colors bright through every season!
- Protein Boost: Feel free to switch protein powder types or omit it entirely if you’re after a simpler version. I find using a vanilla-flavored protein powder adds a nice hint of sweetness too.
- Extra Crunch: Sprinkle toasted nuts or seeds on top—walnuts, almonds, or chia seeds—to add great texture and a nutritional punch.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Mini Pancake Cereal with Berries Recipe
Step 1: Blend Into a Smooth Batter
Start by gathering all your pancake ingredients: gluten-free oats, banana, vanilla, baking powder, cinnamon, cacao powder, protein powder, eggs, and milk. Pop them into a high-speed blender and pulse until the mixture is just smooth and well combined. Be careful not to over-blend — you want a bit of texture, not a puree. You’ll notice the batter has a creamy thickness, perfect for shaping tiny pancakes.
Step 2: Prepare for Piping
Pour your batter into a squeezy bottle for easy control, or fill a ziplock bag and snip a tiny hole in one corner. This little trick is what makes those perfect mini pancakes so easy to pipe onto the pan—think coin-sized, about the diameter of a quarter.
Step 3: Heat and Grease the Skillet
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and lightly spray it with coconut oil spray to prevent sticking. This step ensures your mini pancakes cook evenly and slide off easily for flipping.
Step 4: Cook Your Mini Pancakes
Squeeze out little dollops of batter onto the hot skillet. Cook until you see the tops dry out and bubbles start to form—this takes about 1 minute. Flip each mini pancake carefully and cook for about another minute until both sides are golden and the pancakes are cooked through. Repeat until you’ve used all the batter. Pro tip: keep an eye on the heat so nothing burns, since these pancakes are small and cook fast!
Step 5: Assemble Your Breakfast Bowls
Divide the mini pancake cereal evenly into two bowls. Top generously with fresh raspberries, a drizzle of pure maple syrup, a spoonful of smooth peanut butter, and a dollop of yogurt for creaminess. If you like, add some milk right in to pour over like traditional cereal—there’s so much fun in this playful way to enjoy pancakes!
Step 6: Serve and Enjoy!
Serve your bowl immediately to enjoy the warm mini pancakes with fresh berries and all those delightful toppings. Whether you dive in for a quick breakfast or a nourishing snack, these Mini Pancake Cereal with Berries make every morning a little better.
Top Tip
These little pancakes pack a punch, but a few handy tips can really elevate your Mini Pancake Cereal with Berries Recipe and make the process smooth and enjoyable.
- Use a Squeezy Bottle: Using a squeezable bottle or piping bag helps you get perfectly uniform, coin-sized pancakes every time without any messy drips or uneven shapes.
- Cook on Medium-High Heat: I learned that cooking too low made the pancakes dry and cooking too high burnt them quickly. Medium-high gives the best balance of a golden crust and fluffy inside.
- Don’t Overblend: Pulsing just until smooth keeps a nice texture—over-processing can make your batter too runny and thin, causing pancakes to spread too much.
- Keep an Eye While Cooking: Mini pancakes cook fast; flip them as soon as bubbles appear on top to avoid overcooking or burning.
How to Serve Mini Pancake Cereal with Berries Recipe
Garnishes
Fresh raspberries are a classic, but don't be shy about mixing in other berries like blueberries, sliced strawberries, or blackberries for a colorful, nutritious boost. A dollop of creamy yogurt adds tang and richness, while drizzling pure maple syrup gives that perfect touch of sweetness. You can also swirl in some smooth peanut butter or other nut butters to add protein and flavor depth. For crunch, sprinkle some chopped nuts or seeds on top.
Side Dishes
Pair your mini pancake cereal bowls with a crisp green smoothie or a side of fresh fruit salad to keep breakfast light and vibrant. Crispy turkey bacon or a simple veggie omelet also make fantastic savory sides to balance the sweet flavors and round out your morning meal.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Store any leftover mini pancakes in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They’ll keep well for about 2 days, making them perfect for a quick breakfast or snack on the go.
Freezing
Freeze mini pancakes flat on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Once frozen solid, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container. They’ll stay good for up to 1 month, so you can batch-make and enjoy anytime.
Reheating
To reheat, simply pop your mini pancakes in a toaster oven or a dry skillet over medium heat for a couple of minutes until warm and slightly crisp. Microwaving is quick but can make them a bit soggy. Adding fresh toppings after reheating keeps the texture and flavors bright.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Absolutely! Swap out the eggs with flax eggs (1 tablespoon flaxseed meal + 3 tablespoons water per egg) and use your favorite plant-based milk and yogurt. This keeps it delicious and allergy-friendly.
Yes, regular rolled oats can be used if gluten isn’t a concern. The texture and flavor will remain delicious, just be sure they are fully blended for smooth batter.
Not necessarily! The protein powder boosts nutrition, but you can leave it out or substitute with your favorite protein source to suit dietary preferences or keep it simpler.
Make sure to use a non-stick skillet and lightly spray or brush it with coconut oil cooking spray before cooking each batch. This helps keep those tiny pancakes from sticking and makes flipping easier.
Final Thoughts
This Mini Pancake Cereal with Berries Recipe has quickly become one of my favorite breakfasts—fun to eat, surprisingly filling, and packed with wholesome ingredients. It’s a joyful way to start the day, especially when topped with fresh berries, a drizzle of maple syrup, and a dollop of creamy peanut butter or yogurt. I love how you can customize it endlessly, whether you’re in the mood for sweet, nutty, or fruity. Give it a try and make breakfast a little more playful—you might find yourself smiling every morning!
Print
Mini Pancake Cereal with Berries Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Mini Pancake "Cereal" Breakfast Bowls are a fun and nutritious twist on traditional pancakes, made with gluten-free oats, banana, and protein powder blended into small coin-sized pancakes. Served with fresh raspberries, maple syrup, peanut butter, and yogurt, this breakfast is perfect for a quick, wholesome start to your day.
Ingredients
Pancake Batter
- 1 cup gluten-free old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 medium banana
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 Tbsps unsweetened cacao powder
- 2 Tbsps protein powder
- 2 large eggs (room temp)
- ¼ cup unsweetened milk of choice
Toppings
- fresh raspberries
- pure maple syrup
- smooth peanut butter
- yogurt
- milk of choice (optional, for serving)
Instructions
- Prepare the Batter: Add all of your ingredients for the pancakes to a high-speed blender and pulse until it is just smooth and thoroughly mixed. Do not over-process to keep texture balanced.
- Transfer Batter: Pour or squeeze the pancake batter into a squeezy bottle for easy shaping. Alternatively, place the batter in a ziplock bag and cut a tiny hole in one corner for piping.
- Heat Skillet: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and lightly spray with coconut oil cooking spray to prevent sticking and ensure even cooking.
- Cook Mini Pancakes: Squeeze out coin-sized pancakes onto the skillet and cook until the top surface is dry and begins to form bubbles, about 1 minute. Flip and cook for an additional minute until golden and cooked through. Repeat until all batter is used.
- Assemble Bowls: Divide the mini pancake cereal into serving bowls. Top with fresh raspberries, a drizzle of pure maple syrup, smooth peanut butter, and a dollop of yogurt as desired.
- Serve and Enjoy: Optionally add milk of choice to the bowl like cereal, serve immediately and enjoy a fun and nutritious breakfast.
Notes
- Using room temperature eggs helps the batter blend more smoothly.
- You can substitute any protein powder depending on dietary preferences or leave it out entirely for a more basic version.
- If you prefer vegan, substitute eggs with flax eggs and use plant-based milk and yogurt.
- Mini pancakes cook quickly, so watch carefully to avoid burning.
- This pancake cereal is delicious served warm or at room temperature.
- Try other toppings like sliced bananas, nuts, or seeds for extra texture and nutrition.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 14 g
- Cholesterol: 140 mg
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