Make cottage cheese pancakes for a healthier, protein-packed stack

You may have never thought about adding cottage cheese to your pancake mix, but it’s a must-try. Adding this protein-rich ingredient into your batter makes these pancakes filling and delicious, and they are great for vegetarians who need to get some extra protein in their day.

There’s nothing better than a stack of fresh, homemade pancakes. Soft and fluffy and dripping with butter and syrup — it’s one of my favorite weekend breakfasts with my family. But while tasty, pancakes aren’t always the healthiest thing on the breakfast menu.

Here, I am sharing a recipe that makes pancakes healthier and gives them a big protein boost using cottage cheese. Now, I know cottage cheese in pancakes might sound weird, but trust me — blending it into the pancake batter makes the pancakes just as smooth and fluffy as the real deal.

I love serving these cottage cheese pancakes to my kids topped with whatever type of fresh fruit we have on hand. Bananas and berries or even peaches work great in this dish. Rather than maple syrup, these pancakes get a hefty drizzle of raw honey for extra sweetness.

Cottage cheese pancakes recipe

Soft and fluffy just like the real thing, these pancakes have cottage cheese added to the batter, which adds both a tangy flavor and a boost of protein.

Serves 6

Prep time: 10 minutes | Cook time: 15 minutes | Total time: 25 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 cup low-fat or fat-free cottage cheese
• 3 whole eggs
• 1/4 cup low-fat buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2-4 tablespoons agave, raw honey or pure maple syrup (depending on desired sweetness)
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/2 cup whole-wheat flour or all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

For the topping

• Fresh fruit, such as bananas, strawberries and blueberries
• Raw honey or orange blossom honey

Directions:

1. To a blender or food processor, add the cottage cheese, eggs, buttermilk, vanilla extract and your sweetener of choice. Blend on high until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
2. Transfer to a mixing bowl, and fold in the remaining ingredients. Mix well, until there are no lumps and the ingredients are well incorporated.
3. Heat a large skillet or nonstick pan over medium heat.
4. Spray with nonstick cooking spray, and spoon the pancake batter into the pan, creating 4 small pancakes about 2 inches in diameter.
5. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes per side, then flip, and cook for an additional 1 to 2 minutes. Repeat in batches with the remaining batter until all the pancakes are prepared.
6. To serve, plate several pancakes on a dish. Garnish with assorted fresh fruit, and drizzle with raw honey. Best served warm.

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