I LOVE PANCAKES!  Who doesn’t?  You’re strange if you don’t.  Back when I wasn’t so conscious about nutrition, I would constantly crave for bacon and pancakes from Pancake House in Manila or IHOP in the US.  I would even have bacon and pancakes for dinner.  Yikes.  Using some of the healthiest flours, sugars and oils available in the market, this grain-free flour mix and naturally sweet syrup are packed with nutrients you need to start your day!

Eating nutritiously doesn’t mean you have to stay away from food you love!  You just need to choose healthier versions of your favorites!  I’ve experimented with different homemade pancake recipes from whole wheat to gluten free to paleo and vegan pancakes but is particular almond flaxseed pancake is the best one and was quite hard to get right!  I probably made it over 20 times just to get the correct consistency and flavor.  Again, it is not the lowest calorie pancake but it is waaaaaaay better than your run-of-the-mill refined flour and sugar pancake.

This recipe is high in fiber, all-natural recipe uses great alternative ingredients like coconut flour, quinoa flour, coconut oil and almond milk!  I’m sure you’ve heard the word antioxidant but do you know what it really means?  Antioxidants fight oxidation.  They protect your memory and help fight disease.  But it is important to understand the concept of how it works.  Think of when you cut an apple and it starts to turn brown or when metal turns rusty.  This is oxidation and it also happens in our bodies, creating free radicals.  Free radicals are molecules that can damage our healthy cells.  Stress, bad habits and chemical exposure can promote the formulation of free radicals.  Natural foods that are rich antioxidants can help prevent the damage.  So mix together natural antioxidant-rich maple syrup and blueberries there’s your disease-fighting healthful heaven!

All of these ingredients are available in Healthy Options stores nationwide!

Almond Flaxseed Pancakes

Yield: 4 servings
Prep time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

Blueberry Syrup

½ cup frozen organic blueberries
½ cup organic maple syrup
2 tsp cornstarch

Wet

¾ cup organic almond milk
3 organic eggs
3 Tbsp coconut sugar
3 Tbsp coconut oil
½ cup melted almond butter
1 tsp baking soda

Dry

½ cup coconut flour
¼ cup quinoa flour
2 Tbsp flax seed meal
1 tsp baking powder
Vegan butter spray

 

Instructions

1. Set a pot on low fire then add blueberries, maple syrup and cornstarch.
2. Let syrup simmer and stir occasionally. Turn off heat once syrup has slightly thickened.
3. Whisk together the almond milk, eggs, coco sugar, coconut oil, almond butter and baking soda.
4. In a separate bowl, combine flour mix with baking powder.
5. Slowly incorporate dry ingredients into the bowl with wet ingredients.
6. Place flat pan on medium heat and spray the pan. Pour ¼ cup of batter per pancake.
7. Cook on each side for around 3 minutes or until golden brown. Top with blueberry syrup.

Notes

To switch things up, add blueberries to the batter or replace the almond butter with mashed bananas and enjoy with plain maple syrup!  You can keep the left over batter in the refrigerator overnight if you want to cook pancakes again the next morning.  Just don’t eat this everyday as maple syrup, although better when 100% natural, is still high in sugar and can be worrisome if you are concerned about diabetes and weight gain.