Easy Banana Pancake Recipe: Soft, Fluffy and Delicious

If you have a few ripe bananas sitting on your kitchen counter, turn them into something delicious with this easy banana pancake recipe! These homemade banana pancakes are soft, fluffy, lightly sweet, and packed with the natural flavor of ripe bananas. They are simple enough for beginners and make a wonderful breakfast, merienda or anytime snack.

This recipe uses everyday ingredients such as all-purpose flour, egg, milk, butter, sugar, and baking powder. The mashed bananas add natural sweetness and moisture, making the pancakes extra tender. You can finish them with condensed milk, chocolate syrup, honey, maple syrup, or your favorite pancake topping.

For Filipino families, these banana pancakes are also a practical way to use extra bananas before they become too ripe. They are inexpensive, satisfying, and easy to prepare in one pan.

Watch how to Cook Banana Pancake

What Are Banana Pancakes?

Banana pancakes are pancakes made by adding mashed bananas to a traditional pancake batter. The bananas are mixed with the wet ingredients before being combined with flour and baking powder. When cooked, they create pancakes with a soft center, lightly crisp edges and a delicious banana aroma.

Unlike plain pancakes, banana pancakes already have a naturally sweet and fruity flavor. This means you do not need a lot of sugar in the batter. The ripe bananas do much of the work.

For this Filipino-style version, saba bananas are recommended. Saba is widely used in Filipino cooking and has a firm, starchy texture with a rich banana flavor. However, if saba bananas are unavailable, ripe dessert bananas can also be used.

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Why You’ll Love This Banana Pancake Recipe

There are plenty of reasons to keep this recipe in your breakfast and merienda rotation.

First, it is incredibly easy. You only need to mash the bananas, combine the wet ingredients, mix in the dry ingredients, and cook the batter in a pan.

Second, it uses simple ingredients. Most of the ingredients are probably already in your pantry or refrigerator.

Third, it is budget-friendly. Bananas, flour, eggs and milk are inexpensive ingredients that can be transformed into a filling homemade snack.

Most importantly, these pancakes are delicious. The mashed bananas give the pancakes a naturally fruity sweetness and a soft texture that pairs beautifully with different toppings.

They are also versatile. Serve them for breakfast with coffee or milk, or prepare them as a satisfying Filipino merienda in the afternoon.

Ingredients You’ll Need

The ingredients for this easy banana pancake recipe are simple and accessible.

• 4 small ripe saba bananas, mashed
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons oil or melted butter
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 cup fresh milk
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• Condensed milk or your favorite syrup, optional

You can use fresh milk, evaporated milk, or water depending on what you have available. Fresh milk gives the batter a creamy flavor, while evaporated milk makes the pancakes richer. Water works when you want a simple dairy-free option.

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Choosing the Right Bananas

The bananas are the star of this recipe, so choosing ripe ones makes a noticeable difference.

Use bananas that are yellow and ripe, preferably with a few brown spots. Ripe bananas are naturally sweeter and softer, which makes them much easier to mash.

If using saba, allow the bananas to ripen well before making the pancakes. Very firm saba can be difficult to mash and may not provide enough sweetness.

You can also use other ripe bananas if that is what you have at home. Just remember that different banana varieties vary in size and sweetness, so the batter may need a small adjustment.

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How to Make Banana Pancakes

1. Mash the Bananas

Place the peeled bananas in a large mixing bowl. Using a fork, mash them until they become mostly smooth.

A few small banana pieces are completely fine. In fact, they can give your pancakes little pockets of banana flavor.

2. Mix the Wet Ingredients

Add the egg, melted butter or oil, and sugar to the mashed bananas. Pour in the milk and mix everything until well combined.

If you are using melted butter, allow it to cool slightly before adding it to the egg mixture. This prevents the warm butter from affecting the egg.

3. Combine the Dry Ingredients

In a separate bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.

Mixing the dry ingredients separately helps distribute the baking powder and salt throughout the flour before they are added to the wet mixture.

4. Make the Batter

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the banana mixture. Stir gently until everything is combined.

Do not overmix the batter. A few small lumps are perfectly acceptable. Overmixing can develop too much gluten, resulting in pancakes that are dense or chewy instead of soft and fluffy.

Let the batter rest for a few minutes while you prepare the pan.

5. Heat the Pan

Place a nonstick frying pan over low to medium-low heat. Lightly grease it with oil or melted butter.

Keeping the heat moderate is important because banana pancakes contain natural sugars that can brown quickly. If the pan is too hot, the outside may become dark before the center is fully cooked.

6. Cook the Pancakes

Pour a small amount of batter into the pan to form a round pancake. Smaller pancakes are easier to flip and cook more evenly.

Cook until bubbles begin appearing on the surface and the edges look set. Carefully flip the pancake using a spatula.

Continue cooking the other side until golden brown and cooked through. Depending on the size and thickness, each pancake may take several minutes to cook.

Transfer the finished pancake to a plate and repeat with the remaining batter.

Tips for Soft and Fluffy Pancakes

For the best homemade banana pancakes, keep these simple tips in mind.

Do not overmix the batter. Mix only until the ingredients are combined. This keeps the pancakes tender.

Use ripe bananas. Ripe bananas provide better flavor, moisture, and natural sweetness.

Cook over moderate heat. Low to medium-low heat allows the center to cook without burning the surface.

Make evenly sized pancakes. Using the same amount of batter for each pancake helps them cook at the same rate.

Grease lightly. Too much oil or butter can make the edges greasy instead of lightly crisp.

Watch the first pancake. Your first pancake can help you determine whether your pan is too hot or too cool. Adjust the heat before cooking the rest.

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Delicious Toppings for Banana Pancakes

One of the best things about pancakes is choosing the toppings.

For a classic Filipino-style finish, drizzle condensed milk over the pancakes. The creamy sweetness pairs especially well with the banana flavor.

Chocolate lovers can add chocolate syrup, chocolate chips, or melted chocolate.

For a simpler option, use honey or maple syrup. You can also add sliced bananas, powdered sugar, chopped nuts, peanut butter, or fresh fruit.

If serving the pancakes for a special breakfast, stack several pancakes on a plate and finish them with your favorite toppings.

Can You Make These for Merienda?

Absolutely! Banana pancakes are not only for breakfast. They are an excellent Filipino merienda because they are filling, affordable, and quick to prepare.

You can make smaller pancakes for children or serve a stack with condensed milk for the whole family. Pair them with coffee, hot chocolate, milk or your favorite cold drink.

They are also a useful recipe when you have ripe bananas that need to be used soon. Instead of throwing them away, mash them and turn them into a delicious homemade snack.

Conclusion

This easy banana pancake recipe is proof that simple ingredients can make an incredibly satisfying homemade treat. With ripe bananas, flour, egg, milk, butter or oil and a few pantry staples, you can make soft and flavorful pancakes without complicated techniques.

The natural sweetness of the bananas makes every bite delicious, while the baking powder helps create a light and tender texture. Whether you serve them with condensed milk, chocolate syrup, honey, maple syrup, or fresh fruit, there are plenty of ways to make them your own.

So the next time you have ripe bananas at home, don’t let them go to waste. Grab a bowl, mash those bananas and make a stack of warm homemade banana pancakes for breakfast or merienda. It is an easy, budget-friendly recipe that the whole family can enjoy.