These sweet Banana Spinach Pancakes are a favorite when you’re looking to boost nutrition in a favorite breakfast option. Or to have a little fun at the breakfast table by serving up a colorful meal.

spinach pancakes on white plate with fruit

Spinach Pancakes

I never thought that my older daughter would be such a fan of green pancakes, but just when you think you know your kiddo, they go and surprise you! It turns out that she’ll eat pretty much anything in pancake form. This (and Spinach Pesto and my Spinach Muffins) are by far her preferred ways to get her greens.

I love how these are both easy to make and they’re so easy for the kids to enjoy.

The beauty of this kids pancake recipe is that it comes together in the blender so you don’t have to dirty a sink full of dishes to make it happen.

And it includes two bananas and small pile of spinach, so everyone will get a nice amount of vitamins and minerals to start the day.

TIP: The flavor is sweet, so despite the color, they taste like healthy banana pancakes.

ingredients in spinach pancakes on countertop.

Ingredients You Need

To make this simple pancake recipe you’ll need:

Ingredient Substitutions

Both whole wheat and buckwheat flour work well in this recipe, though the pancakes cook through more easily with buckwheat. Look for it in the natural flours section of your supermarket. It’s widely available and very nutritious. For tips on using whole wheat flour, see the Notes section at the bottom of the recipe as you’ll want to reduce the milk amount slightly.

Use an egg replacer like the one from Bob’s Red Mill to make these egg-free.

Use buckwheat flour to make these gluten-free.

Use nondairy milk to make these without dairy.

how to make spinach pancakes step by step

Step-by-Step Instructions

Here’s a look at how to make these healthy pancakes. Scroll down to the bottom of this post for the full information.

  1. Add all ingredients to a blender except the flour.
  2. Blend, starting on low and working up to high. You want the spinach to be very well incorporated.
  3. Stir or pulse in the flour. Avoid over-blending but do make sure to get all of the flour blended in. 
  4. Cook as you would any other pancakes and serve warm. 

TIP: I like to cook these in a nonstick skillet or griddle since they are easiest to flip. Cast iron also works if well greased.

spinach-banana-pancakes-on-white-plate

Gluten-Free Spinach Pancakes

Yes! Buckwheat flour is naturally gluten-free and it works well in this recipe.

Dairy-Free Spinach Pancakes

To make these dairy-free, simply use nondairy plain unsweetened milk instead of dairy milk and cook with neutral oil.

spinach banana pancakes on plate with fruit

Easy Baby Pancakes

Due to the very soft texture of these pancakes, they tend to be much easier for babies to eat than traditional ones. And since they are packed with nutrients, this is a favorite pancake recipe to make for baby led weaning and once a baby is starting to eat finger foods.

TIP: Find my favorite early finger foods for babies here.

spinach-pancakes-on-blue-plate

Serving Suggestions

Maple syrup and butter of course, or nut butter, yogurt, applesauce, chopped fruit, or jam are all good options. When my middle kiddo was a baby, she ate them plain!

TIP: We like to have ours with a fruit salad rainbow (without the pot of gold at the end, unfortunately!) for St. Patrick’s Day, but that part is of course optional.

How to Store

These store really well if you let any leftovers cool and store in an airtight container or zip top freezer bags. You can store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days or in a freezer safe container or bag for up to 3 months. Warm in 15 second increments in the microwave to serve.

Tips for Making the Best Spinach Pancakes

  • You can store a bag of baby spinach in the freezer to use in smoothies and pancakes. Freezing it maintains the nutrients but it knocks out any “green” flavor which is handy! It’s also nice that you don’t have to worry about it going bad before you can use it up.
  • Be sure to blend the batter very smooth to get the greens very well processed.
  • You can sub in whole wheat flour for the buckwheat, but you’ll want to reduce the milk by ¼ cup.
  • If the bottoms start to brown too much before they are set, lower the heat to medium-low.
  • Look for buckwheat in the natural flours section of your supermarket. It’s widely available and very nutritious.
  • If making for a baby who’s not yet consuming cow’s milk, you can use unsweetened nondairy milk.
  • I prefer to use a nonstick skillet or griddle for this recipe, though cast iron works too.
  • You may also like Spinach Banana Muffins, 2-Ingredient Pancakes, Banana Oatmeal Pancakes, and Yogurt Pancakes.

I’d love to hear what you think of this recipe so please comment below with feedback!

This post was first published March 2018.

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spinach-banana-pancakes-on-white-plate

Best Banana Spinach Pancakes

This is a thin batter that makes tender, naturally sweet Banana Spinach Pancakes. Be sure to let the pancakes cook until the surface is almost entirely firm before you flip them over.
4.99 from 157 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Cuisine American
Course Breakfast
Calories 237kcal
Servings 4

Ingredients

  • 2 cups lightly packed baby spinach
  • 2 small very ripe bananas (about 1 cup tightly packed sliced bananas)
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
  • teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 cup buckwheat flour or whole wheat (See Notes at the bottom if using whole wheat)
  • Coconut oil for cooking (or unsalted butter)

Instructions

  • Add all ingredients to a blender except the flour.
  • Blend on high until very well combined, about 20-30 seconds, or until you no longer see any noticeable flecks of spinach.
  • Stir or pulse in the flour and thoroughly combine without over-mixing. 
  • Warm a nonstick or cast iron skillet or griddle over medium heat and coat with oil or butter. Pour small rounds of batter onto the hot surface—the batter should spread fairly thinly on its own—and let cook until bubbles form on the surface and the surface is mostly set, about 3-4 minutes. 
  • Flip and cook for an additional 3 minutes, or until fully cooked.
  • Continue to prepare the rest of the batter, keeping the finished pancakes warm in a 275 degree oven if desired.
  • Serve warm with fruit, maple syrup, or another favorite dip.

Video

Notes

  • To store, let cool fully and keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Warm slightly before serving. Or, store in a zip top freezer bag for up to 3 months and warm through to serve.
  • Whole-wheat flour: You can sub in whole wheat flour for the buckwheat. Just reduce the milk to ¾ cup.
  • You can use baby kale in this recipe if you prefer.
  • You can store a bag of baby spinach in the freezer to use in smoothies and pancakes. Freezing it maintains the nutrients but it knocks out any “green” flavor which is handy! It’s also nice that you don’t have to worry about it going bad before you can use it up.
  • Be sure to blend the batter very smooth to get the greens very well processed.
  • If the bottoms start to brown too much before they are set, lower the heat to medium-low.
  • Look for buckwheat in the natural flours section of your supermarket. It’s widely available and very nutritious.
  • If making for a baby who’s not yet consuming cow’s milk, you can use unsweetened nondairy milk.
  • I prefer to use a nonstick skillet or griddle for this recipe, though cast iron works too.

Nutrition

Calories: 237kcal, Carbohydrates: 40g, Protein: 9g, Fat: 6g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 104mg, Sodium: 206mg, Potassium: 577mg, Fiber: 6g, Sugar: 11g, Vitamin A: 1674IU, Vitamin C: 9mg, Calcium: 208mg, Iron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Rate in the comments and tag @yummytoddlerfood on IG!

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Delicious! Will be making these again for sure. Always an added benefit to add veggies to our favorite foods like pancakes

  2. 5 stars
    Best pancake recipe!! Thank you!!
    Can you make these on a sheet pan to bake (like the yogurt pancakes)?
    Does it result in good texture?

    1. It depends on how large you make the pancakes, but typically I get about 12-15 pancakes on the smaller side and a serving is about 3-4 of them. (What a child needs to fill their hunger may be different than that though.)

  3. Hi Amy, if using egg replacer like the Bob’s Red Mill would you add it in with the flour or at it in when you would normally add the eggs?
    Thanks!

  4. 5 stars
    I am not a cook what so ever…. but trying my best for my little son. He loved these pancakes!!! Thank you so much for this recipe. Feeling like a super mom today!!!!

  5. 5 stars
    Hi Amy,
    I made both these pancakes and the Spinach Banana muffins to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day–they both were delicious! Thank you for all of your yummy, healthy recipes.

  6. 5 stars
    These pancakes were so easy to make and so delicious! They made the perfect breakfast for my toddler on St. Patrick’s Day!

  7. 5 stars
    I was so pleasantly surprised by these. I didn’t think I would care for them, and they were delicious plain. Thanks for a great recipe!

  8. 5 stars
    I made these for my kids (8 mo and 3.5) and they both LOVED them. My 3yo is EXTREMELY picky and he ate 14 of them. He is very good about finding hidden veggies so this was a huge win. Thank you!

  9. 5 stars
    I used 5 oz thawed and drained frozen chopped spinach, half GF flour and half rolled oats per recipe. The pancakes were delicious, I made them for the three generations in residence.

  10. Can I substitute anything else for the bananas? I can’t stand the smell of bananas, but I want to try these for my baby!

    1. Usually mashed roasted sweet potato is a good sub. You may also be able to use applesauce as long as it’s not too runny

    1. I think the best option in this recipe would be a store bought egg replacer like the one from Bob’s Red Mill or Just Eggs.

    1. I haven’t tried it with this recipe but you can often cook pancake batter in a thin layer in a sheet pan for about 18 minutes at 400 degrees F.

      1. Hi- I actually haven’t tested them with all purpose flour and you might need to reduce the liquid a little bit to ensure they cook through well.