Made with just three simple ingredients, these nutritious Cottage Cheese Pancakes are a healthy breakfast for kids you make in under 10 minutes. They’re loaded with protein and healthy fats—and are also fluffy and delish.
Cottage Cheese Pancakes
I love making quick and nutritious breakfasts that my kids will actually eat and these Cottage Cheese Pancakes have been in regular rotation lately.
Everyone at my table enjoys them, they have whole grains, healthy fats, and protein, and the batter comes together so quickly in the blender!
I love them since they are filling, but they also have a really tender texture. They’re soft and moist enough for babies to eat, but are also satisfying for older kids and grown ups.
We like to have them with a side of fruit, but any of your favorite pancake toppings work!
TIP: These are a wonderful baby pancake as they have a very tender texture and are free from added sugar.
Ingredients You Need
To make this recipe you’ll need these ingredients so you know what to have on hand or pick up at the store.
- Rolled oats: This takes the place of flour here and adds complex carbohydrates as well as fiber. Look for rolled oats, or “old-fashioned oats” to use here.
- Cottage cheese: This is an unusual ingredient in a pancake, but it’s the key here as it adds substance and body to the pancakes. I prefer to use full-fat cottage cheese for the healthy fats that little kids need. (If you have low-fat on hand, you can use it.)
- Eggs: The eggs help create the fluffy texture and hold the batter together so it cooks through nicely.
Ingredient Substitutions
- To make this recipe gluten-free, simply choose certified gluten-free rolled oats.
- You can add cinnamon and/or vanilla extract to the batter if you like for more flavor.
- Feel free to add toppings such as applesauce, maple syrup, jam, or butter. Or serve with fresh berries.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s a look at the very simple process involved in making this recipe so yo know what to expect. Scroll down to the bottom of the post for the full recipe.
- Add the ingredients to a blender
- Blend very smooth.
- Cook the pancake batter in a warmed nonstick or cast iron skillet or griddle in butter.
- Flip over to finish cooking.
TIP: I prefer to cook my pancakes in butter as I prefer the flavor and taste, but you could also use a neutral oil.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you can find it, 4% cottage cheese is really delicious in this recipe. 2% works well too. I would advise against using nonfat cottage cheese as the flavor and texture won’t be as good.
They work best if you make the batter in a blender because it smooths out the texture of the cottage cheese and adds air to the batter.
Yes, simply let cool and freeze in a single layer (or multiple layers with parchment paper in between) in a freezer bag. Remove as much air as you can before sealing.
How to Store
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Warm briefly before serving.
You can also store them stacked between pieces of parchment paper in a freezer bag. Reheat in 15 second increments in the microwave to warm up.
Best Tips for Success
- To make these gluten-free, use certified gluten-free rolled oats.
- Use 2% or 4% fat cottage cheese for the best flavor and texture.
- Try using ricotta cheese instead of cottage cheese for another variation.
- Serve topped with applesauce, apple butter, jam, or maple syrup—or warmed frozen fruit like blueberries.
- Make the pancakes small to medium in size so they’re easy to flip over.
Related Recipes
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I’d love to hear what your family thinks of these if you try them, so please comment below to share!
Quick Cottage Cheese Pancakes
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup cottage cheese (2% or 4% milk fat)
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
- 1 tablespoon butter
- berries, applesauce, maple syrup, and/or jam to serve
Instructions
- Blend on high until super smooth.
- Warm a nonstick or cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add half of the butter and let melt.
- Add a small amount of the batter at a time, spreading thinly and cook for about 3 minutes per side. You want to see little bubbles and for the top to be mostly set before you flip each over to ensure they are cooked through.
- Melt the remaining butter and repeat to cook the remaining batter. Serve warm with desired toppings.⠀⠀
Video
Notes
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Warm briefly before serving.
- Use ricotta cheese instead of cottage cheese if desired.
- Serve topped with applesauce, apple butter, jam, or maple syrup.
- Make the pancakes small to medium in size so they’re easy to flip over.
Nutrition
This post was first published in December 2019.
We added a tablespoon of sugar and used steel cut oats. Turned out great! Such a simple recipe. Kids had them with honey and on their own too. Will make again!
Looking for yummy ways to incorporate protein into my kids diets. Can’t wait to try this! Could cocoa be added to make them chocolatey? How much would you suggest?
I would guess 1 tablespoon would do it!
Excellent !!!! So easy, so healthy, so yummy !!! I think this is my favorite pancake recipe so far! We topped it with warmed frozen blueberries and syrup and it was better than going out to a restaurant for breakfast! Thank you
Just made these for my almost 3yo daughter and we LOVED these. So easy, nutritious and yummi.
Made these for my picky two yr old grandson and he approved. Using a star shaped cookie cutter helped too!!
Very impressed! Easy time naked and enjoyed by me and baby 🤗 will definitely make again and most likely batch them to freeze! Thanks for the recipe!
Can you use flour instead of rolled oats (if you do not want to use a blender)? If so how much?
And with rolled oats do you think you have to blend them up?? Thank you!
I haven’t ever made this with flour but it might work similarly with the same amount of whole wheat flour as oats. It’s best to grind the oats up so they are smooth in the batter, and so that the cottage cheese is smooth also.
This recipe looks great! Btw we make your two-ingredient pancake recipe with sweet potato all the time for our 10 month old and she loves it.
I’d love to add some pureed fruit to the batter for these cottage cheese pancakes. How much would you recommend I add in and should I adjust anything else in the recipe?
Thanks for the great blog – we reference it a lot!
I’m glad to hear that about the 2-ingredient pancakes! With this one, adding fruit puree may make them really runny since they are a flat pancake as is. You could probably add a few blueberries or a slice of banana on top of each as it cooks though. enjoy
I was hoping these would be a hit but my kids were not a fan. I didn’t love the flavor but the texture was good. Next time will add some honey or maple syrup to the batter.
These came out great. I added 2 grated apples. I made them for my 10 month old but I am snacking on them too as they are very tasty!
Super quick and loved by my 13 month old, my husband and myself!
SO delicious and easy. Another favorite recipe for both my 10 month old and toddler!!!
These were hit with my toddler who loves savory! I added him, nutritional yeast, and Italian spices.
Ham
Great versatile pancake recipe! I use this as the base recipe for a variety of different flavor pancakes for my 8 month old. I add in different puréed fruits for different flavors, sometimes I add a little peanut butter, the possibilities are endless!
So glad!
My toddler just finished off her plate of these. Great pancakes and I feel good giving them to her. I love the simple ingredient list and love that she’s getting her fats and proteins in. Another great recipe to add to the books. Thanks Amy!
I’m so glad to hear it!
Have you ever tried these as a sheet-pan pancake?
I haven’t and worry they wouldn’t cook right since they are a thinner pancake than traditional batter. Let me know if you try it though
I haven’t tried this yet but would love to try for breakfast Tom. Can you tell me if there’s any leveaning agent needed? Would it fit fluff up even without baking soda?
They do well without it, but you can add 1/4 teaspoon baking powder if you’d like.
I can’t get over how quick and easy these cottage cheese pancakes are to make. Whenever I feed these to my son I feel like mom of the year because he’s having such a healthy, well rounded breakfast. These freeze and reheat well!
My kiddos loved these! This is our new favorite pancake recipe. Lots of flavor and I love the ingredients. I added a touch of maple syrup to the batter, which ended up being a bit thin. However, I let it sit for about 5 minutes and it thickened up perfectly. Thanks Amy!
These are great. If you want something reminiscent of lemon ricotta pancakes, throw a wedge of lemon (peel included) and a tablespoon or two of sugar or honey into the blender with everything else (including the vanilla). Extra yummy😘
Love this recipe because it’s easy to make and also nutritious . I make them for my son and he loves them .
Our favorite pancakes ever. Super easy , tasty and nutritious! Thank you Amy for your recipes. It and changed my life as a new mom
Please tell me I can freeze these?!
Of course! Just place in a single layer in a freezer bag and put wax paper or parchment between the layers so they don’t stick together.
Love this recipe! Always turns out delicious, and keeps you full.
Amy, can these pancakes be baked rather than cooked in a pan?
Thanks!
I love this recipe! Perfect for busy mornings before school and work!
I made this for my 3 year old this morning and he asked for more! Great recipe with healthy ingredients. Thanks!
I’m so glad to hear that!
I just made these on whim. My toddler has been so picky the last couple days, he devoured these and they were so easy to make. Thank you!!! Bonus, my husband and I loved them too 🙂
There are so tasty. Can I make in a sheetpan and if so, what size pan, temperature, and for how long? I love all your recipes!
Hi Amy,
Can I replace Rolled Oats with all-purpose flour?
Hi- I haven’t tried them that way, but I think it would work. Blend everything else first, then stir the flour in.
Thank you very much for the prompt reply, Amy. I’ll try it that way and let you know.
Can these be frozen for later use? Thank you in advance!
Yes, just let cool, then freeze in a single layer (or layers with parchment or wax paper in between) in a freezer bag for up to 6 months. Remove as much air as you can from the bag to reduce any potential ice crystals.
There are not enough stars to describe how delicious these are! I made them for dinner one night; I nursed the baby while my family ate and they only left me two from a double batch because they liked them so much.
Hi Amy, what can we replace eggs with to make it without eggs?
Hi-
I’m not sure that there’s a great option for egg-free on these since there are so few other ingredients. It’s possible a product like Just Eggs might work
These pancakes are great and so easy to make! I usually make a similar recipe with greek yogurt but these were fast to whip together. I made a couple of additions to make them even healthier – I added half a cup of almond meal, 1/4 cup of ground flax, and a hearty tablespoon of hemp hearts. My 3 year old and 7 month old loved them! Also easy to freeze and warm up in the mornings in the toaster oven.
Hi Meg! Did you take out the oats when adding the almond meal/flax/hemp hearts?
Tried this recipe yesterday. It was definitely a win win.. Finger-lickin good!!
Great recipe. I’ve made these a couple times. Most recently, I had some ricotta that needed to be used up so I used that in place of cottage cheese (with a little splash of milk since ricotta is drier than cottage cheese). Turned out great!
We love these easy to make pancakes! I’m happy to give my two year old the extra protein from the cottage cheese! I throw in a very ripe banana if we have one!
Thank you so much Amy! My 2,5 years old loves them!
Thanks Amy, my toddler devoured these. Yummy, quick, healthy recipes for the win. Thank you so much!
I’m so glad to hear that!
I made these for the first time this morning and my 1 year old actually squealed with delight the whole time she was eating them. A big success! Thank you
I’m so glad!
Thank you for the recipe 🙂 is the butter only for the pan? And not for in the batter? Wasn’t super clear and I’m no pancake expert. Thanks again!
Just for the pan!
Made these for our two littles this morning (15 months, 22 months) and they both loved them! We topped with some fruit spread. So easy to throw in the blender. Appreciate a recipe that’s high in protein and easy to start the day with!
I’m so glad!
Hi – could these made egg free (either with a flax or chia egg or with applesauce as a substitute)?
These probably aren’t a great option for that since there’s hardly any other ingredients. If you search “vegan pancakes” you’ll see some other options though!
Since these are made with cottage cheese, are they able to be frozen? Thank you!
I believe they should freeze fine. You may just want to pat them with a paper towel once you warm them up!
Made these this morning and OMG they are so good! Super quick to make. I can see these being in regular rotation at our house. Our 3-year-old likes them with yogurt for dipping and fresh fruit.
My 1 year old loves these pancakes! His favorite breakfast, lunch or dinner ! Thank you
These were SO easy and yummy. I actually added a date to the blender to add natural sweetness since we didn’t have any syrup! A hit with both my kids!
Adding a date is a great idea!
Can I use oat flour instead to skip the blender?
I bet you could though the batter will be a little lumpy due to the texture of the cottage cheese.
Made these this morning and my little guy loved them! Thank you!
I’m so glad to hear that!
We thought these were delicious and will make again, I am sure.
@yummytoddlerfood
My kids loved them! Great easy recipe, thanks!
Can’t be at the winning combination of easy to make and delicious! My second recipe I have tried from your site and another winner. Thanks so much! Made a quadruple batch to freeze lots for quick breakfasts in the future (assuming the freeze thaw goes well lol).
Thanks for this recipe! How do you think it would lend itself to freezing and thawing? Thanks in advance!
I haven’t tried it but most pancakes freeze pretty well. It’s possible they might need a pat on a paper towel if they seem a little moist when reheated.
Thank you! I will try!
These were amazing! I love that these are delicious pancakes, but yet so healthy and EASY! My 14 month old loved them – and he usually never eats pancakes. Thank you for yet another creative and tasty recipe!
I’m so glad that they worked out so well!