These Healthy Pancakes with Carrots and Yogurt are high in protein from eggs and yogurt and are a nice source of both a veggie and fruit. But even though they are filled with wholesome ingredients, they are also special enough for a holiday breakfast or brunch because they taste like (a less overtly sweet) carrot cake!
Healthy Pancakes with Extra Nutrition
These pancakes have whole grains, yogurt, and carrots making them a really nutritious pancake and a healthy toddler breakfast. I love adding carrot to pancakes since they are very subtle and are likely to be accepted by many toddlers. My girls notice them for sure, but they never seem to mind—they love pancakes in all forms! You’ll want to soak shredded carrots in very hot water to make sure that they are nice and soft and blend right into the finished pancakes.
How to Make Healthy Pancakes Step by Step
To make this pancake recipe, here’s what you’ll need to do:
- Gather your ingredients including flour, applesauce, eggs, yogurt, butter, vanilla, baking powder, and cinnamon.
- Grate 1 cup of carrots with a hand held grater or you can use a food processor (just chop into big chunks first!).
- Add grated carrot to a heat-safe bowl and bring a kettle of water to a boil. Pour hot water over carrots and let sit for 3-5 minutes.
- Drain carrots well.
- Stir all ingredients together in a bowl. Add in raisins if you’d like. (My kids love raisins in this recipe!)
- Cook your pancakes in your favorite skillet!
Healthy Pancakes with Yogurt
The yogurt in this recipe adds moisture, but also protein and calcium. It’s a nice change from milk and eliminates the need for a large amount of butter or oil. If you have a dairy intolerance in the house simply replace the yogurt with additional applesauce.
Freezer-Friendly Pancakes for Toddlers
I love to keep extra pancakes in the freezer for quick weekday breakfasts. (I sometimes even make a batch and a half to make this possible.) Simply let any leftovers cool fully, then store in a zip top freezer bag with as much air removed as possible. Reheat them one at a time on a plate for about 30-60 seconds (flipping halfway through) in the microwave.
Healthy Pancakes with Applesauce
I use applesauce in this recipe to give it some sweetness without needing to add extra sugar. We love to have these healthy pancakes for breakfast in the spring when it’s close to Easter, or any other time when we simply have extra carrots in the house!. My girls love them topped with syrup, nut butter, or even additional applesauce.
Bunny placemat / Silicone cup topper and straw / bunny cup
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PinDescription
This is a thicker pancake batter due to the carrots and whole grain flours. If you prefer a thinner batter, add a few tablespoons of milk. Heat the oven to 200 F and keep the cooked pancakes warm on a baking sheet while you finish the batch, or serve them up as you go.
Ingredients
- 1 cup packed shredded carrot (about 1 medium carrot)
- 3 eggs, lightly beaten
- 1/2 cup applesauce
- 1/2 cup plain yogurt
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted and slightly cooled
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup whole wheat flour or buckwheat flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/3 cup raisins, optional
- Butter or neutral oil
- Maple syrup, nut butter, or yogurt to top as desired
Instructions
- Add the shredded carrot to a heat-safe bowl. Boil a kettle of water and pour over carrot. Let sit for 3-5 minutes. Drain well.
- Stir together the carrot, eggs, applesauce, yogurt, butter, and vanilla in a medium bowl. Add in the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and raisins, if using, and stir gently to combine.
- Heat a nonstick or cast iron pan or griddle over medium-heat. Add a sliver of butter, let melt, and swirl to cover pan.
- Cook batter, about 1/4 cup at a time and spreading thinly, for 2-3 minutes per side or until set around the edges and lightly browned. Add more butter and repeat to cook the rest of the pancakes.
- Serve warm with maple syrup, nut butter, or yogurt, depending on your preference.
Notes
To Make these Egg-Free
Omit the eggs and add 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed and 1/3-1/2 cup milk. Be sure to spread the batter thinly to ensure it cooks through.
To Make these Dairy-Free
Omit the yogurt and use 1 cup applesauce.
To Make these Gluten-Free
Use buckwheat flour (which is naturally gluten-free) or your favorite gluten-free cup for cup mix.
I have some baby carrots to use up but they are quite difficult to grate as they are so small. Could I boil or steam and then smash into small pieces instead?
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You could try grating them in a food processor if you have them! Or yes, I would think that steaming and smashing them could work fine too.
I have yet to try it but I wanted to say thanks for adding so many alternatives. My toddler is allergic to dairy and eggs, I almost closed the page when I saw the ingredients but I’m so glad I read further. Thank you! I look forward to trying this one
These are a huge hit in our house! My toddler devours them, but was fighting with me, my husband, and her nanny to see who was going to finish them. Everyone loved them! Grating the carrot was a little more labor intensive than I realized so next time I’d likely prepare that in advance.
Hi , do you have any suggestions for an alternative for applesauce in this recipe?
Thanks so much! Thanya
Hi! I haven’t tried anything else but mashed banana would likely work!
Have you ever tried these as a muffin? If not, any idea to adapt it?
I haven’t tried these as a muffin so I’m not sure if it would work. I do have this carrot cupcake recipe that you could serve as a muffin if you reduce the sugar to 1/4 cup. Let me know if I can help in any other way!
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