For Easy Peanut Butter Pancakes, You Just Need 3 Ingredients

One of the greatest things about pancakes is how easy they are to make. With just a few key ingredients and a pan, you can whip up a cozy, delicious breakfast that anyone will enjoy — and the options for customization are endless. You can even make a healthy, flour-free version with just three ingredients: Eggs, banana, and peanut butter.

To try it, just mash a banana and mix with some beaten egg and a spoon of peanut butter. When the batter is combined, fry in small rounds until golden and then enjoy with your favorite toppings. It really is that simple. Now, these nutty hot cakes won't have the exact same consistency as your favorite fluffy buttermilk pancakes. They are more chewy and crepe-like, but they are still delicious.

They also have a high protein content thanks to the eggs and peanut butter, which contain 6 to 7 grams of the good stuff each per serving (1 egg and 2 tbsp of peanut butter). Bananas also contain heart-healthy nutrients, and they act as a natural sweetener, so you don't need to add any sugar. The peanut butter also provides a creamy, nutty flavor that plays off the banana well, creating the perfect base for syrup, fruit, and other toppings.

If you want to try experimenting with the texture of these, some baking powder should help them rise a little and create a texture more akin to a classic stack of tall, fluffy pancakes. A sprinkle of coconut flour can also make them more cake-like, as can some ground oats or almonds. For a sweeter finish, add a dash of sugar or a drizzle of maple syrup into the batter. And any nut butter will work — cashew, almond, hazelnut. Seed butters can keep things nut-free. You also can leave the butter out altogether if you'd like.

Another option for a thickener is pumpkin puree, which is especially fun in the fall (hello pumpkin pecan pancakes). As for other add-ins, try chocolate chips, chopped nuts, blueberries, or extra banana slices. Cocoa powder or chocolate sauce can also upgrade these into chocolate pancakes, and cinnamon or nutmeg can create a delicious spiced flavor. 

Just make sure you don't try to make the pancakes too big, as the batter is very thin, so they can become hard to flip. They also brown quite quickly, so don't turn the heat up too high. Apart from that, they are pretty straightforward. Serve with warm syrup, butterscotch, jam, more chocolate chips, or chopped fruit. The flavor should be mild enough to pair with anything you'd like.