For all of my adult life, I have been someone who works out. Before having kids, I worked out a few days a week, at the gym or with a fun workout video at home, but never really took it all that serious. About five years ago, when my first son was born, I was left with a little baby weight to lose and it sparked something in me. I decided then that I didn’t want to just lose my baby weight, I wanted to be in the best shape of my life. So, I took to learning and researching and making as many fitness friends as I could on Instagram. Yes, that’s right, my first Instagram account was a personal fitness account. I would share my progress, my workouts, what I was eating and encouragement for my fellow Insta friends. One thing that was a common theme at the time, on all of those accounts I followed, were healthy treats. Of course I followed accounts that were most like me, and I love me some treats. I love cakes and muffins, donuts and pancakes; but when you’re #OnAQuest to be super fit, those don’t always fit in the equation. So, my fellow Insta friends and I would make healthier treats to satisfy our sweet tooth. There were protein pancakes and muffins and donuts; and I tried each recipe as if my life depended on it. Soon, I nailed down a recipe for protein pancakes that I loved, I would make them most mornings. They were gooey and cakey and satisfied my need for a sweet treat, without derailing my fitness goals.
If you know my story well, then you know that this fitness interest sparked something bigger in me. I pursued my ACSM certification and decided I wanted to share what I learned online, with women just like me; Pumps and Push-Ups was born! When I started Pumps and Push-Ups, I stepped away from my personal fitness Instagram, which meant I also stepped away from my daily protein pancake stacks I was posting on that account. I actually haven’t made a stack of protein pancakes in years, until recently. I was contacted by Quest about their new Cinnamon Crunch Protein Powder and asked if I would like to try. When I saw Quest, I thought about all of the Quest Protein Bars I heated up to taste like cookies. Quest bars are tasty! So, even though this was my first try of their protein powder, I was game! I immediately thought of my old friend, protein pancakes.
Quest let me in on the fact that their new Cinnamon Crunch Protein Powder was at GNC, so off I went to my local GNC. You can grab a couple of sachets if you just want to try the flavor, or if you’re like me, you can go ahead and commit to the big guy here:
The Cinnamon Crunch flavor tastes a lot like the milk that’s left over in your cereal bowl, but with a lot more protein and a lot less sugar, it’s good! Plus, Quest protein bakes well, so the possibilities go way beyond a protein shake.
Anyway, back to these pancakes! Here’s what you’ll need:
PANCAKES
1/2 scoop Quest Cinnamon Crunch Protein Powder
1/3 cup oat flour (oats ground into flour)
2 egg whites
1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
1/4 cup mashed banana
1 tbsp nut butter (you can use any kind here; peanut butter, almond, cashew, etc.)
TOPPING
1/4 cup powdered peanut butter
2 tbsp unsweetened almond milk
1 banana
1 tsp honey
cinnamon
DIRECTIONS
1. Heat a skillet over medium-low heat.
2. In a blender, blend 1/3 cup of oats into oat flour.
3. Mix the oat flour with protein powder and set aside.
4. Now, blend together the almond milk, mashed banana, nut butter and egg whites.
5. Combine your wet and dry ingredients.
6. Pour 1/4 cup of batter into your pan and wait for those glorious little bubbles to pop up, then flip.
7. While your cake cooks, blend powdered peanut butter with almond milk, until smooth.
8. As your cakes finish, top each one with a little bit of the powdered peanut butter blend and layer.
9. Finish off the top with another layer of powdered peanut butter, sliced banana, a drizzle of honey and a dash of cinnamon.
Done!
Now, I wouldn’t call myself a chef or anything, so let’s be honest, my cakes are a little flat. Probably because I over blended. I have made this recipe before and my cakes were fluffier, so fluffier cakes are possible. I also burnt my cakes a little, let’s be real. But, I’m not picky, they were tasty and reminded me of my old favorite; cakey and sweet, without the guilt!
Now, you tell me, have you ever tried protein pancakes or any Quest products?
– Brooke
Super recipe! I’ll try to do it as soon as possible! That hunger! π
Kiss
Luna
http://www.fashionsnobber.com
First of all, they sound wonderful and second of all your pictures are amazing, it literally looks like I could grab the pancakes off the screen and into my mouth, ha ha! Great recipe, I love using protein powder!
These look delicious! What a great recipe π
Love, Lindsey
http://www.thenomisniche.com/
This recipe looks so delicious.
xx,
Margot
https://troughthepasturesofthesky.com/
This looks super delicious!
http://violettedaily.com
These sound and look absolutely delicious! Thanks for sharing!
These look super delicious. Yummy Post π
Vaishali
http://www.vivaciouswish.com/2017/03/19/love-for-vintage-print/
These pancakes look super yummy. Thanks for the recipe.
Nina’s Style Blog
You’re welcome! π
Thank you!!
Thanks Laura!
Thank you!
Thanks Margot! π
Thank you Lindsey!
Thank you so much Andrea!! I feel like I struggle with indoor photography, so that makes me feel great!
Thank you!! π
These look amazing! I love these photos. Makes for a great breakfast meal π http://www.bauchlefashion.com/2017/03/stripes-with-attitude-for-spring.html
I’m going to print this out! Looks so yummy and easy to make!
Shauna
http://www.lipglossandlace.net
These look so good! Breakfast food is my favorite, so I would try these for sure! I love that they’re something you can feel good about eating too.
Yummy these look so good, I love pancakes
xo
http://www.laurajaneatelier.com
I love pancakes! And these look so yummy and healthy. Definitely giving the recipe a try this weekend π
xx
https://simpliannie.wordpress.com/
omg!! I really love pancakes!!!
xx
MΓ³nica Sors
MES VOYAGES Γ PARIS
NEW POST: PFW STREET STYLE MARCH 2017 | RAINY PARIS
I love the idea of making more healthy versions of our favorites so we can still have them and just live a more balanced life. These sound amazing!!
Amy Ann
Straight A Style
What a unique protein snack. Looks delicious
-Kate
http://www.katekoutures.com/
I love pancakes! Cinnamon is my favorite flavor for breakfast in the morning.
Juliaγ»Little Miss Haute Couture
I have never heard of this before, but it sounds great in a pancake recipe! I can’t wait to give this a try especially since my kids love cinnamon.
xo, Whitney and Blaire
Peaches In A Pod
Those sounds great and healthy! I worked out a bit before my second little was born and it’s just been on the back burner since. Trying to start a routine now to get myself back in shape for the Summer! I love following you on insta by the way! π
http://www.mylittlenest.org
I didn’t know this existed, but this looks so good! Thanks for sharing π
http://www.myclusterofthoughts.com/
OMG this flavor and these pancakes sound sooo amazing! I love making protein pancakes in the morning, usually with basic chocolate protein powder – I think this would upgrade them so much. Just pinned this!
Annessa
http://www.seekingsunshine.com
That’s such a good idea to add protein to the pancakes to make it more healthy. This totally looks delicious too!
Tina
http://www.justatinabit.com
Thank you Tina!
Yum! That sounds delicious. Chocolate is typically my go to flavor too!
You’re welcome! Thanks for reading.
It’s so hard with two! I fit it in when I can, but it’s like a constant juggling act, lol. Thank you Ruth! I love following you too!!
I’m not a huge protein shake fan, but I’ve always loved baking with it!
Yum!!
Thank you Kate!
Thats the only way I can eat ‘healthy’. I need my healthier treats!
π Me Too!!
I hope you love it!
Thank you!
Yeah! They’re super filling too. π
Yay! I hope you love them.
Thank you Heather!