These protein powder pancakes are the dairy free cousin of my banana protein pancakes. These pancakes use a pure plant protein (as opposed to whey protein isolate) to form the backbone of the pancake. They contain no added sugar and are flourless. The pancakes are also SIBO bi-phasic diet friendly and low FODMAP with some little adjustments.

An aerial close up image of protein powder pancakes on a white ceramic plate. The pancakes are topped with sliced banana, blueberries and maple syrup.

Protein powder pancakes (dairy free, flourless)

Name: Protein powder pancakes
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Ingredients: 1 extra large egg (55g weighed out of shell); 30 g plant protein (see notes and body of post); 75 g 1/2 large banana, mashed; 25 g (1 tablespoon) nut butter of choice; 1/4 teaspoon baking soda; 1 teaspoon vinegar or lemon juice; Oil or butter, for cooking; 20 - 80ml plant based milk of choice (see notes)

I have tested a LOT of protein powder pancakes in the last few weeks. Because I am currently on the SIBO bi-phasic diet, protein pancakes are the one little ‘sweet’ treat I can look forward to. I wanted to perfect a recipe so I worked on my banana protein pancakes with whey.

What I discovered during the process was that recipes that say ‘use any protein powder you like’ are LYING. I found that different varieties of protein powder yielded incredibly different results. We’ll go into those below, but for now I’ll say that this recipe uses plain, pure plant protein. It also uses a simple mix of nut butter, an egg and half a banana to form a single serve batch of easy, protein packed pancakes.

An aerial view of the ingredients for protein powder pancakes in small ceramic pinch bowls on a white marble table in harsh sunlight. Water glasses sit to the left of the image and cast shadow patterns across the image.

Protein powder notes

Looking online, a lot of recipes for easy protein pancake use protein powders with added xanthan gum, fibres and milk powders. What this means is that the protein essentially has binders and emulsifiers already included.

Xanthan gum doesn’t agree with me so I only use it where it’s essential (like in gluten free croissants). I don’t think xanthan gum is essential to a protein powder. Another consideration for me is that I can’t have added fibres or gums while on my elimination diet. This is why my protein powder recipes all use pure proteins without any extra ingredients.

If you’d like to try a protein powder with additives in this recipe, you can. I can’t vouch for the success of it, but I’d love to know how you go if you do.

The other thing with protein powders (plant based ones particularly) is that they’re all made from different ingredients. Just as white rice flour and sorghum flour have very different absorbencies, so too do different plant proteins. As an example, soy protein is a lot drier and more thirsty than hemp protein.

An aerial view of a bright blue ceramic plate topped with banana protein pancakes smothered in peanut butter and topped with banana coins, choc chips and maple syrup. The plate sits on a white marble table that is in filtered sunlight.

Plant based protein powders I have tried in this recipe

In order to make this as helpful as possible, I have tried a number of different plant protein powders in this recipe. If you’re using a whey protein, use this recipe here.

100% hemp protein (nothing else added)
100% sunflower seed protein (nothing else added) – I don’t recommend this option as the pancakes go green and are quite floppy
100% soy protein (nothing else added)
Macro Mike vanilla protein (a number of additives including sweetener and guar gum)

If you try any different varieties and have success, let me know. Something to note: different proteins are thirstier than others here. While I found I didn’t need to add any milk to the hemp seed protein pancakes, I needed to add 4 Australian tablespoons (80ml) to the soy protein pancakes.

A close up macro image of a pat of butter melting on a golden brown protein pancake

SIBO bi-phasic notes

If you’re on the SIBO diet, make sure the protein you are using has no added sugar, cocoa, fibres or gums.

You can use almond butter, coconut butter (not oil) or macadamia butter.

Sadly, you can’t use maple syrup to finish the pancakes. If you are on stage 2, you could use a little drizzle of honey.

These pancakes are suited to stage 1 adapted (to include the 1/2 banana) or stage 2.

For stage 2, you can also top the pancakes with 1/2 cup of berries, if you want to go all out and use up your fruit serves for the day.

Technically speaking, baking powder contains rice flour and isn’t on the SIBO approved list. I would have pulled my hair out without some sweet treats, so I use 1/4 teaspoon baking soda and 1 teaspoon vinegar or lemon juice.

A side on close up view of a stack of protein powder pancakes topped with mascarpone and blueberries and drizzled with maple syrup. The pancakes sit on a white speckled ceramic plate atop a white table.

Tips for your pancakes

Beating the egg white makes these pancakes taller and fluffier. It doesn’t work with whey protein (they become too spongy) but it works here.

These are flourless, unsweetened pancakes made with protein powder. Don’t expect them to taste like something they aren’t.

That said, the flavour of the protein powder you use will really help add flavour to the pancakes.

At the moment, I have no substitute for the banana. You could try using 75g pumpkin puree, but I haven’t tested the theory myself.

If you are using a protein that contains gums or fibre, you will probably find the batter is quite thick before you add the whipped egg whites. That’s fine if you like thick little pancakes, but if prefer medium thickness, add 15-20ml dairy free milk or water.

An aerial view of golden brown protein powder pancakes arranged on a white speckled ceramic plate

More gluten free protein powder recipes