Banana Cinnamon Pancakes (Gluten Free)

These gluten free Banana Cinnamon Pancakes are fluffy and made with fresh bananas. They're homemade and perfect topped with maple syrup!

There is nothing better than whipping up a batch of these Cinnamon Banana Pancakes and enjoying them with a hot cup of coffee for breakfast or brunch.

I firmly believe that bready-y, semi-sweet breakfast foods are one of the great joys in life. Pancakes, waffles, French toast, muffins - I love them all. Savory breakfast dishes are great as well but it's hard to beat a stack of freshly prepared pancakes.

This recipe is based on one I found years ago in an old church cookbook. It's got an inscription from my Grandma in the front cover and everything. This is a no-fuss, no-frills old fashioned recipe that's timeless and made with simple ingredients.

The main difference between this recipe and the original is the addition of cinnamon to the batter and sliced, fresh bananas that are added to the pancakes as they cook in the skillet.

The bananas become caramelized once the pancakes are flipped, giving these pancakes extra sweetness and texture. The flavor of the cinnamon and bananas complement each other nicely and keep you wanting to come back for more.

Jump to:

• Why Add Bananas To Pancakes?
• Ingredients For Banana Cinnamon Pancakes
• How To Make Gluten Free Pancake Batter
• How To Make Pancakes Fluffy
• How To Make Banana Pancakes
• What To Serve With Cinnamon Banana Pancakes
• How Long Do Banana Pancakes Last In The Fridge?
• Can They Be Frozen?
• Banana Cinnamon Pancakes (Gluten Free)

Why Add Bananas To Pancakes?

Pancakes are one of those timeless dishes that's great on its own or served simply with some butter and maple syrup.

They're also delicious prepared with any number of add-ins, from fresh fruit to yogurt to chocolate chips. One of my favorite ways to bump up the flavor of pancakes is the addition of bananas.

Bananas add a subtle sweetness to the pancakes and pair perfectly with the addition of cinnamon.

The bananas are not mashed or mixed into the batter, they are sliced and placed onto the batter as the pancakes are cooking in the skillet. Once the pancakes are flipped, the heat and butter from the skillet serves to caramelize the bananas, providing them with a bit more natural sweetness and texture.

I recommend using bananas that are just ripe for these Banana Cinnamon Pancakes. Underripe bananas will likely not be sweet enough and overripe bananas may cause the pancakes to become too mushy.

Ingredients For Banana Cinnamon Pancakes

Here's what you'll need to make them.

• 2 cups Gluten Free Flour Blend (such as Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 Flour)
• 3 Tbsp. Sugar
• 1 ½ tsp. Cinnamon
• 3 tsp. Baking Powder
• ¼ tsp. Kosher Salt
• 2 Eggs
• 1 ¼ cups Milk (or nondairy milk alternative)
• ¼ cup Olive Oil
• 4 Ripe Bananas
• 4 Tbsp. Butter
• Maple Syrup for serving (optional)

How To Make Gluten Free Pancake Batter

The process of making gluten free pancake batter is not much different than regular pancake batter.

The main difference is the type of flour used to make it. For breakfast items like pancakes, waffles, and muffins, I prefer a gluten free flour blend such as Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 Flour or Cup 4 Cup.

There is no need for any complicated ingredients or substitutions and I find that the results are similar to pancakes made using regular AP flour.

The process of preparing the gluten free pancake batter starts with combining both the dry and wet ingredients separately and then stirring them together until combined.

1. Combine the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Add 2 cups of gluten free flour blend, 3 Tbsp. sugar, 1 ½ tsp. cinnamon, 3 tsp. of baking powder, and ¼ tsp. of kosher salt. Stir until completely combined.
2. In a smaller mixing bowl, add 2 eggs, 1 ¼ cup milk (or nondairy milk alternative such as oat milk or almond milk), and ¼ cup of olive oil. Stir all of these ingredients until totally combined.
3. Slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, stirring each time. Continue until all of the wet ingredients are added to the dry and stir until completely combined. The batter will be a little dense and lumpy.

How To Make Pancakes Fluffy

One of the most important factor when it comes to pancakes is that the texture is light and fluffy.

Dry, dense, or flat pancakes are unappealing both in terms of taste and texture.

There are a few tips and tricks to keep in mind when it comes to ensuring that pancakes are fluffy:

• Do not overmix the batter (this is more important if using regular AP flour). Overmixing the pancake batter may cause them to become tough and dense.
• Use a good quality baking powder that is not expired. Baking powder acts as a leavening agent and creates a super fluffy texture.
• Cook the pancakes on a medium heat so that they do not burn. If the skillet is too hot, it may cause the pancakes to stick, burn, dry out, or become flat. Make sure to keep an eye on the temperature as the pancakes cook in the skillet.

How To Make Banana Pancakes

Once the batter is ready, it's time to make the pancakes.

When it comes to making pancakes, here are some things to keep in mind to help them cook properly:

• Make sure to add enough butter to the pan to keep the pancakes from sticking to the surface. I recommend adding butter in between each pancake. This helps them to become golden brown and prevents them from sticking.
• Make sure not to overcrowd the pan, or the batter will run together and won't form separate pancakes. I recommend making 1-2 pancakes at a time, depending on the size of the pan.
• Keep the heat between medium and medium-low. It's important the the skillet is hot enough to cook the pancakes, but not so hot that they burn. Make sure to keep an eye on the temperature throughout the cooking process.
• Use a good quality skillet or griddle to help ensure that the pancakes don't stick to the surface. A nonstick skillet, cast iron skillet, or electric pancake griddle should all work fine. I have found that an enameled cast iron skillet is not optimal, as the bananas tend to stick to the surface.

Use a measuring cup to ensure that all of the pancakes are the same size.

1. Peel and slice 2-3 ripe bananas. Make sure the banana slices are relatively the same thickness so that they cook evenly.
2. Place a skillet or cast iron skillet onto the stove top and heat to medium.
3. Once heated, add ½ Tbsp. of butter to the skillet. Swirl the butter around so that it coats the surface of the skillet.
4. Using a ¼ cup dry measuring cup, pour the batter into the skillet (the batter will spread a bit).
5. Once the batter spreads a bit, place 6-8 of the sliced bananas on the surface of the pancake (it may spread a bit more after this).
6. Cook the pancake for 2-3 minutes, or until bubbles start to form on the surface (cooking times may vary slightly). Once the first side is golden brown, flip the pancake.
7. Cook for another 2-3 minutes on the second side.
8. Remove the pancake, set aside, and repeat with the remainder of the batter. Make sure to add more butter each time to prevent the batter and the bananas from sticking to the surface.

The bananas should soften slightly as the pancakes cook and become caramelized (but not burnt). They become lightly sweetened and should cook into the pancakes once flipped.

This recipe yields 6-8 pancakes.

Love bananas? Don't miss these recipes!

• Coffee Banana Bread
• Roasted Banana Walnut Muffins
• Roasted Banana Bread

What To Serve With Cinnamon Banana Pancakes

These pancakes can be served on their own, or topped with some butter and maple syrup. Feel free to add some fresh bananas and an extra dusting of cinnamon if you like.

They're also great with fresh fruit like blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, or raspberries (any type of berry would work, actually).

Jam, yogurt, toasted nuts, or granola is also a great option for extra flavor and texture as a topping.

Pancakes are perfect served served for breakfast or brunch with side dishes like eggs, bacon, sausages, or toast.

Fluffy pancakes are tasty paired with savory breakfast dishes like this ham and cheese frittata, sweet potato breakfast bowls, sweet potato breakfast hash, and Denver Omelette egg cups.

Looking for more breakfast dishes? Don't miss these!

• Cardamom French Toast
• Southwest Sweet Potato Frittata
• Baked Lemon Doughnuts
• Eggnog French Toast
• Apple Streusel Muffins

How Long Do Banana Pancakes Last In The Fridge?

Any leftover banana pancakes may be stored in an airtight container for 1-2 days in the refrigerator.

Make sure to allow them to cool completely before transferring to the fridge.

The pancakes can be reheated in the microwave.

Can They Be Frozen?

For optimal taste and texture, I do not recommend freezing these pancakes. They are best enjoyed right away or within a few days.

Love breakfast? Check out these recipes!

• Old Fashioned Fluffy Pancakes
• Rhubarb Streusel Muffins
• Pumpkin Waffles
• Gluten Free French Toast Casserole

Looking For More Breakfast Recipes? Don't Miss These!

Feta Cheese Avocado Frittata

Blueberry Baked Oats

Oven Baked Egg Bites