The ultimate Sunday brunch recipe: pancakes.

I am generally the worst when it comes to food holidays. National Spaghetti Day? Meh, I’m having lentil curry instead. What about National Coffee Ice Cream Day? You most likely would see me having oatmeal and completely neglecting the idea of making coffee nana ice cream. Food holidays are pretty difficult to keep track of because they’re not as popular as holidays as Christmas or Halloween, but even though I know they’re there, I don’t bother to celebrate even though it seems really fun.

If you remember my chocolate chip coconut flour pancake recipe for National Chocolate Chip Day, then you know that I finally made the effort to go along with the food holiday! They tasted absolutely amazing, were filling, fluffy, sweet and were so easy to make as well. However, I decided to take it up and notch and incorporate some extra cool ingredients, such as protein powder, pumpkin, and one of my latest favorites: apple cider vinegar! I actually used to take apple cider vinegar “shots” in the morning to “wake up” my metabolism, but to be honest, I didn’t feel a huge difference in my digestion, plus they just didn’t taste good. On the other hand, if you put it in baking or pancakes and such….WOW. What a miracle worker, guys!

My recipe was actually a slight adaptation slash combination of two different protein pancake recipes that I found on my Pinterest recipe board (FYI: follow me!). The first is this chocolate protein pancake recipe I was eyeing for the longest time on Kim Hoeltje’s blog at this link and on the Blogilates website right here. By the way–two things: 1) I am no way trying to steal any credit from their recipes–I just got a little bit of ideas that helped me recreate my own, and 2) I highly recommend both of these blogs if you want to find more healthy recipes and lifestyle tips on how to make better choices!

RECIPE

• 6 TBSP canned pumpkin
• 1/3 cup egg whites
• 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 scoop desired protein powder; I used the GNC Pro Performance Decadent Delight in chocolate milkshake but you can use a casein, egg white or vegan protein powder (I personally don’t like vanilla protein but I’m sure that will work fine too!)
• 2/3 TBSP coconut flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• Sweetener to taste; I used Stevia
• Opt: cacao powder, almond milk, coconut, chocolate chips, blueberries, etc.

PROCEDURE

1. Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl thoroughly.
2. Slowly add in the wet ingredients and stir until the mixture is very thick and consistent.
3. Heat a nonstick pan on low-medium heat.
4. When the pan is ready, pour the batter and cook until it is ready to flip and golden-brown on the surface.
5. Top with whatever you like and enjoy!

What “superfood” claim did you try that was unsuccessful? Who is your favorite source for pancake recipes?