Vanilla Protein Powder Pancakes without Bananas

By Laura Fuentes Updated Jun 23, 2025

4.91 from 42 votes

Recipe

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Make this simple recipe for protein pancakes with your favorite vanilla whey protein powder for a great start to your day!

These pancakes are flourless and have no bananas, so they take on the flavor of the protein powder you already have on hand.

stack of pancakes made with protein powder on a plate with blackberries and butter on top

Jump to:

Flourless Protein Pancakes
Ingredients
How to Make Protein Powder Pancakes
Protein Powder Pancakes Texture
Vanilla Whey Protein Powder Pancakes (no Banana)

Flourless Protein Pancakes

I love how easy these pancakes make it to get 40g of protein at breakfast! Plus, all I need are 4 simple ingredients, including my favorite whey protein, that are a lot more economical than buying a pre-made protein breakfast of any type.

While I sometimes add protein powder to my homemade pancakes to increase their nutritional value, starting out with this recipe ensures I get the macros I need at breakfast.

The recipe below yields enough for 2 breakfasts, so I can save the batter for the next day or, cook them all and simply heat and eat them later!

Best Protein Powder for Pancakes

I prefer using whey protein powder for making pancakes because it dissolves much better with milk and has a smoother texture than plant-based proteins. The batter will take on the flavor of the protein powder you use, so vanilla is always a great option.

If you use a plant-based protein powder, keep in mind it can be denser than whey, so make sure to add half of the milk to the batter, combine, and slowly add the remaining liquid to achieve a good batter consistency. You can learn more about choosing the best protein powder for you here.

What Does the Protein Powder Pancake Batter Look Like?

I recommend you first understand what the perfect pancake batter looks like and then realize that when making flourless protein pancakes, the batter will be a little thinner and runnier compared to regular pancakes.

Test a single pancake first, and then you can adjust the batter by adding a little more liquid or more protein powder if necessary.

stack of pancakes made with protein powder on a plate with blackberries

Can you Substitute Protein Powder for Flour in Pancakes?

While protein powder has a lot of similarities to regular flour, I don’t recommend using it as a substitute for flour in a classic pancake recipe since the rest of the ingredients would also have to be adjusted. So no, protein powder is not an equal substitute for flour.

In case you don’t have protein powder and want a good flour substitute for pancakes, try these flourless banana oatmeal pancakes that will rock your world.

Are They Gluten-Free?

These protein pancakes are a perfect solution for anyone with gluten allergies. It’s made with no flour, and like most protein powders, the brand I use is gluten-free, but be sure to check your container for that gluten-free seal.

Ingredients

Anyone can make a batch of these protein pancakes for breakfast, whether it’s to stick to their health goals or enjoy a stack of yummy pancakes with syrup. The ingredient list is short and sweet, here’s what you’ll need:

Eggs: they act as the binding ingredient and liquid in this recipe.
Whey protein powder: the batter will take on the flavor of the protein powder you select. I prefer whey because it creates a smooth texture to the batter.
Baking powder: they give the pancakes some texture and body instead of being flat.
Milk: dairy or non-dairy works for this recipe.

By the way, you can totally cook the protein powder. Adding it to the batter doesn’t make it go bad or cook out the protein.

Protein Pancakes Without Banana

Many protein pancake recipes will use a banana as a binder and to sweeten the batter; however, using it isn’t necessary. This recipe uses eggs to bind the ingredients and vanilla protein powder to give the pancakes flavor.

These Greek yogurt pancakes are also high in protein and have no bananas, so they’re another option. I’ve also perfected the ultimate protein pancakes using my classic recipe and traditional flour. You can even make protein pancakes with pancake mix!

Protein Powder Pancakes Without Oats

It’s possible to make pancakes using your favorite protein powder and not have to use oats in the batter by combining the egg and protein powder first and then adding the milk slowly to form a cohesive batter.

How to Make Protein Powder Pancakes

With only 4 ingredients these are easy to whip up first thing in the morning. Make sure to add some of the milk first, and then add the rest to achieve the right batter consistency. In my experience, plant protein powders will need more liquid.

Alright, let’s make some pancakes:

Whisk the Batter
Whisk the eggs first, and then add the protein powder and baking powder. Add ¼ cup of the milk first, and then the rest one tablespoon at a time until you have a good pancake batter texture. Add more if you’re using plant protein.
Cook
You’ll want to pour no more than ¼ cup of pancake batter per pancake; the smaller, the better. Cook the first side and then flip.
Stack and Eat
These are thinner and not as fluffy and pair great with your favorite pancake toppings.

Still not sure? Watch this quick video to see how they’re made:

Protein Powder Pancakes Texture

It can be a little disappointing, compared to regular pancakes, that these protein pancakes aren’t as fluffy; but they can still be delicious! Although thinner, they have a soft, spongy texture that absorbs pancake syrup perfectly. I love strawberry pancake syrup or blueberry syrup on these.

Can You Freeze Protein Pancakes?

I often make a big batch of these and freeze them for a future morning when I don’t have time to cook! All you have to do is make the pancakes and:

Allow the pancakes to cool down to room temperature before adding 3 to 4 to a freezer-safe zip bag.
Remove any excess air from the bag, seal it, and freeze it for up to 3 months.
Remove the desired amount of pancakes from the bag and reheat in the toaster oven or microwave. Drizzle with syrup and serve.

More Ways to Make High Protein Pancakes

If you want to make protein pancakes without the protein powder, try my Cottage Cheese Pancake recipe or these fluffy Greek yogurt pancakes.

Vanilla Whey Protein Powder Pancakes (no Banana)

Servings: 2 servings

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 10

Total Time: 15

Make this simple recipe for protein pancakes with your favorite vanilla whey protein powder for a great start to your day!

4.91 from 42 votes

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Watch how it’s made:

Ingredients

2 eggs
¾ cup whey protein powder, vanilla recommended
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
⅓ cup milk, any
Butter for cooking
Syrup for serving

Instructions

Make the batter:

In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs. Add the protein powder and baking powder and whisk until no lumps are visible. This will be thick.
Add ¼ cup of the milk and whisk until the batter is smooth, adding the rest of the milk if necessary. This will depend on the brand of protein powder.

Cook the Pancakes:

Heat a non-stick pan over medium-high heat. Once hot, grease it with butter or oil.
Pour or scoop ¼ cup of batter for each pancake. Wait until bubbles form and the edges are defined to flip, about 2 to 3 minutes. Continue cooking for an additional minute on the other side. Remove from the pan and repeat with the remaining batter.

Store:

Extra pancake batter can be refrigerated overnight in a covered bowl. To cook it, whisk the batter and add a tablespoon of liquid, if necessary. Cooked pancakes can be stored in the fridge in an air-thight container for up to 4 days and frozen for up to a month. To reheat, microwave for 30 seconds to 1 minute.

Notes

The recipe yields approximately 10 medium pancakes. They are on the thin side, and each serving is for ½ the batter or 4-5 pancakes total. Nutritional information will vary depending on the protein powder and milk type used.