Healthy Pumpkin Pancakes
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Published Oct 18, 2019, Updated Sep 20, 2023
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Healthy pumpkin pancakes made with oats and cottage cheese. Full of pumpkin spice flavor and packed with protein and fiber, these pancakes are the perfect way to fuel a fall morning!
Few things are better than a nourishing, filling, fall breakfast! These healthy pumpkin pancakes are our new go-to! They’re simple enough to whip up for a weekday morning but also fancy enough for a weekend brunch. I based this recipe off of my healthy apple pancake recipe, but we’re using pumpkin instead of apples for another fall spin!
I think a lot of people consider pancakes an indulgent breakfast option, but you can upgrade a few ingredients and have a healthy, powerhouse breakfast to start your day. These pumpkin pancakes have oatmeal and pumpkin puree, which are both high in fiber. And the cottage cheese and egg whites offer a major protein boost. Top with a little nut butter or coconut oil for some healthy fat and voila — you’ve got yourself a complete breakfast that will keep you full for hours!
Ingredients in Healthy Pumpkin Pancakes
- old fashioned oats – – my fave brand is Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free old fashioned rolled oats.
- egg whites – acts as a binding ingredient, keeps the pancakes light and fluffy, and really amps up the protein!
- cottage cheese – another protein booster, cottage cheese also helps to keep these pancakes moist.
- pumpkin puree – make your own pumpkin puree or pick up canned pumpkin. Just be sure it’s not pumpkin pie filling!
- pumpkin pie spice – this tasty spice blend is used in pumpkin pie. You can use store-bought or make it yourself with my pumpkin pie spice recipe.
- cinnamon – pairs perfectly with pumpkin for the ultimate fall flavor!
- maple syrup – drizzle over your pancakes for a boost of sweetness.
How to Make Healthy Pumpkin Pancakes
If you usually make pancakes by taking a pancake mix and adding water, you definitely need to try making a homemade version! They taste so much better and they’re healthier for you.
These pancakes are made in a blender which makes mixing and clean up a breeze! Add the oats, egg whites, cottage cheese, pumpkin puree, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice and cinnamon to the blender and process until the batter is relatively smooth.
Heat a pan or griddle to low-medium heat and spray with non-stick spray. Scoop a quarter cup of batter onto the pan and cook until little bubbles form and the edges of the pancakes are solid enough to put a spatula underneath. Flip and cook for an additional one to two minutes. This recipe should make about 8 small pancakes. To serve, stack four on a plate and drizzle with maple syrup and/or nut butter.
More Healthy Pancake Recipes
- Blueberry Protein Pancakes
- Coconut Flour Pancakes
- Almond Flour Pancakes
- Cottage Cheese Pancakes
- Peanut Flour Pancakes
- Butternut Squash Protein Pancakes
- Protein Pancakes
- Banana Pancakes for Babies
- Overnight Oatmeal Pancakes
Popular Pumpkin Recipes to Try
- Oatmeal Pumpkin Cookies
- Healthy Pumpkin Muffins
- Vegan Pumpkin Protein Bars
- Healthy Pumpkin Bread
- Healthy Pumpkin Bars
- Flourless Pumpkin Muffins
- Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal
- Pumpkin Pie Overnight Oats
- Pumpkin Spice Donuts
- Pumpkin Coffee Cake
Be sure to check out all of the pumpkin recipes as well as the full collection of breakfast recipes on EBF!
Healthy Pumpkin Pancakes
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup old fashioned oats
- ½ cup egg whites
- ½ cup cottage cheese
- ¼ cup pumpkin
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- nonstick cooking spray
- maple syrup, for topping
Instructions
- Add oats, egg whites, cottage cheese, pumpkin, baking powder pumpkin pie spice and cinnamon into a blender and process until the batter is relatively smooth.
- Heat pan or griddle to low-medium heat and spray with nonstick cooking spray.
- Once hot, scoop out about a quarter cup of batter at a time and pour onto pan. (You should be able to make about 8 small pancakes.)
- Cook until little bubbles form and the edges of the pancakes are solid enough to put a spatula underneath, about 4-6 minutes. Flip the pancakes and cook for one to two additional minutes.
- For serving, place four pancakes on each plate and drizzle with maple syrup and/or nut butter.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Can I substitute cottage cheese with whole milk kefir? Would it be a 1 to 1 substitution?
Hey Jennifer, I haven’t tried it so I’m not 100% sure but I bet that would be fine to sub the cottage cheese with the kefier 1:1 ratio. Let me know how it turns out if you try it!
I was craving pumpkin pancakes and decided to give these a try. Seriously just as delicious as my favorite brunch hangout’s version but so much healthier.
Yay! I love hearing this, Ava. So pumped these pumpkin pancakes were a hit. Thanks so much for trying them out and coming back to leave a review. I really appreciate it!
Can you taste the cottage cheese in the pancakes? (I dislike cottage cheese).
Could I substitute the cottage cheese for ricotta cheese?
I don’t think you can, but I also love cottage cheese. 🙂 Ricotta cheese might change the flavor, the closest sub I would say would be Greek yogurt. 🙂
These pancakes were fabulous. I hesitated to make them because I just like pumpkin… I don’t love pumpkin like others do. I did not have cottage cheese but used regular vanilla yogurt, not Greek and they were delicious. Thank you for the recipe.
Woo!! So glad you enjoyed this recipe, Paula! Thanks for giving it a try and for the review. I so appreciate it!
Can I use this recipe to make waffles?
I don’t see why not! Let me know if you try it and how they turn out. 🙂
Great recipe! Love that it leaves you feeling full!
Woo! Love to hear that, Joleen. Thanks for making them and coming back to leave a review, I really appreciate it 🙂
I look forward to making these every Autumn! Today I added hemp seeds and they turned out wonderfully. Thank you for this recipe!!
Ah! What a great addition, Hillary. I am excited to hear that this recipe is a hit! Thank you for sharing your review & star rating, I so appreciate it.