My son and I love to play around with pancake batter, tossing in pumpkin pie spice, dark chocolate chips, bits of pineapple, and even crispy chopped bacon (a heavenly match up with pure maple syrup).
One hit we keep coming back to? Banana pudding pancakes. The beloved custard-like Southern delight easily transcends a short stack into dessert status. We make a homemade pancake batter (box will work, too), mash in bananas, incorporate some instant banana cream pudding and griddle up these beautiful golden cakes. Crushed vanilla wafers and whipped cream complete the masterpiece. Syrup is optional (my son will beg to differ).
Why We Love This Breakfast
- It’s the perfect blend of comfort and indulgence. Pancakes are a childhood throwback that never gets old. Combined with sweet vanilla wafers, creamy banana pudding, and airy whipped cream, these flapjacks are basically dessert disguised as breakfast.
- Lots of textures and flavors come together. Warm banana pancakes, sweet vanilla-rich pudding, ripe banana slices, and crushed vanilla wafers means every bite is a playful mix of fluffy, silky, and crunchy.
- It’s a brunch centerpiece. If you’re hosting a brunch gathering, or even a baby shower or holiday breakfast, these pancakes are a sure crowd-pleaser. Serve them next to scrambled eggs, bacon, and mimosas for an impressive brunch feast.
- Kids love this celebratory breakfast. Add some extra whipped cream and candles to the top (maybe some sprinkles!) and you’ve got a birthday breakfast they’ll remember for years to come.
Tips, Tricks, and Swaps
- For the pancakes: This recipe leaves lots of wiggle room for homemade vs. store bought. Boxed pancake mix works well, just add eggs, milk, oil, or whatever the package calls for. On the other hand, homemade pancakes are pretty simple and mashing a banana into the batter adds another layer of depth and flavor.
- For the pudding: The instant version is fairly simple and a huge timesaver, but if you’re feeling homemade, the extra steps can be a delicious reward.
- For the toppings: Swap bananas for other fruit like strawberries or blueberries, and a caramel drizzle can be a welcomed topping addition. Just make sure your pancakes are cooked to a golden, fluffy consistency and have fun working with that beautiful canvas.
How To Make Banana Pancakes
Makes: 8 servings (two pancakes per serving)
Ingredients
Either Use a boxed mix and prepare as directed on the package and set batter aside, or for homemade pancakes, we love this recipe for Good Old-Fashioned Pancakes, with the addition of a smashed banana:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 3 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 tablespoon white sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt, or more to taste
- 1 ¼ cups milk
- 3 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1 large egg
- 1 ripe banana, smashed
For the toppings:
- One 3.4 oz box of Jell-O Banana Cream Instant Pudding & Pie Filling mix
- 1 banana, sliced thin
- 1 cup vanilla wafer cookies, crushed into small chunks
- whipped cream (as much or as little as desired)
- syrup, optional
Directions
- Prepare Jell-O Banana Cream Instant Pudding as directed on the package. Let cool while you cook the pancakes.
- Prepare pancake batter as directed here for homemade or as directed on the package of your favorite pancake mix.
- Heat griddle to medium-high on stovetop. Spray with nonstick butter cooking spray.
- Pour ¼ cup of pancake batter onto hot griddle. Cook two to three minutes on each side. (Tip: When bubbles start to form on the top and the edges look dry, it’s time to flip the pancake.)
- Repeat until all batter is used.
- Layer pancakes, pudding, and thin-sliced bananas. Top with whipped cream and crushed vanilla wafers.