Healthiest Pancakes Ever w/ Blueberry "Syrup"

Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. In a way, that's a fabulous thing because it just so happens that having a healthy breakfast is crucial to kicking off a healthy day. On the other hand, being the breakfast fanatic that I am can be a curse because there are a ton of tempting options that aren't always the healthiest, and once you start with unhealthy choices, you will usually continue that habit for the rest of the day. So, I discovered this recipe that will satisfy all of your cravings right away in the morning; you're in for a literal treat! I modified this pancake recipe and I could not be more excited about it. To top it off, I also came up with a super clean blueberry "syrup" recipe for the finishing touch.

These pancakes are packed with protein and only require a few easy ingredients that you probably have at your house already! For under 300 calories per serving (about 4-5 pancakes, depending how big you make them), over 20 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber, you'll want to make these all the time. They're so easy because you can really adjust the quantity of each ingredient to your liking and they will still turn out just as delicious. Mixing everything in the blender is all it takes, too!

To start... You'll need:

1 banana (this is the perfect use for those overripe ones!)

1/4 cup old-fashioned oats

1/4 cup cottage cheese (I used 1% low-fat)

Whites of 2 eggs (or one whole egg!)

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 tbsp almond milk (I used unsweetened, only 30 calories per cup)

For the "syrup":

Blueberries, cinnamon, almond milk!

All you have to do for the pancakes is mix all of the ingredients in the blender for 30 seconds to a minute, and then go ahead and spray your pan, griddle, or skillet. When I began pouring my pancakes into the pan, I used 3 tablespoons for each cake (for thicker pancakes, use less almond milk) and I cooked them on low/medium heat. This goes pretty fast, only a minute or two for the first side, and a minute or less once you've flipped.

When they begin to bubble, it's time to flip! They don't hold up as easy as regular pancakes, so I used a spatula and a little flipper (whatever you call it), and eventually got the hang of it. I almost burned my first one, so try to check the underside for color if you can find a way to do so without destroying your pancake (my problem exactly ha!)

Ahh, golden brown perfection.

For the blueberry "syrup", this part is so easy! Just mashed some blueberries with a fork, add a dash of cinnamon and a splash of almond milk, and continue to stir together and mash. I like to heat my syrup, so I just popped this in the microwave for 20 seconds and it was perfect. The more your stir/mash, the more syrupy it'll be.