Once in a while, Momma craves pancakes, and babies love them too! When made with a nourishing blend of beans, whole grains, eggs, and kefir, these pancakes are an excellent option for babies around a year or older. Eggs, in particular, are gentle on the digestive system—unless, of course, a baby has an egg intolerance—and are a wonderful source of easily absorbed nutrients. However, it’s important to remember that babies thrive on a diet rich in carbohydrates and healthy fats, so these nutrient-balanced pancakes are a great choice.
That said, these are not the kind of pancakes you’ll find in a restaurant. Store-bought or restaurant pancakes are foods that I strongly advise against for babies. They are often made with non-organic wheat contaminated with glyphosate, a pesticide that can be harmful, and stripped of essential nutrients like B vitamins. They’re frequently cooked in refined seed oils, which are inflammatory, and may contain binders and artificial flavorings. Additionally, poor-quality dairy products, often adulterated with hormones intended for calves, can introduce unwanted compounds like perchlorate, which can disrupt thyroid function. By choosing whole, high-quality ingredients, you’re nourishing both yourself and your baby in a way that supports long-term health.
Pancakes with Balanced Nutrients—What Babies Really Need for Protein
These pancakes are high in protein, providing 10 grams for only 422 calories, making them an excellent choice for moms with increased protein needs. These pancakes will be lower calorie, around 300 C if you reduce the coconut oil by half. But they are designed to have a higher fat ratio by cooking in more oil for the baby. This is a nutrient rich recipe beneficial for babies, as their balanced macronutrient ratio—5 fat: 11 carb: 2 protein—helps prevent blood sugar spikes, making them a steady source of energy. The ratio is closer to breast milk’s natural macronutrient composition (3.5 fat: 7 carb: 1 protein), which is perfectly designed for infants.
However, it’s important to note that while these pancakes are balanced, they are still relatively high in protein. Babies do not need a high-protein diet, and there is often confusion around this point. By multiplying the ratios for easier comparison (e.g., 10 fat: 22 carb: 4 protein for the pancakes, and 10.5 fat: 21 carb: 3 protein for the breastmilk), we can see that breast milk has a much lower protein-to-carbohydrate ratio. This emphasizes that babies require more carbohydrates and fats for their growth and energy needs, with only a small amount of protein. While protein is essential for development, a baby’s diet should primarily focus on high-quality carbs (like fruits, vegetables, and dairy) and healthy fats (such as avocados, olives, and full-fat dairy). The balanced nature of these pancakes makes them a healthy option, but mothers should remain mindful not to overemphasize protein in a baby’s diet.
Spongy Kefir Pancakes
Equipment
- 1 heavy skillet cast iron, heavy bottomed steel, or copper
- 1 mixing bowl or blender
Ingredients
- 1 c sorghum flour
- ¼ c garbanzo flour
- ¼ c tapioca flour
- ¼ c brown rice flour
- ½ t baking powder
- ½ t baking soda
- 1 T plus ½ t of chia seed
- ½ c goat milk kefir or yogurt
- 1 c spring water
- 2 eggs
Instructions
- Mix dry ingredients
- Mix wet ingredients, then combine everything.
- Stir in spices
- Fry in hot coconut oil until bubbly on one side, then flip to cook for 1/3 the time the first side took.
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
1 c sorghum flour
¼ c garbanzo flour
¼ c tapioca flour
¼ c brown rice flour
½ t baking powder
½ t baking soda
1 T plus ½ t of chia seed
½ c goat milk kefir or yogurt
1 c spring water
2 eggs
Sprinkle of cinnamon
Sprinkle of Nutmeg (¼ t)
1/4 c coconut oil (for frying pancakes)
Steps:
- Mix dry ingredients
- Mix wet ingredients, then combine everything.
- Stir in spices
- Fry in hot coconut oil until bubbly on one side, then flip to cook for 1/3 the time the first side took.
Why does kefir make such wonderful pancakes?
Yogurt or kefir reacts in a biochemical reaction with the flour to make a fluffy and spongy treat. Try to find and regularly drink goats milk kefir to encourage the proliferation of healthy bacteria. This is far more effective than using a probiotic. If you have taken any antibiotics in the past year, you definitely should drink a half liter of kefir two to 4 times a month.
Freeze all but 5 of the pancakes which you will eat today. Baked goods are wonderful straight out of the freezer. Put the frozen pancake directly in the oven at a little less than 200 degrees Fahrenheit or 150 degrees Celsius for several minutes to defrost. Pancakes as well as other baked goods stay the freshest when frozen.
