Banana Pancakes with Cinnamon-Nutmeg Syrup

Recipe for Banana Pancakes with Cinnamon-Nutmeg Syrup

One of our favourite treats for a relaxing weekend breakfast is banana pancakes - for some reason I've never been much of a fan of raw bananas, but after a bit of cooking, I gobble them up!  These pancakes are a great twist on the traditional buttermilk pancakes that are so popular in my region of the US, and they’re amazing served with fresh fruit, especially strawberries and blueberries.  But since we tend to do our market shopping on the weekend, Saturday morning is often a use-up-whatever-is-left kind of a meal, so we invented a spicy syrup to replace the berries here.

In Japan, I often made this batter up at night, and left it in the fridge over night (don’t add the baking soda until you are ready to cook!) making breakfast that much quicker.  The batter is pretty basic, and can be easily modified to have a stronger or weaker banana flavour, use different types of flour, vegan pancakes, etc. Make-ahead or make in the morning, with eggs or without – either way these pancakes are a delicious way to use up over-ripe bananas!

Yes, those are some chocolate-chip banana pancakes in the back...what can I say? I love chocolate!

Banana Pancake Recipe

Makes about 12 pancakes (4-5 inches diameter)

Total time: approx 30 minutes

2 medium bananas, ripe to over-ripe, well mashed with a fork

1 egg  (or 1 additional banana)

1 tablespoon melted butter or oil

1 cup flour

½ tsp baking soda

½ tsp salt

1 cup buttermilk (if you can’t find real buttermilk, you can substitute: just under a cup of milk mixed with lemon juice or vinegar, and left to sit for at least 15 minutes)

Mix the mashed bananas with the egg and oil thoroughly.  Add the flour, baking soda (unless you are making this ahead), and salt and stir till combined.  Slowly combine the buttermilk.  Fry on a preheated pan or griddle.

Cinnamon-Nutmeg Syrup

Makes about 1 cup syrup

Total time: approx 10 minutes

½ cup water

½ cup sugar (brown or white)

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp cinnamon

¼ tsp nutmeg

In a small saucepan, bring water and sugar to a rolling boil.  Turn heat down to medium, and allow the mixture to simmer for 1-2 minutes.  When the mixture stops sliding off a spoon like a liquid, and acts more like a syrup, turn off the heat.  Add vanilla, followed by cinnamon and nutmeg to taste.