10 ways to make your Pancake Day free-from

Discover our healthy pancake recipes, egg-free pancake recipes, vegan pancakes and savoury pancakes. Then check out our list of the best flour substitutions and best egg substitutions.

1. Try using coconut flour

These fluffy pancakes are gluten-, wheat- and nut-free, as well as being low in carbs, thanks to the use of coconut flour. Serve with a speedy compote, made by microwaving berries for just a minute or two, and drizzled with maple syrup for a feel-good brunch.

Got a bag of coconut flour to use up? Try our coconut flour cookies.

2. Experiment with almond flour

Like coconut flour, almond flour is naturally gluten-free. Use it to make these satisfying pancakes and serve in a stack with berries and syrup or honey. If you can’t get hold of almond flour, blitzing ground almonds in a food processor until fine will work, too.

For more ways with almond flour and ground almonds, try our keto vanilla cake, gluten-free banana bread and flourless chocolate almond cake.

3. Give gram flour a go

If you’re a fan of savoury pancakes, then you’ll love these easy socca pancakes with hummus and lemony onions. The batter is made with chickpea flour which delivers a crisp texture as well as plenty of plant-based protein, while being egg- and dairy-free. They’re so simple to make and you can change the toppings depending on what you have in the fridge – they’re even delicious with a just a sprinkle of good quality salt.

Enjoy this? Next, try our delicious pepper and mushroom socca pizza.

4. Try a vegan recipe for a naturally egg- and dairy-free pancake

You can’t go wrong with a stack of banana pancakes and these vegan pancakes are no exception. A guaranteed crowd-pleaser, with a texture thats light and fluffy, you’d never know they’re dairy- and egg-free. To serve, drizzle generously with maple syrup and top with sliced bananas or berries.

Check out our vegan brunch recipes, including vegan waffles and French toast. Plus, have a look at our healthy banana recipes.

5. Switch regular flour for gluten-free

Pick up a bag of gluten-free flour to make these thin crêpe-style pancakes and safely cater for those on a gluten-free diet. Perfect for both sweet and savoury toppings, you can make one batch to use for everything from grated cheese, to sugar and lemon or chocolate spread.

For more ways with your free-from flour, check out our gluten-free baking recipes and gluten-free desserts. You’ll love our cupcakes, brownies, biscuits and muffins.

6. Try dairy-free milk in a classic recipe

Swap regular milk with coconut, hemp or any plant-based milk in these dairy-free pancakes suitable for people with a lactose intolerance. The results are impressive, just be sure to follow all the quantities in your original recipe. This handy swap should work with most pancake recipes, so give it a go next time you’re making a batch.

We have lots more dairy-free recipes for you to try, including dairy-free breakfasts, dinners and cakes.

7. Swap out flour for oats for a wholefood pancake

Versatile oats are a great addition to Pancake Day. First, make sure they’re certified gluten-free then blitz them up with the rest of the ingredients to make a nutritious batter, as we do in our banana oat pancakes. Or, whizz them in the food processor first to make oat flour. Either way, the results will be wholesome pancakes with a slightly more dense texture. Serve with coconut yogurt and fresh berries.

Alternatively, you could mix cold porridge through your pancake batter to make our low-waste leftover porridge pancakes.

8. Mix things up and use rice for your batter

Indian dosa are rice pancakes made from a fermented batter. They take a little effort, but are delicious served with aloo masala and other fillings. Once cooked, the flavoursome batter becomes a thin, crispy pancake that’s broken into shards and used to scoop up the spicy vegetables.

We have a wide selection of Indian recipes, including healthy Indian and vegetarian Indian dishes. Try our paneer pakora and fiery Bombay potatoes.

9. Invest in a bag of buckwheat flour

Silken tofu is the secret in these fluffy, vegan, American-style pancakes, and it’s the use of buckwheat flour which keeps them gluten-free, as well as adding a pleasantly nutty flavour. It might sound strange to use tofu in a sweet recipe but, once it’s been blended into a thick, smooth batter, you’ll hardly notice it.

Serve with toasted nuts, fruit and a good drizzle of syrup for a protein-packed Pancake Day.

10. Forgo the flour with an omelette pancake

Healthy, low-calorie and gluten-free, these herby egg ‘pancakes’ are a great savoury alternative to the real deal if you’re coeliac or follow a gluten-free diet.

For more ways with a box of eggs, check out our healthy egg recipes, including baked eggs and breakfast eggs wraps.

Enjoyed this? Now try...

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Do you have a question for us regarding free-from diets? Ask us in the comments below.

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