The Best Vegan Pancake Recipe, fluffy, quick & easy | Sweeter Than Oats (2024)

Home » All the Vegan Breakfast Recipes » Easy Delicious Vegan Pancakes (sugar-free)

ByFreya

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Looking for an easy and delicious vegan pancake recipe that’s also sugar-free? You’ve come to the right place! These pancakes are not only quick to make, but are also completely plant-based and free from any added sugars. Enjoy a guilt-free breakfast with these scrumptious pancakes that are sure to satisfy your cravings!

PIN my vegan pancake recipe to make later

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If you’re looking for my vegan crepe recipe, click here!

It seems to me that the short time at the beginning of the month when we have spare cash is over within 24 hours, a bit like the summer equinox. A fleeting, beautiful time where frivolity and reckless spending is encouraged. And then it’s back to paying with cheques and eating dried pulses and pasta.

Sometimes though, it’s not just the end of the month that makes me more inventive than usual. Sometimes I forget to take that evening’s meat out of the freezer. And when you want dinner in a hurry, nothing takes longer to defrost than a concrete hard block of veggie lasagne. And when you’re at the point where you’re blowtorching your food to try and defrost it, you know you probably need pancakes!

Why You’ll Love my Easy Vegan Pancakes

  • Make ahead mixture, mix up the night before
  • Store cupboard ingredients
  • Quick to prep
  • Eggless and Dairy free recipe
  • No-Sugar Recipe

Actually I had been craving pancakes, so this was as good excuse as any to make them and I certainly cannot wait until next Pancake Day which is sometime in February 2024.

I managed to utilise some leftover ingredient: an opened pot of Alpro Yogurt with a teaspoon taken out of it (don’t ask me the reasoning behind that), and a couple of rashers of vegan bacon.

Table of Contents

What makes your pancakes vegan?

The Best Vegan Pancake Recipe, fluffy, quick & easy | Sweeter Than Oats (2)

It’s easy! Simply replace the egg element with a flaxseed egg, and the buttermilk or yogurt with a dairy-free substitute! That’s all there is to it! I use melted coconut oil or vegan butter instead of regular butter to enrich the batter.

Are pancakes just for breakfast?

Pancakes for supper: they’re not really a starter nor a dessert but remember I was craving them, hence this simple and quick recipe. This should be a no-brainerof a dish. It is a simple ‘stir and drop in hot oil’ meal, but somehow in my frantic rush to make myself pancakes, I screwed up, although not to the detriment of the dish. I almost forgot my flax eggs that I had diligently whisked up and were sitting doing their thing whilst I prepped everything else! So, as I’m just about to ladle in a spoonful of batter onto my frying pan, I spy my little dish of flax egg sitting there, untouched! That was definitely good timing. I dumped the ladleful of mixture back into the bowl and gently stirred the flax egg into my batter.

The Best Vegan Pancake Recipe, fluffy, quick & easy | Sweeter Than Oats (3)

Worry not though, once the whole lot was combined and cooked, the pancakes were actually really very delicious and fluffy.

The Best Vegan Pancake Recipe, fluffy, quick & easy | Sweeter Than Oats (4)

Ingredients and Substitutions

  • Plain or All purpose flour. You can also make these pancakes gluten-free by simply replacing the flour with your favourite gluten-free mix.
  • Baking Powder, to help ensure a fluffy pancake
  • Bicarbonate of Soda (Baking Soda)
  • Pinch of salt
  • Soy Milk, or you could use almond milk, coconut milk, oat milk, the plant milk of your choice.
  • Vegan Yogurt, I like to use Alpro.
  • Coconut Oil, or you can use unflavoured oil or melted vegan butter
  • Vanilla Extract

This is ONLY a list of ingredients for the recipe; please see recipe card below for complete printable recipe.

Method

  • Prepare your flax egg by whisking 1 tbsp ground flaxseeds with 2 tbsp cold water.
  • In a large mixing bowl, sift in all your dry ingredients, the flour, baking powder, sea salt and bicarb. Whisk to make sure they’re all combined.
  • In a large jug, whisk together the milk, yogurt, flax egg, vanilla extract and coconut oil.
  • Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and whisk until just combined.
  • At this point you can cover and refrigerate to make pancakes the next day.
  • Alternatively, let batter rest for 5 minutes. This allows the baking powder (the leavening agent) to activate and create light, airy, fluffy pancakes.
  • In a large nonstick skillet, griddle or frying pan, heat a little vegetable oil over medium heat.
  • Using a ladle, spoon in portions of the pancake batter, leaving to cook on the first side until you start to see small bubbles appear on the surface and the batter looks like it’s drying out.
  • Carefully flip onto the second side and cook for another couple of minutes.
  • Repeat until you have used up all the batter.
  • You can store any leftover pancakes in an airtight container, or freeze them in a ziplock bag. Reheat them in a toaster oven.

Variations to Vegan Pancakes

  • Try adding fresh fruit: diced apple, banana, chopped strawberries or blueberries or even peaches to your batter
  • Add vegan chocolate chips to your batter.
  • Try half whole wheat flour and half white flour for a healthier, nuttier pancake. Other flours also give a great taste and texture, try Buckwheat, barley or oat flour.
  • Add a dash of vanilla, a teaspoon of cinnamon, some ginger powder, or all three!
  • Try 1/2 can pumpkin to replace 1/2 cup of yogurt, mixed with some pumpkin pie spices for a seasonal twist!
  • Make your pancakes festive! Add a little red or green food colouring at Christmas time, or pastels at easter to get in the seasonal vibe! You can even add sprinkles to the batter!
  • My favourite way to serve pancakes though is with pure maple syrup and some melted butter poured over them.

Try my other Vegan Pancake Recipes!

  • Click here for my easy, fluffy waffle recipe
  • For a seasonal treat, how about my brown sugar pumpkin pancakes
  • Click here for my easy peanut butter and banana pancakes
  • Blueberry and Lemon Pancakes with Chia Seeds
  • Delicious savoury Vegan Potato Pancakes

Easy Vegan Pancakes

The Best Vegan Pancake Recipe, fluffy, quick & easy | Sweeter Than Oats (5)

The fluffiest vegan pancakes!

Freya

5 from 28 votes

Prep 3 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 13 minutes mins

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Plain Flour
  • 1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
  • 1/4 Teaspoon Bicarbonate of Soda
  • 1/4 Teaspoon Salt
  • 1/2 cup Soy Milk - or plant based of your choice
  • 3/4 cup Yogurt - plain, vegan
  • 1 tbsp Coconut Oil - melted
  • 1 flax seed egg - (1 tbsp ground flax whisked up with 3 tbsp water)
  • 1 tsp Vanilla Extract

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients.

  • In a jug, whisk together the wet ingredients, including the egg replacer.

  • Make a well in the middle of the dry ingredients and pour in the wet.

  • Don’t overstir, a few lumps are ok and will ensure a light, fluffy pancake.

  • Heat a little knob of butter in a large frying pan or griddle.

  • Drop a little bit of batter into the pan. If it sizzles, it is ready.

  • Using a 1 cup measure, ladle a portion of the batter into the centre of the pan.

  • Tilt pan as needed to form a uniform circle of batter.

  • Wait until bubbles begin to form on the surface of the batter.

  • Carefully and gently flip the pancake over.

  • Do not press down on the pancake or try to move around in the pan.

  • Lift an edge of the pancake after 45 seconds to check for browning.

  • Remove from pan when both sides appear uniform.

Please note that where the recipe asks for milk, butter or yogurt, this refers to any plant-based version that you prefer.

Nutrition Facts

Easy Vegan Pancakes

Serving Size

30 g

Amount per Serving

Calories

93

% Daily Value*

Fat

3

g

5

%

Saturated Fat

2

g

13

%

Polyunsaturated Fat

1

g

Monounsaturated Fat

1

g

Cholesterol

3

mg

1

%

Sodium

178

mg

8

%

Potassium

73

mg

2

%

Carbohydrates

14

g

5

%

Fiber

1

g

4

%

Sugar

1

g

1

%

Protein

3

g

6

%

Vitamin A

81

IU

2

%

Vitamin C

1

mg

1

%

Calcium

80

mg

8

%

Iron

1

mg

6

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

The Best Vegan Pancake Recipe, fluffy, quick & easy | Sweeter Than Oats (2024)

FAQs

What makes pancakes fluffy and helps them rise? ›

Pancakes and waffles typically both contain baking soda, which causes them to rise. As soon as the baking soda is combined with the wet ingredients (which contain an acidic ingredient, like often buttermilk), it starts producing carbon dioxide gas bubbles that cause the batter to rise.

Why are restaurant pancakes so fluffy? ›

Buttermilk is often used instead of regular milk

Many restaurants use buttermilk instead of dairy or plant-based milk when making pancakes, which changes the interaction of the ingredients before and during cooking — leading to a fluffier, more texturally satisfying, and tastier result.

What is the secret of amazing pancakes? ›

Don't over-mix the batter - As mentioned in the recipe you only want to mix the batter until it just comes together. Lumps are okay! Over mixing will develop too much gluten in the batter leading to tough, chewy pancakes.

What ingredient in a basic made from scratch pancake batter makes pancakes fluffy? ›

Flour: This homemade pancake recipe starts with all-purpose flour. Baking powder: Baking powder, a leavener, is the secret to fluffy pancakes.

Does adding more baking powder make pancakes fluffier? ›

Top tips for fluffy pancakes

Don't be tempted to add more than the recipe suggests, as too much baking powder will make pancakes taste soapy. Alternatively, you could use self-raising flour, which will add to the amount of raising agent in the recipe and potentially make your pancakes fluffier.

Does baking powder or baking soda make pancakes fluffier? ›

Baking soda is essential for baked goods, but baking powder is really what makes pancakes and biscuits rise and become so super fluffy. Double-acting baking powder, which is the kind that you'll find in the grocery store, produces bubbles in two ways: when it is mixed with wet ingredients and then when it gets heated.

Why are my pancakes flat and not fluffy? ›

Why are my pancakes flat and not fluffy? A flat pancake is usually the result of the batter being too wet. This is because there isn't enough strength from the flour to trap the bubbles produced by the baking soda.

Why are my homemade pancakes not fluffy? ›

Flat pancakes are nearly always because of expired baking powder, too little baking powder for the recipe size, or too thin of a batter. How to fix flat pancakes: First, test your baking powder by adding a teaspoon of baking powder in a glass and adding a tablespoon of water or two.

Why do IHOP pancakes taste better? ›

While the griddles themselves likely vary from one diner chain to the next, diners are pretty much all working with a waffle iron or griddle that's already hot. IHOP, for instance, requires its pans to be heated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, and uses Crisco instead of butter to grease it, says Grimm.

Why do restaurant pancakes taste better than homemade? ›

Restaurants use better quality ingredients

Restaurants tend to use real, farm-fresh eggs and real milk when making their pancakes, which as you might guess, adds to a richer, higher-quality eating experience.

What makes pancakes fluffy, baking powder or baking soda? ›

Baking powder, like baking soda, is a chemical leavening agent made with sodium bicarbonate (aka baking soda) plus a weak acid, such as potassium bitartrate. Baking soda is essential for baked goods, but baking powder is really what makes pancakes and biscuits rise and become so super fluffy.

Why are my pancakes not fluffy enough? ›

Over-mixing pancake batter develops the gluten that will make the pancakes rubbery and tough. For light, fluffy pancakes, you want to mix just until the batter comes together—it's okay if there are still some lumps of flour. Fat (melted butter) makes the pancakes rich and moist.

Why are my pancakes rubbery not fluffy? ›

If you stir your pancake batter too much, the gas bubbles that your acid and base just produced will be released. Over stirring causes tough, rubbery pancakes. You should barely stir your pancake batter.

Why isn't my pancakes Fluffy? ›

Over mixing develops the gluten in the flour, leading to tough and dense pancakes. Let the batter rest before cooking it, about 5-10 minutes is enough if you have mixed correctly. While it rests, the flour absorbs the liquids, the lumps will smooth out somewhat and the gluten has a chance to relax.

References

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