no guilt pancakes

So I know that around the internet right now, there are about 1000 versions of this recipe.  In experimenting with a lot of them, I've figured out that many of the recipes have flaws, and don't really tell you the tricks to getting them to turn out well.  They're sort of easy to screw up, because they AREN'T just like real pancakes.  What they are though, is totally delicious, and call me crazy but I actually prefer them to the real thing!  

So below, my foolproof recipe.  

Protein Pancakes

1 scoop protein powder, roughly 3 tbsp (I use Perfect Fit by Tone It Up, but I've also had GREAT results with Trader Joe's chocolate whey protein, and you need 2 scoops of that brand)

1/4 cup egg whites

1/2 mashed up banana (don't sub applesauce)

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 tbsp ground flax seeds

2 tbsp milk of your choice

2 tbsp oats

1.  Heat up a pan greased with a little canola spray or Pam to medium heat.  No higher, you don't want to rush the cooking with these!  

2.  Thoroughly mash the banana, then combine all the ingredients, adding the banana last.  

3.  I find that making one big pancake works the very best.  If you're dead set on making a few little ones, use a VERY wide pan.  These are a bit harder to flip than the real thing.  Once you've poured out the batter, drizzle in your mix-ins, whether it's a few blueberries, some pecans, or chocolate chips.  Flip the pancake once it seems pretty firm on one side - as in, almost cooked completely through.  It will take a bit, about 5 minutes, but if these cook too fast on the outside they'll be raw on the inside, and the texture won't be any good.  

4.  Flip it over and cook for another 1-2 minutes, and then serve.  I like to top with 1/4 cup real maple syrup or some vanilla greek yogurt!