Do you load your short stack up with butter and syrup? Or do you prefer your flapjacks with jam and whipped cream? Pancakes are just asking for fatty, sugary, sinful toppings.
However, the delectably endless options don’t end there! You can get creative and forgo adding inches to your waistline by opting for whole wheat pancakes and equally yummy toppings that are actually quite good for you. We’ve searched high and low to create a list of healthy pancake topping recipes and ideas that don’t sacrifice flavor!
Skip the store-bought jams and replace it with your own homemade sweetness! The secret ingredient is chia seeds.
Chia seeds not only make the jam okay to eat, but actually beneficial to your health! They’re rich in antioxidants, high in omega-3 fatty acids, and are low in calories.
http://eathealthyeathappy.com/strawberry-chia-jam/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: EAT HEALTHY EAT HAPPY
No, Maple Syrup is not the same as Aunt Jemima’s! Once you go Maple, you’ll never be able to tolerate any other kind of syrup on your pancakes (in my opinion). It’s sweet, fresh and simple.
If you’re able, try to find locally sourced maple syrup! You’ll appreciate the fresh taste while supporting a local business.
Not everyone loves the flavor of maple syrup and that is totally okay! Another great alternative to store-bought sugary syrups would be to simply drizzle your pancakes in honey.
Ensure you choose honey that isn’t overly processed or contains any additives. This sticky syrup will keep your family happy and your bellies satisfied.
Dark chocolate has so many health benefits and coats your flapjacks in the perfect layer of sweetness. Simply pick up good quality dark chocolate from the store, melt in the microwave, and then drizzle all over your pancakes.
Additionally, you could top the pancakes off with some bananas and you’ve got yourself a new, unbeatable pancake topping! To read more about the health benefits of dark chocolate read HERE.
One of the easiest and healthy pancake toppings are fresh fruit. They’re rich in nutrients and pack a lot of sweet flavors too.
Toss your favorite berries on your pancakes to enjoy summer’s naturally sweet flavors. You could even serve your pancakes with a side of orange wedges for a tangy treat.
You don’t need a recipe for this idea! Nothing satisfies a hungry morning tummy faster than the Great Canadian taste of bacon, walnuts and maple syrup.
To make this idea healthy, substitute the greasy bacon strips for the low fat, lean turkey variety and use 100-percent pure maple syrup!
What says brunch more than the protein goodness of a soft fried egg and some iron from sautéed spinach? Nothing!
This healthy topping recipe is paired with delicious crepes. Lastly, top it all off with grilled mushrooms.
http://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/recipes/stilton-and-spinach-pancakes-with-soft-egg/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: DELICIOUS MAGAZINE
Create this beautiful fruit bake to top your pancakes on a rainy Saturday morning to warm your body up for the day! This bake is filled with pineapple chunks, fresh cranberries and pear, and apple slices.
Further, you’ll season the hot fruit bake with lemon juice, coconut sugar, cinnamon, and few other lovely ingredients. This topping will seriously take your pancakes to the next level.
http://www.cottercrunch.com/gluten-free-spiced-hot-fruit-bake/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: COTTER CRUNCH
Craving chocolate without the sugary calories? Cacao Nibs are your best friend! When paired with Greek Yogurt, you still get your creamy, chocolatey fix while staying healthy.
In addition, Greek yogurt has a lot of health benefits too. It’s a great source of protein, probiotics, potassium, and calcium.
The great thing about apple butter is that it’s made with fresh apples and a dash of cinnamon. So simple, guilt-free and super flavorful!
This 2-ingredient recipe is so easy and conveniently made in the slow cooker. Simply cook apples and cinnamon for at least 4 hours and then blend in a high power blender or food processor until it’s turned into smooth apple butter.
http://thebusybaker.ca/crock-pot-apple-butter/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: THE BUSY BAKER
This dark chocolate frosting is creamy and decadent and is surprisingly vegan! Instead of cream or other dairy products, the secret to achieving an irresistibly creamy texture is to use avocados.
This frosting can be prepared in just a few minutes and is a perfect topping for pancakes. Transform your pancakes from good to awesome with this chocolate avocado frosting.
http://veggieprimer.com/dark-chocolate-avocado-frosting/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: VEGGIE PRIMER
Store-bought berry syrup is delicious but it does contain a ton of sugar and is highly caloric. A great alternative would be this healthy triple berry pancake topping.
All you need are three ingredients and your stove top to prepare the topping. If you’re lucky enough to have leftovers it will store well in the fridge for 4-6 days.
https://www.itsalwaysautumn.com/easy-healthy-triple-berry-pancake-topping-low-sugar.html#_a5y_p=3620511 PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: IT’S ALWAYS AUTUMN
Admit it, Nutella is good enough to eat by the spoonful. The sinfully delicious chocolate sauce is so good but unfortunately not healthy. We were determined to not only make a guilt-free version but one that is dairy-free too!
Our recipe requires 6 simple ingredients. Some of these are hazelnuts, cocoa powder, and maple syrup. A food processor will help you blend all the ingredients together and soon you’ll have lovely chocolate spread to drizzle on your pancakes!
http://www.forkly.com/recipes/guilt-free-vegan-homemade-nutella/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: FORKLY
Homemade coconut whipped cream is a lot easier than it sounds! This delicious topping is made with just 2 ingredients. This healthy alternative is dairy-free and vegan-friendly!
Using a hand or standing mixer, mix the 2 ingredients together until it has turned into a perfect fluffy texture. Top your pancakes with the whipped topping and some fresh fruit.
https://jessicainthekitchen.com/2-ingredient-coconut-whipped-cream/?utm_content=bufferd6d7d&utm_medium=social&utm_source=pinterest.com&utm_campaign=buffer PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: JESSICA IN THE KITCHEN
If you’re looking for a serious Instagram-worthy breakfast add a few edible flowers to your pancakes! Simply whip up your favorite pancake or crepe recipe, add the batter to a warm skillet and sprinkle the edible flowers onto the batter.
Edible flowers won’t add any crazy flavors but instead, they add a beautiful touch to a simple breakfast. Some great examples of edible flowers include Marigolds and Pansies.
https://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/say-yes-3879822/edible-flower-crepes-5649323927 PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: BLOG LOVIN’
Skip the artificial flavoring because this syrup doesn’t need it! This healthy syrup is actually sugar-free and low-carb and would be a great option for keto dieters.
This syrup is flavored with vanilla paste and is sweetened with stevia extract. You’ll only need 6 ingredients to make this syrup and it is prepared in a blender.
https://dessertswithbenefits.com/healthy-homemade-vanilla-bean-syrup/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: DESSERTS WITH BENEFITS
If you’re following a no-sugar or low carb diet such as the keto diet, this too would be an excellent pancake topping. This homemade maple syrup is sugar-free and only 2 calories per tablespoon!
Natural maple flavoring provides an authentic maple flavor and vanilla creme stevia provides the perfect sweetness. Aside from those two ingredients, you’ll only need 3 additional ingredients to prepare this syrup.
https://dessertswithbenefits.com/healthy-homemade-maple-syrup/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: DESSERTS WITH BENEFITS
We all know that fresh fruit is a wonderful pancake topping but step up your game and top them with dark chocolate dipped fruit. They’re so easy to make that you don’t even need a recipe.
Simply pick your favorite type of fruit, melt high-quality dark chocolate in the microwave and dip your fruit in the melted chocolate. Place the fruit on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and refrigerate until the chocolate has hardened. Your kids will love helping you and will love topping their pancakes with them even more!
Another great option is to cover fruit in yogurt and then freeze them. These delicious frozen yogurt covered blueberries are great for snacking but would also make a wonderful pancake topping too!
This idea is so simple all you’ll need is fresh blueberries, Greek yogurt, parchment paper, and a baking sheet. Prepare them the night before you want to indulge in delicious pancakes so that the berries and yogurt have time to harden.
https://lifeasmama.com/healthy-frozen-yogurt-covered-blueberries/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: LIFE AS A MAMA
Last but certainly not least, smother your pancakes in a dreamy salted caramel sauce. No, this is not a sugary store-bought caramel sauce. This one is dairy-free and homemade!
It’s made with coconut milk and coconut sugar which means its not just dairy-free but also vegan and paleo approved. This gooey sauce only requires 5 ingredients and will keep in the fridge for up to 2 weeks!
https://downshiftology.com/recipes/salted-caramel-sauce/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: DOWNSHIFTOLOGY
