Whey Pancakes
This quick and easy whey pancake recipe uses leftover liquid whey instead of milk. The whey gives these protein-packed pancakes an incredibly light and soft texture while providing additional nutritional benefits. They make a delicious breakfast, dessert, or on-the-go snack.
Why you’ll love this whey pancake recipe
- Quick and easy – These delicious pancakes can be whipped up with few simple ingredients in 20 minutes.
- Reduce food waste – This recipe uses leftover whey from cheesemaking or yogurt-making
Leftover liquid whey
I started making Greek yogurt in the Instant Pot a while ago and since then I’ve been looking for ways to use leftover whey. I replaced the milk with liquid whey in my regular pancakes recipe and they turned out incredibly light and soft.
Ingredients and substitutions
- Whey – I use leftover liquid whey from yogurt making for this recipe.
- Egg – The egg helps to bind the ingredients and offers extra protein.
- Flour – All-purpose flour or plain flour works well for this recipe. You can also opt for oat flour to up the protein level even further.
- Baking powder – It’s the leavening agent and creates light and fluffy pancakes.
- Vanilla – I typically use vanilla extract or vanilla syrup but you can also opt for vanilla essence or fresh vanilla beans as well.
- Maple syrup – The syrup adds depth of flavor and some sweetness to the pancakes. You can substitute it with sugar, honey, or other natural sweeteners of your choice.
- Salt – A pinch of sea salt rounds out the flavor.
- Butter – I fry the pancakes in unsalted butter but you can also choose coconut oil or other vegetable oils.
Variations
Extra protein: Add 1 scoop of unflavored whey protein powder to the batter for an extra boost.
Extra fluffy: To make extra fluffy protein pancakes, separate the egg and add an extra egg white. Whip the egg whites in a separate bowl until stiff peaks form and gently fold them into the batter.
Go nuts: Add 1 tbsp of nut butter to the batter for a nutty flavor and crunchy texture. Almond or peanut butter work particularly well.
Chocolate: For some extra indulgence, add 1/4 cup chocolate chips to the batter.
Cinnamon: Add a teaspoon of cinnamon, Christmas spice mix, or chai spice mix to the batter to add some spice.
Pancake topping ideas
- Maple or golden syrup and butter
- Homemade Greek yogurt and fresh fruit such as fresh berries
- Jam and whipped cream or mascarpone cream
- Stewed apples and pears
- Ice cream, check out my no-churn boysenberry or stracciatella ice cream
- Red berry compote
- Lemon macerated blueberries
- Homemade syrup (Rosé syrup, honey lavender syrup, vanilla syrup, hibiscus syrup)
- Lemon cordial
Check out 50 sweet and savory favorite toppings for waffles for more ideas on what to serve your whey pancakes with.
Recipe FAQs
It’s time to flip the pancake when small bubbles start to appear on the top alongside some golden coloring which takes about 2-3 minutes.
Once cooked, you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Alternatively, you can freeze for up to 3 months. You can easily reheat or defrost them in your toaster, oven, or microwave.
More easy breakfast recipes
If you like this easy breakfast recipe, make sure to check out the following recipes as well:
If you loved this Whey Pancake Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating below. Thank you!
Whey Pancakes
Ingredients
- 1 cup liquid whey
- 1 egg room temperature
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp butter for frying
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix the egg, vanilla extract, and maple syrup. Add the liquid whey and combine everything well.1 cup liquid whey, 1 egg, 1 tbsp maple syrup, 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Slowly add the flour to the wet mixture while stirring to avoid any lumps from forming. Add the baking powder and salt. Mix everything until you have a smooth pancake batter.1 cup all-purpose flour, 1 pinch salt, 1 tsp baking powder
- Melt about 1/2 tsp of butter in a small frypan on medium heat. Pour batter into the pan and bake the pancake on each side for about 1-2 minutes until golden brown.2 tbsp butter
- Remove it from the pan and continue making pancakes with the remaining batter.
- Serve them with your favorite topping. I've added some serving suggestions in the text above the recipe.
