I’m often at my wit’s end when it comes to planning afternoon snacks for me as well as my family. This untimely hunger isn’t intense enough for proper food and typically lures us towards junk food items like chips or chocolates. Wouldn’t it be better to have something warm, fresh and nutritious instead? That’s how the idea for these healthy Banana Chocolate pancakes came to me.

Bananas are a powerhouse of nutrition. They’re rich in Vitamin B6 and also contain good amounts of Vitamin C, Manganese and Potassium. They’re good for digestion and provide energy through natural sugars. A banana a day is a must for kids and it is also used to boost energy levels before workouts.

Yellow bananas are the best to consume directly. However, raw and overripe bananas have their uses too. I like to replace potatoes with raw bananas in pav bhaji and also make tasty snacks like fritters and patties with them. Overripe bananas lend a wonderful texture to eggless cakes and are the main ingredient in my Banana Chocolate Pancakes recipe too.

Ingredients:

Bananas (overripe) – 2 no

Wheat flour – 1 cup

Cocoa powder – 2 tablespoons

Jaggery powder/ brown sugar – 3 heaped tablespoons

Baking soda – 1 teaspoon

Milk (if required) – 2-3 tablespoons

Assorted dry-fruits of your choice (chopped) – 2 tablespoons

Ghee – as required

For garnish:

Chopped dry-fruits and Chocolate Syrup

Procedure:

1. Remove the skin of the bananas and take them in a big bowl. Mash them well with your fingers, a masher or an electric blender. Make sure there are no lumps left.

2. Add all the remaining ingredients, except milk, to the bowl one by one. Whisk the mixture together well until it forms a batter with a smooth flowing consistency. Add milk only if the batter is dry or won’t spread easily.

3. Heat a flat pan or a tawa. Grease it with ghee and spread a ladleful of batter on it evenly. Any shape is good but a round one looks better anytime! Pour some ghee near the sides and let it cook.

4. Turn over the pancake when bubbles form on the top and its sides leave the pan. Keep the pan well greased at all times and cook it properly from both sides.

5. Your healthy Banana Chocolate Pancakes are ready! Garnish them with chopped dry-fruits and chocolate syrup and serve warm.

I involved my kids in the process and we had crazy fun creating this recipe. Angel mashed the bananas while A Jr crushed the dry-fruits in a mortar pestle and whisked the batter excitedly. I made the pancakes while they took charge of garnishing. Amazing team work, isn’t it?

These Banana Chocolate Pancakes have no refined sugar or refined flour and loads of dry-fruits. They’re simple and quick to make and will surely be everyone’s favourite. Do try them out and thank me later!