Hawaiian Banana Pancakes bring the taste of the tropics to your breakfast table! A delicious and filling recipe that can easily be made any morning of the week.
When it comes to breakfast, especially on the weekends, pancakes are the way to go! Not only are they easy to whip up, they go so well with every other breakfast food. Once you have the basic pancake recipe down, the possibilities for syrups and toppings are endless. Try something new and fun, like our orange syrup, caramel syrup, or coconut syrup.
Hawaiian Banana Pancakes
If you are a fan of banana bread, you are going to fall in love with banana pancakes! You won’t believe the flavor a few ripe bananas can add to pancakes. As the pancakes cook to a golden brown, the bananas slightly caramelize becoming sweeter. They are irresistibly good!
When my husband and I visited Hawaii recently we ate breakfast at the “Hukilau Cafe” in Laie on Oahu. If you have seen the movie “50 First Dates” you will recognize the name. This was one of my FAVORITE breakfast places when I lived there, namely because of their decadent banana pancakes. I crave them like crazy, and ever since returning home I’ve been trying to find a way to replicate this recipe. I tried all kinds of complicated recipes and in the end, simplicity won out. These pancakes tasted just like the ones we had at Hukilau Cafe (ok, maybe not just like them because, let’s be honest, there is no duplicating the amazing-ness of the ORIGINAL, but they are really close). They are a wonderful little taste of Hawaii in less than 10 minutes. Whip these up, turn on a little Jack Johnson, and cue “Banana Pancakes.” I am pretty sure these are the pancakes he wants to make when he pretends it’s the weekend!
Tropical Toppings for Banana Pancakes
Since this recipe is so simple, you’re free to go nuts with toppings. We love to create a pancake bar on lazy Saturday mornings, where I keep the pancakes coming while my husband supervises the topping station. Try chopped macadamia nuts, sliced bananas, shredded toasted coconut, diced pineapple, our creamy Coconut Yogurt Syrup or of course, plenty of rich maple syrup.
There is another restaurant in Hawaii, Eggs ‘n’ Things, that makes a fresh fruit rainbow topping for their pancakes. It is so fruity and fresh, and includes fresh cut bananas, strawberries, kiwi, blueberries, pineapple, and papaya. They are incredibly good, and the presentation with all of the colors is seriously a masterpiece. Eggs ‘n’ Things has an online store where you can also purchase their coconut syrup and guava syrup. Both syrups are fabulous!
Tips for Light and Fluffy Pancakes
- Make sure to mash one banana in the pancake mixture, then gently place the sliced bananas onto the pancake batter while it cooks. The sliced bananas cook right along with pancake giving the sliced bananas a slightly browned, caramelized coating.
- If you don’t want to take the time to make homemade pancakes, Krusteaz Buttermilk Pancake mix is actually a terrific way to get fluffy pancakes without a lot of fuss.
- Don’t over-mix the pancake batter! In this rare instance, a few lumps are okay. The more you stir, the less fluffy your pancakes will turn out.
- Grease your hot griddle with a cold stick of butter or cooking spray to avoid sticking.
- I like to use an ice cream scoop or measuring cup to ladle batter onto the griddle. This ensures they all turn out roughly the same size so there’s no fighting for the biggest pancake (or is that just in my house?)
- You’ll know it’s time to flip the pancake when the little bubbles on top of the batter start to pop. Then once you turn them, they only need to cook another minute or two. You’ll have golden brown banana pancakes in no time!
What to Serve with Banana Pancakes
Banana Pancakes are yummy enough to stand all on their own, or feature them with bacon or sausage in a huge breakfast feast. Try a few of our favorite breakfast recipes to serve alongside these tantalizing hot cakes.
- Omelet in a Bag
- Make Ahead Breakfast Parfaits
- California Breakfast Casserole
- Easy Breakfast Casserole
- Perfect Veggie Omelets
How to Make Banana Pancakes
Ingredients
- 1 cup flour white or wheat
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
- 1 egg
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup bananas mashed
- 1-2 bananas sliced
Instructions
- Mix flour, sugar, soda, and salt together in a large bowl.
- In a separate bowl, whisk the buttermilk, egg, and and vanilla extract together.
- Pour buttermilk mixture into the dry ingredients and stir.
- Stir in the mashed bananas.
- Heat griddle to medium heat (approximately 375 degrees).
- Pour 1/4 to 1/3 of batter on the griddle for each pancake (depending on the size you want the pancakes).
- Place banana slices on top of the batter while it cooks, then carefully flip to cook on the other side.
- Serve with butter and hot maple syrup.
Equipment
- Electric Griddle
Kristyn says
The fluffiest pancakes! Love the chunks & banana flavor!
Natalie says
Take me to Hawaii! I love bringing the Hawaiian flavors in my home & of course, they are amazing!!
Amy L Huntley says
These do remind me of Hawaii and make me wish I was there right now. I think these are great dessert too. My kids are always so happy when I make these for breakfast!
Allyssa says
Super love this banana pancakes! Thanks a lot for sharing this super easy and tasty recipe!
Jennifer says
These came out awesome! My son devoured them! And I have made banana pancakes before but I never had sliced them up and added them like in this recipe and that part of it made these pancakes way more delicious than any banana version I had ever tried before! I’m definitely going to always make them this way in the future!
Alli says
These are super fun and flavorful! We cannot wait to make them again!
Billy says
Love all the banana flavor in these, SO GOOD!
Julile says
These sound amazing! Bananas are my favorite toppings on pancakes, but can’t wait to put them in the pancakes!
Sara Welch says
I know what I will be having for breakfast tomorrow! These sound epic!
Jessica says
Oh my gosh this looks amazing! Thank you so much!
Becky Thompson says
I was raised in Hawaii, and lived there from 1962 to 1975, I went to Laie Elementary School and Kahuku High School. The food there is awesome, and here were many mornings we would go to Hukilau beach, and watch while the fishing hets were pulled in. What years where you there???
Erica says
2003 to 2004.. So not way long. Only 18 mos but long enough to fall in love with it and get some great recipes!
Ana says
Hello
beyond the banana pancakes …
What is usual to have a breakfast in Hawaii?
Erica says
A common breakfast in Hawaii.. a true Hawaiian breakfast… would consist of Spam, eggs, and rice (one of my favorite breakfasts there)!
Jessica says
These were delicious! I also added some cinnamon and honey to my mixture. At the end, I added a teaspoon of cocoa powder for a little chocolate fix! Great with coconut syrup…mmmmm……
KIKA says
Oh my goodness! WE just got back from Laie and I have been DYING for some of these Hukilau Cafe Banana Pancakes! I was seriously distraut thinking that I would have to come back to Hawaii to taste this piece of heaven! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK0YOU!!!
McElprangs says
I LOVED the banana and coconut pancakes at the Hukilau Cafe. So excited to have found this recipe! Your blog is definitely bringing me back to the summer I spent in Laie. Thanks for the great recipes!
Sorensen Family says
you don’t know who I am but I was reading your blog because my husband and I are throwing a luau this weekend. I was so excited to see you ate at the hukilau (sorry about the spelling). my husband served a mission in hawaii for our church and for our honey moon we went to hawaii and ate at that same resturant. It was delish. thanks again.