Gluten-free banana pancakes

Becky Excell's simple and tasty gluten-free pancakes have just five ingredients, they can be adapted for other dietary requirements too.

A selection of pancakes with various toppings on colourful plates
Published - 30 Jan 2026
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Here’s a 5-ingredient wonder that only needs a little added oil or butter for frying.

These pancakes are thick and fluffy in the middle, with caramelised banana in every bite. The only sugar from this recipe comes from the banana, so make sure they’re ripe, and optionally serve up with maple syrup

Makes 10 pancakes

Cooking time
20 mins
Serves
3

Ingredients

  • 200g / 1½ cups gluten-free self-raising (self-rising) flour
  • 1 teaspoon gluten-free baking powder
  • 300ml / 1¼ cups milk
  • 1 large egg
  • Vegetable oil or melted butter, for cooking
  • 1 ripe banana, cut into slices about 5mm / ¼in thick
  • Maple syrup, to serve

Method

  1. In a mixing bowl, combine the flour and baking powder. In a jug (pitcher), beat together the milk and egg. Create a well in the flour, then pour in the egg and milk mixture, whisking thoroughly for 30 seconds until smooth, like thick cream. Allow the batter to rest for 5-10 minutes.
  2. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil or butter in a frying pan on a medium-low heat. Brush the oil or butter over the base of the pan and, once heated, ladle in one measure of your pancake batter per pancake, about 55g / ¼ cup – you should fit two in the pan at the same time. Immediately place 3-4 slices of banana on each pancake. Placing one slice right in the middle means it’ll cook a little quicker!
  3. Cook for 1 minute and, when the edges of the pancakes are looking cooked and the underside is golden, flip over and cook for a further minute before tipping out of the pan. Repeat until all the mixture is used up. Stack up and serve with maple syrup.

Notes

Dairy-free: use dairy-free milk for batter and oil

Lactose-free: use lactose-free milk for batter, and oil for frying

Low FODMAP: use lactose-free milk 

Tip

Looking for American-style gluten-free pancakes? Simply leave out the banana. Alternatively, replace the banana with blueberries for 5-ingredient blueberry pancakes.

Making it vegan? Use the dairy-free milk of your choice and replace the egg with half a ripe banana, mashed. Use oil instead of butter for frying.

How To Make Anything Gluten Free by Becky Excell (Quadrille), RRP £24

Check price

Hero image credit: Hannah Hughes

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