Cranberry Orange Protein Pancake Bites
Introducing the most perfect breakfast staple (an OG recipe if you've been around for awhile!) in the most perfect flavor … Kodiak Cakes Cranberry Orange pancake bites!
Now that Thanksgiving and Christmas have past, we can hang up our pumpkin spice and peppermint mocha hats! Finally. Cranberry Orange is the new flavor, and my favorite I will add.
My three criteria for any breakfast item to be described as “perfect” are 1) quick and easy to make, 2) tastes great and 3) macro friendly – including a decent amount of protein. These are on the money on all three counts!
The ability to make ahead of time and store in the refrigerator or even the freezer is a bonus, and these fit the bill in that regard as well. Side note - If you have a hard time getting your kids to eat something you feel good about at breakfast, pancake bites are a must try. I've heard from so many moms who now use these as a breakfast staple not only for them, but for their kiddos too!
They’re so simple to make, you could easily make it a family baking activity too, which increases the chances they’ll eat them! And although I typically think of "muffins" as a breakfast food, these are also great for a grab-n-go snack any time of day, or the perfect little sweet treat after a meal. I also love them as a quick and easy, but not too filling pre workout snack!
Ingredients
The six ingredients for these gems are simple; Kodiak cakes mix, water, dried cranberries, orange juice, orange zest and orange extract. (No egg required!). You’ll find dried cranberried (craisins) in the same area of your store where the raisins and other dried fruits are. The orange extract will be in the baking aisle with the other extracts/flavorings. You’ll need one fresh orange for the zest and the juice. If you’ve never used or owned a zester – don’t be intimidated! It’s a great, cheap tool to have in your kitchen drawer. (A nice, inexpensive option is linked here.)
By using the Kodiak cakes as the base for this recipe, you are pumping up your protein intake in a yummy, easy way. Every bite has 6 grams – more than 3X the protein than in an average pancake! Protein is what keeps our bodies full and satisfied. It always feels better eating something delicious when you know it’s packing a protein punch.
Plus, there is no need to put anything on these like butter or syrup. They’re delicious by themselves, and also easily portable. Another plus if your cars sometimes doubles as your dining room, as mine often does!
“Sounds great, but I don’t like cranberry (or orange)” you may be thinking. No problem! Use your imagination with this base recipe and create your own favorite flavor. The possibilities are endless – banana/chocolate chip, blueberry, strawberry/vanilla, nuts, etc. Experiment! You really can’t mess this up!
Recipe
Cranberry Orange Protein Pancake Bites
If you've been around for awhile, you know my love for Kodiak Cakes runs deep. Their protein packed buttermilk pancake and waffle mix serves as the perfect base for my pancake bite recipe. Pancake bites are a convenient, easy option for those of us who need an easy to prep, protein packed breakfast! I jazzed up this version and put a cranberry orange spin on these bites for a sweet, but citrusy flavor.
2 cups Kodiak Cakes Protein Packed Buttermilk Pancake and Waffle Mix
1 + 1/4 cup water
1/4 cup low sugar dried cranberries
2 Tbsp orange zest
1 Tbsp orange extract ((this is totally optional, just brings out the orange flavor a little bit more!))
juice from half an orange (about 1/4 cup!)
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
Combine the pancake mix, water, orange juice, and orange extract, and mix thoroughly.
Gently fold in half of the dried cranberries and half of the orange zest.
Evenly distribute pancake mix into a greased muffin tin.
Top your pancake bites with remaining orange zest and dried cranberries.
Bake for 12-15 minutes, but start checking them at the 12 minute mark!