Real-AF Recipes

5-Minute Banana Pancake Bites: Survival Food for Parents

Look, I’m not here to sell you on the magic of homemade pancakes at 7 AM. I’m here to give you the one breakfast recipe that meets you exactly where the hell you’re at: exhausted, out of patience, and one “I don’t wannnnna” away from serving cereal for the third day in a row.

These Banana Pancake Bites are not gourmet. They’re survival food masquerading as something cute. They’re soft, snackable, and the closest thing to a “win” you’ll get before coffee.


🍌 Why These Save My Sanity

✅ One bowl. One. I am not washing more than that before noon.
✅ Uses that one sad banana slowly turning to liquid on your counter.
✅ Cook in 5 minutes. Faster than a tantrum over the “wrong” color cup.
✅ Fridge/freezer friendly. Make a batch, reheat all week, feel like a genius.
✅ Disguises as lunchbox gold or an after-school snack. Versatility is key when you’re out of fucks to give.


📝 What You Need (The “Look in Your Pantry” List)

The Essentials:

  • 1 ripe banana (the spottier, the sweeter)
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 cup milk (any kind)
  • 1/2 cup flour (all-purpose, whole wheat, or oat flour all work)
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder (optional but gives ’em a little puff)
  • A dash of cinnamon

The “Fancy” Upgrade (Optional):

  • Mini chocolate chips or blueberries
  • A splash of vanilla extract
  • A pinch of smugness for pulling this off

👩🍳 How to Make Them (Without Losing Your Mind)

Step 1: The Mash
In a medium bowl, mash the banana until it’s mostly smooth. A few lumps are fine—this isn’t a cooking show, it’s a Tuesday morning and your children are feral.

Step 2: The Whisk
Whisk in the egg, milk, and cinnamon until it looks like questionable yellow soup. This is normal I swear.

Step 3: The Stir
Sprinkle in the flour and baking powder. Stir until just combined. A few dry streaks? Who cares. Overmixing is the enemy of fluffy bites. Fold in chocolate chips or blueberries if you’re feeling fancy or bribeful.

Step 4: The Cook
Heat a non-stick skillet or griddle over medium heat. Lightly grease it if yours isn’t truly non-stick.
Drop small spoonfuls of batter (about 1 tbsp each) onto the hot surface. These are bites, not full pancakes. Keep them small.
Cook for 1-2 minutes, until you see bubbles on top and the edges look set. Flip. Cook for another 1-2 minutes until golden and cooked through.

Step 5: The Survive
Serve warm with syrup, extra fruit, or just a deep sigh of relief.


💡 My Pro-Tips (Learned Through Chaos)

  • Batch Cook & Freeze: Double the recipe. Let cool completely, then freeze in a single layer on a baking sheet before tossing into a bag. Reheat in the toaster oven or microwave straight from frozen.
  • The “Picky Eater” Hack: Use a mini cookie cutter to make shapes after cooking. Or just call them “banana dots” and watch them disappear.
  • No Baking Powder? They’ll be denser, like little banana fritters. Still delicious.
  • Gluten-Free? Oat flour works perfectly here.

🐼 This Recipe Lives Inside a Bigger Plan

This recipe is a featured player in this week’s WTF’s for Dinner Club meal plan. If you’re tired of piecing breakfast, lunch, and dinner together every damn day, the club is your done-for-you solution.

Each week, you get:

  • A full meal plan (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks)
  • All recipes (not just teasers)
  • A sorted grocery list
  • Prep hacks to save your sanity
  • Everything delivered straight to your inbox

👉 [Want the whole week handled? Join the WTF’s for Dinner Club here.]


Made these? Tag me @PottyMouthPanda — I live for your kitchen wins (and your hilarious fails). For more real-AF survival food and commiseration, find your people in the Coffee, Chaos & Curse Words Facebook group.

Surviving one banana bite at a time,
🐼 Potty Mouth Panda