Coconut flour pancakes with a special ingredient
Oodles of coconut flour pancake recipes speckle the internet (including my fantastic Ultimate Coconut Flour Pancakes). So why would I go to the bother of posting another recipe?
The “secret ingredient” in these pancakes sets them apart from any other grain-free pancake recipe you’ve tried: it’s gelatin! As I discuss below, gelatin not only adds a nutritional boost but it creates a delightful, non-crumbly texture.
Superfood Coconut Flour Pancakes
I love gelatin as a real food supplement powder. Gelatin from healthy animals provides a potent dose of amino acids proline and glycine which support liver and bone health. Additionally, gelatin boosts digestive function by allowing ingested food to absorb digestive juices.
But that is just the beginning. A few other capabilities on Gelatin’s resume include:
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It supports the thyroid
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It supports glutathione production
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It opposes estrogen and supports progesterone (a good thing because many, many women are estrogen dominant)
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It promotes a good sleep with an inhibitory effect on neurotransmitters
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It soothes and heals the GI tract
Read more about the superfood powers of gelatin at Nutrition By Nature.
Why Grassfed Gelatin?
Grassfed gelatin, available in large health food stores or online as Great Lakes Gelatin
or Bernard Jensen Gelatin, is worth the higher price tag than the typical supermarket brand gelatin. Just like any animal-based food, it is drastically more nutrient dense and nourishing if it comes from a relaxed, pastured animal free of antibiotics and artifical hormones.
Does gelatin really make a good coconut flour pancake?
Yes. Just yes. I adore the texture of these pancakes even more than my ever-popular Ultimate Coconut Flour Pancakes. You know how some folks prefer milk chocolate and some prefer dark chocolate? I think, when it comes to pancakes, some people prefer fluffy and some prefer the thick-crepe texture. These pancakes are the latter–slightly chewy, moist, and pleasantly dense (in a way that is satisfying, not heavy).
And another thing. Coconut flour pancakes usually meet a crumbly, dry demise. Not these! These pancakes hold together beautifully, since the gelatin acts as a binder in the batter. They are perfectly pliable, but never gummy or rubbery.
Coconut Flour Pancakes… with Gelatin!
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup coconut flour
- 1 Tbs.. grassfed gelatin
- 4 pastured eggs, at room temperature
- 1 heaping tbs. softened butter or coconut oil
- 1/2 cup coconut milk
- Coconut oil or ghee, for the pan
Instructions
- Start heating a seasoned cast iron skillet or enamel skillet over medium heat. Whisk together the coconut flour and gelatin. Stir in the eggs, beating until a smooth paste forms.
- Stir in the butter/coconut oil until combined, then add the coconut milk.
- Cook the pancakes in the hot skillet with coconut oil/ghee. Cook until the edges and center starts to look opaque, then flip. Smaller pancakes will be easier to flip.
- Makes about 2 servings (12 small pancakes).
http://empoweredsustenance.com/coconut-flour-pancakes-with-gelatin/
Coconut Flour Pancakes… with Gelatin!
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup coconut flour
- 1 Tbs.. grassfed gelatin
- 4 pastured eggs, at room temperature
- 1 heaping tbs. softened butter or coconut oil
- 1/2 cup coconut milk
- Coconut oil or ghee, for the pan
Instructions
- Start heating a seasoned cast iron skillet or enamel skillet over medium heat. Whisk together the coconut flour and gelatin. Stir in the eggs, beating until a smooth paste forms.
- Stir in the butter/coconut oil until combined, then add the coconut milk.
- Cook the pancakes in the hot skillet with coconut oil/ghee. Cook until the edges and center starts to look opaque, then flip. Smaller pancakes will be easier to flip.
- Makes about 2 servings (12 small pancakes).
I would never have thought to put gelatin in pancakes…such a great idea! I’ve been eating grass-fed gelatin in the form of herbal tea infused jello, but pancakes sound like much more fun
Gelatin as a binder, what a supergenius idea! I’m going to go start baking up a storm.
I love the idea of this but I am vegan. Do you think soaked Chia seeds would work similarly? Thanks for all of your awesome recipes!!!!!!
So glad you enjoy my recipes! Unfortunately, 100% coconut flour recipes don’t work well with the chia eggs. But I have a couple dessert recipes going up in the next couple of weeks that don’t have any animal products, so maybe that makes things better?
Hi Lauren I live in South Afrika, I am loving your page and more so the use of coconut flour, However I will have a problem locating a healthy version of gelatin can I use seamoss or agar agar???
I get so excited when I learn that I have international readers! Vegetable-based gelatins aren’t going to have the same nutritional profile and they don’t dissolve the same way that regular gelatin does. I don’t know if it would work in this recipe. It also works to simply leave the gelatin out, and that may be easier than trying to substitute with the agar agar.
You are a the gelatin “queen”!! I cant believe how many things you create with that simple ingredient. I think if you were given one food to make 100 things out of–it would be gelatin and you would win first prize!!
Also love the pictures
oh I just thought of something. You should make a mini recipe book and every recipe will have gelatin in it!!..not like you already have enough to do
Lauren this is genius! Actually this recipe is technically also the answer to my prayers since my dad is suffering extreme discomfort after a colonoscopy (TMI I know!) and I’m trying to get some more gelatin in him. I knew those exams weren’t all they were psyched up to be. Anyway thanks for this recipe, its what’s for brinner (breakfast + dinner)!
we love putting gelatin in our pancakes too – we have done it twice for single serving pancakes – http://purelytwins.com/2013/01/31/single-serving-grain-free-pancake-recipe/ and http://purelytwins.com/2013/02/01/trying-fresh-juice-with-coconut-oil-in-mornings-single-serving-pancake/
Love pancakes!
I have not found any grass-fed gelatin or butter anywhere in Canada….
I would love to make these though! They look great!
Hey Kimberly! You can order the Great Lakes gelatin from Amazon .. that’s what I did and I live in Montreal. Where are you located in Canada? I know in Ontario you can find KerryGold Butter, which is insanely delicious!
Hope this helped!
Lauren, Your recipe sounds genius! I would not have considered adding gelatin to pancakes. I will have to make some soon. Thanks for sharing!
These are really good. I haven’t found a coconut flour recipe that I have liked for pancakes, and you saved the day! We added a little vanilla and they were wonderful.
I love to use gelatin as a protein booster in my foods too! So good for people with food allergies trying to heal their guts! I add it to smoothies a lot and use it in my gaps hot cocoa recipe too….this mommy is sneaky! Will be trying these soon, I love gal tine I baked things so far, this is a great idea!
Only 1/4 cup of flour???
Yep! A little goes a long way.
Just wondering if you think they would work just using the egg yolk instead of including the white…..trying to be egg free, but the yolk seem to work fine. Just curious and didn’t want to ruin a batch if you already know the answer.
No, I don’t think these would work without the egg white. So sorry!
So excited to see another recipe incorporating grassfed gelatin. I’ve been making yogurt with coconut cream, organic whipping cream and gelatin. I’m only intermittantly successful with getting the gelatin to not separate, but its still makes a very nice consistency for coconut yogurt without non-gaps friendly thickeners.
This recipe looks sooo good Lauren! Unfortuately I need an egg substitute. Any suggestions?
So sorry! These won’t work with an egg substitute.
I am now getting your newsletter and am so excited by these beautiful food pictures. You are a genius. Your creativity and your artistic eye is going put to a great use serving others. Go girl I am proud of you. I don’t know where I’ll find coconut flour but these pancakes look simply mouth watering.
Thanks, Gina! I’ve been working on my photography so I’m glad to hear you like the photos.
I bought my coconut flour at a local health food store. It is pricey, but you only use a fraction of the amount that would be used with wheat flour. Also, I think Bob’s Red Mill has some in regular grocery stores.
I wish Costco would carry it. They have coconut oil and we need the flour!
Thanks for the link love! That recipe looks amazing!! Yum.
These look delicious! I am in southern Germany. If I can’t find the gelatin at the bioladen, then how about a little potato starch as a binder. I have that in the cupboard
Keep up the fantastic work!
I am greatfull for your recipe! I have try numerous of times to make pancakes and bake with coconut flour and it just does not cook well
I love your recipe . They are fat and fluffy and just yammy. I take them for snacks. They do wonders with that apple sauce recipe from your previous post. And of course must admire your photos they are absolutely beautiful! hugs
Can I use raw milk in place of the coconut milk? Thank you! I am going to have to try this asap!
Yep! I hope you enjoy the recipe!
Lauren, I can’t eat eggs, what would you recommend to use in lieu of eggs? making pancake without eggs is difficult especially when using coconut flour. please help.
I’m sorry, but these won’t work with an egg substitute
I love coconut flour pancakes and I will try the gelatin addition. Have you ever tried to soak the coconut flour to reduce the phytic acid? Lately, I notice when I eat coconut flour goodies I seem to develop tiredness and bone aches. I don’t know if the phytic acid could be the problem. Have you any idea how to soak the flour for this recipe?
Coconut flour is super low in phytic acid, so it doesn’t need to be soaked. I wonder why you could be getting the aches. Do you think you could have a food sensitivity to coconut?
Coconut flour is high in fiber. That could be what is causing your distress when you eat something made with it.
What a brilliant idea! I’ve been experimenting with creating a vanilla pudding using gelatin and coconut milk. I miss vanilla pudding. But I would never of thought of using it as a binder for “baked” goods type recipes. Awesome! Thanks for sharing!
Kelly
Great idea. We have been adding it to our sweet potato mash. So good. I am always trying to include it in other ways.
My children haven’t been so happy with me since I’ve been changing the food on our table. Today I got 3 thumbs up for breakfast. These are denser than normal pancakes, so they were full after 2 pancakes, instead of 6. That’s just another win for this recipe.
This is awesome!! Thank you for sharing it. I’ve been trying to find new uses for gelatin.
Do you think it would work to mix it the night before? I’m wondering if it would get too gelled in the fridge overnight.
Yes, you are completely correct. It does get to gelled if it sits for a long time, so the batter must be mixed before cooking.
This recipe sounds great. Do you think it would still work if I use enough egg whites to replace the whole eggs without the yolk?
I want to add a banana in the mix and see what happens! YUM
Best coconut flour pancakes yet!!!
Thank you, these are truly delicious.
thank you for the info on almond flour. I was just starting to get into it. I have tried coconut flour and it was very gassy. Do you use a brand or type of it that is not gassy?
I do better if I take natural digestive enzymes when I use coconut flour.
I’m not sure if this would be possible, but is there a way to use homemade jelly from boiled pigs feet in something like this? I can get pigs feet from my local farmer for much cheaper than I can order grass-fed gelatin online, but I can’t seem to figure out how to use them.
I made these this morning mother came out just like the picture. My advice is to remember to keep them small. I got lazy and made one bigger one at the end and it was hard to get the middle to cook without burning the outside. I couldn’t find natural gelatin so I used the Knoxx unflavored. I’ll have to order the superior product off the Internet, I think.
Hi Lauren, I am really enjoying your website!
Does regular gelatin not work? I tried these and followed it exactly. They were nice but very eggy. Didn’t look like the picture, though.
Can you post name brands so I can order grass-fed gelatin through Amazon?
This was a great recipe, thank you
I added a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to take away some of the egg taste and strong coconut taste that I usually get with coconut flour recipes, and I added some honey and a pinch of salt. I am def gonna try the ultimate coconut pancake. The gelatin made it so much easier to handle and it was still fluffy. I want to try adding gelatin to a coconut flour tortilla recipe, it would make it so much easier to cook, thanks again 
What a lovely coconut flour recipe! I made some bolognese type sauce last night (half ground beef, half ground beef liver… The children love it! Heh heh) in preparation for breakfast and was able to quickly whip up a batch of your pancakes this morning (I’m in Australia, hence the time!). They were a delightful accompaniment to the bolognese and I am thankful that I didn’t have to whip up 1000 eggs to go with it .
So simple and quite filling, so glad to have found another way to get gelatin into us all. 
I’m so going to try these tomorrow morning!
These were great this morning – thank you!
Maybe this is a dumb question, but in the recipe, does coconut milk mean the kind of Coconut milk that you can drink if you don’t like milk and choose almond or coconut? Or, does it mean the kind that is basically the watery “juice” from the coconut that is also called coconut milk?
Thanks. LOVE your blog btw. My new fav site that I check every day.
You can use any “milk” or even water in place of the coconut milk. I used canned coconut milk, but I’ve also used water when I was out of coconut milk. Enjoy the recipe!
Do you just add the gelatin as powder to the recipe without soaking it first? These sound really interesting. I have only recently started making pancakes and experimenting with alternative flours like coconut flour. I’d love to try this recipe.
Yep, just mix it in with the coconut flour!
Maybe this will be Saturday’s breakfast. I also want to try your onion herb coconut flour biscuits. Thanks for the inspiration.
I just made these pancakes this morning and they turned out great! I did add a little bit of cinnamon to them, but kept everything else the same. I even blogged about the experience. It’s nice to find a Paleo friendly pancake that doesn’t fall apart!
I made these over the weekend and topped with rhubarb sauce, for a celebration of spring. My husband commented on the texture being perfect (like a “normal” pancake). Thanks for your creativity in adding gelatin to the recipe. I did take your advice and keep the pancakes small for even cooking. I used a 1/8 cup measure to scoop the batter and got 12 little pancakes.
Hi there! Thanks for this recipe! I intend to try this out as soon as I get my hands on some gelatin. Have you tried incorporating gelatin into a bread recipe? I’m on a quest to make the perfect paleo bread. The best one I’ve managed so far is Elana’s pantry Paleo Bread but even that is too dense for my liking.