Animal-Shaped Whole Wheat Pancakes

When your little ones come running down to breakfast on Sunday morning and find a safari of animal pancakes on their plate, a few things might happen. One: they’ll forget all about begging for Pop-Tarts and Cocoa Puffs and will giggle as they eat up giraffes and elephants. Two: they won’t even notice the sweet, delicious breakfast they’re eating is filled with fiber and other nutrients important for growing bodies. The only downside is it may be tough to double down on that whole “don’t play with your food” lesson during this particular meal. Maybe save that for dinner time?

Ingredients

1/2 cup and 1 tablespoon whole wheat flour
1/2 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon applesauce
1 egg, scrambled
1/2 cup and 1 tablespoon milk (or milk substitute or water)
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
pinch salt
1 cup berries

Directions

1. Mix all ingredients together (minus the berries) in medium sized bowl.
2. Heat frying pan and use cooking spray to cover pan.
3. Ladle batter onto pan into 2 1/2 to 3 inch circles.
4. Before serving, use cookie cutters to cut pancakes in animal shapes.
5. Serve with fresh berries.

WHY WE LOVE THIS RECIPE It’s a fast, fun, family-focused way to sneak in a serving of whole grains, which are a great source of fiber and B vitamins. You can let your kids pick their favorite cookie cutters to create shapes they love and then let them decorate the pancakes with fresh, antioxidant-rich berries (and high-quality, real maple syrup).