The holidays just got even tastier with these Gingerbread Pancakes made with Lifeway Kefir and Lifeway Farmer Cheese to help you sneak in extra protein in the most delicious way. Made with simple ingredients you probably have in your kitchen, these pancakes are stacked high with flavor and create a cozy, nostalgic scent in the kitchen. And since they’re made with our kefir and farmer cheese, they offer bioavailable nutrition and important nutrients including calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B12, potassium, and more.
Since both our farmer cheese and kefir are cultured, they help tenderize the pancakes keeping the inside soft and tender with a terrific texture. So set aside a few minutes one morning, and whip up a batch of these protein-packed pancakes. Everyone in the household will love them, and they keep for up to a week after you prepare them. Grab a fork and dig in!
The Benefits of Cultured Dairy for Better Health:
Research continues to show the importance of eating healthy foods, including cultured dairy such as kefir, for optimal digestion and gut health, a strong immune system, and to support the microbiome. Fermented foods like kefir hold important value in this line of research due to the link between the gut-brain axis and overall health. Specifically, kefir has been shown to help diversify the microbiome, improve digestion, reduce inflammation, support healthier blood sugar levels, and improve satiety since the bioavailable protein it contains triggers the release of GLP-1.
Lifeway Kefir is packed with a variety of vital nutrients important for overall health, including bone and muscle health; these include vitamin D3, K, calcium, and vitamin B12. Along with our probiotic-rich kefir, Lifeway also offers artisan-made Farmer Cheese,a creamy, high-protein cheese made with live and active cultures to support healthy muscles and a healthy microbiome. Lifeway Farmer Cheese is easy to spread, free of gums and thickeners, and contains no added salt or sugar for optimal health benefits.
Prep Time: 10-15 mins Servings: 6-8Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp. baking soda
- a pinch of salt
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
- 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp. allspice
- 2 tbsp. sugar of choice
- 1 tbsp. molasses
- 2 eggs
- 1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup Lowfat Plain Kefir
- 1/2 cup Farmer Cheese
- 1/4 cup water (use more as needed)
- Optional Toppings: maple syrup and/or powdered sugar, Lifeway Kefir Butter*
Directions
- In a large bowl, combine sugar, molasses, eggs, olive oil, and Lifeway Kefir. Whisk until smooth. Mix in Lifeway Farmer Cheese until combined.
- Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice, and mix until batter forms. Add water to thin the batter as needed until it's slightly runny but still comes together. It should look pourable like pancake batter.
- Lightly coat a large skillet or griddle with butter and place over medium heat. Scoop ⅓ cup batter onto skillet and spread out with a spoon.
- Cook until bubbles appear on top, about 2 minutes. Flip and cook for another 2 minutes. Serve with kefir butter, maple syrup and powdered sugar, and enjoy!
- *Find Our Kefir Butter Recipe Here!
- These pancakes will keep up to a week after you prepare them if you keep them in the fridge. Simply reheat, and enjoy! You can also freeze them if well covered for longer.
