I Tried Karlie Kloss' 3-Ingredient Pancakes and Now I'm Hooked

Karlie Kloss can be described in many ways—a model, entrepreneur, student, coder, a supporter of women in STEM, YouTuber, and the list goes on. If you don't know much about Karlie, you might not know that she is actually a very good chef and baker as well. She loves sharing with her fans her start in baking with her grandmother, her midwestern sense of hospitality, and her love of good, healthy food. She even has a cookie brand inspired by her called Karlie's Kookies at Momofuku Milk Bar in New York.

Karlie also often records recipe videos on Instagram and YouTube. These videos include some good, hearty, comfort-filled baked goods such as her aunt's Gooey Butter Cake, as well as healthy takes on her favorite family recipes such as her mom's pumpkin loaf. One of her most well-known recipes is her three-ingredient pancakes, and as a Karlie Kloss superfan, I decided to try these for myself. The recipe is easy, inexpensive, and uses ingredients you probably have in your kitchen already. It's perfect for someone like me who spontaneously wants pancakes, but doesn't want to go out and buy weird, healthy, expensive ingredients.

Karlie's Three-Ingredient Pancakes

• Prep Time:3 mins
• Cook Time:5 mins
• Total Time:8 mins
• Servings:1
• Easy

Ingredients

• 1 egg
• 1 banana
• 1 handful oats
• Optional: cinnamon and vanilla to taste

• Step 1

  First, mash a banana until it is smooth. Make sure no large chunks remain.

  

• Step 2

  Next, whisk in the egg.

  

• Step 3

  When the egg and banana are combined, pour in the oats and mix thoroughly.

  

• Step 4

  This step is optional; add any other ingredients or flavors you want in your pancakes. I added a pinch of cinnamon and a splash of vanilla to complement the oats and banana.

  

• Step 5

  Spread half a teaspoon of coconut oil or coconut oil spray on your pan. Add about 3 tablespoons for each pancake onto the pan.

  

• Step 6

  After a minute or two, lift up the edges of the pancakes. If they lift up easily, you can flip them over. After about another minute or two they should be done.

  

• Step 7

  Once they are done cooking, add your toppings (maple syrup and blueberries are my favorites). Enjoy!

  

The Verdict

At first, I was a bit skeptical that a banana, an egg, and a handful of oats could result in delicious pancakes, but I was wrong. These pancakes taste amazing! They cooked evenly throughout and were ready really fast. The texture is subtly chewy, yet very soft thanks to the oats. I really liked the subtle oat texture and flavor, and the healthy, but delicious combination of oats and natural sugars in the banana kept me full for way longer than a regular pancake.

I was surprised to learn that bananas, oats, vanilla, and cinnamon create the perfect match made in heaven; I would definitely recommend adding some extra flavors or toppings to your batter. 

This recipe fulfills the requirements of a pancake—taste, texture, aesthetics, and it is filling. I actually thought they beat regular pancakes in all these categories. Knowing that they're actually good for you will keep you from feeling guilty about eating the whole stack. Once again, Karlie proves to foodies everywhere that eating a full, delicious meal and enjoying your favorite foods is not mutually exclusive with having a healthy, wholesome lifestyle.