Cinnamon Toast Crunch Pumpkin Pancakes

One of the benefits of having children is the ability to give yourself license to share in their whimsy and childlike wonder. When one wants cereal and the other wants pancakes, and you want something with pumpkin, well, you can legitimately please everyone by combining the cereal WITH pumpkin in the form of pancakes. And you know what? They love it!

This recipe was a compromise that had all interested parties feeling like they got some of what they asked for in a delicious combination. It was a new way to have breakfast that no one considered when they originally had voiced what they wanted to eat, but a way that made 100% sense. And, when it was placed on a plate steaming hot and a little crisp from the hot oiled griddle, dripping with maple syrup plus more cereal crumbles, we all felt satisfied.

Sustainability Spotlight: Much like this recipe that combines several ideas together that lead to a "new" and satisfying outcome, sustainability efforts require such inventiveness. We live in a world (like it or not) that relies upon modern conveniences. Many of those conveniences are "bad" for the planet and for our health, and yet...we continue to live our lives as if we either choose between the convenience or the planet. I contend that this is not reality. There are so many innovations and small changes that do not require sacrifice; although it may require swaps or compromise.

We compromise daily in our communications and relationships. Sometimes what we want has to be couched or reconsidered in deference to others. Let's compromise in our relationship with the planet. Let's reconsider how our actions are hurting the environment (and each other I might add) by focusing solely on the "me." If we review as an "us" in a larger (macro) scale, built on individual choices to simply move in a better direction for the health of the planet or environment, we can actually incite change.

Start simple with this super fun pancakes and see if maybe you want to find a creative compromise that let's you have your sustainable breakfast and eat it too!

Ingredients:

• Dry Ingredients:

  • 1.5 cups all purpose flour

  • 1/2 cup whole wheat flour

  • 1 tsp baking soda

  • 1 tsp baking powder

  • 1/2 tsp salt

  • 1 scoop vanilla plant-based protein powder (I used Garden of Life Sport)

  • 1/2 cup ground Cinnamon Toast Crunch (TM) cereal (use mini food processor)

  • 1 tsp cinnamon

• Wet Ingredients:

  • 1/3 of a can of pumpkin puree (I give the rest to my pups for their coats!)

  • 1/4 cup maple syrup

  • 1 & 1/3 cup oat milk

  • 1/4 cup avocado oil

  • 2 tsp apple cider vinegar

  • 3/4 cup filtered water

Directions:

1. Add all Dry Ingredients to a medium bowl and whisk to combine.

2. Add all Wet Ingredients to a large measuring cup and whisk to combine.

3. Add Wet Ingredients to Dry Ingredients and stir well until incorporated. Note, the batter should be thick; more like waffle batter which I like for ease of making pancakes!

4. Turn on griddle pan to 300 degrees F and brush with avocado oil.

5. Add ~1/4 cup portions of batter to the griddle separated by at least 2 inches, and cook cakes ~3 minutes each side till done.

Serve pancakes stacked with extra maple syrup and cereal pieces as desired.

With love & hope for a better future for all of us - Jamie