Cinnamon Cardamom Keto Protein Pancakes

Fun fact: I live pretty far away from my school, in a rather snowy part of the country. Therefore, especially in the winter months, it takes me quite a long time to travel from the warmth of my bed to first period English.

It's really not that big of a deal - I've always adored learning and challenging myself, and my friends are wonderfully amazing. But simultaneously... no one really enjoys hour-long commutes. Because I have to leave home so early, I've sped up my morning routine as much as possible. This means shorter showers (which is a good thing - let's save the water!), slightly messier hair (oh well - who cares, anyway), and morning meals that are a little bit less exciting. I simply don't have the time to whip up an omelette or poached eggs and lox over cauliflower rice anymore. But fear not, dear reader! There is a solution. Instead, I meal prep some roasted vegetables and soft-boiled eggs. They're pretty good, I suppose, but one cannot have vegetables and eggs for breakfast every. Single. Day; it's a tasty meal that gets boring fast. So, this past weekend, I decided to experiment a little bit and create a Keto pancake recipe to gobble up on those monotonous rides to mi escuela. Simply prepare them the night before, study for your biology test while they cook, and enjoy them when the sun rises the next day. I hope you love them as much as I do!

Cinnamon Cardamom Keto Protein Pancakes - Serves 1
Ingredients
2 eggs
2 oz. cream cheese
1 scoop Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides
1 Tbsp of Yacon syrup, honey, monk fruit, or sweetener of choice
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cardamom
2 1/2 Tbsp butter
Strawberries, blueberries, or fruit of choice

Execution
Before making this recipe, please ensure that the cream cheese and one tablespoon of butter are at room temperature. It is best if this temperature is achieved naturally, by leaving the products out of the refrigerator, but they can be microwaved if necessary. In a medium bowl, whip the eggs, cream cheese, and 1 tablespoon of butter together until thoroughly combined. Next, stir in the cinnamon, cardamom, vanilla, sweetener, and Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides. Be sure to mix in these ingredients by hand (not with an electric mixer) in order to ensure that the proteins are not damaged. In a small pan, heat 1/2 Tbsp of butter until melted. Pour in half of the pancake batter and allow to cook until the bottom is browned. Flip the pancake to finish cooking. NOTE: these pancakes are extraordinarily thin, and rather delicate. Because of this, they are a bit tricky to flip, and it may take you a bit of practice. That's okay. Worst case scenario, you'll end up with pancakes that slightly resemble scrambled eggs. When cooked, remove first pancake from the pan. Repeat this process with the remaining batter. If you'd like, you can cook smaller pancakes and end up with more than two. To finish up this delicious dish, place the slab of your remaining butter on the cakes, smother them in fresh berries, and, if desired, drizzle with maple syrup, honey, or more Yacon syrup. Enjoy!

There you are, my friends. I truly hope you savor this Cinnamon Cardamom Keto Protein Pancake recipe (wow, that's a mouthful)! It happens to be both delightfully delectable AND nutritious, and will be sure to keep you full and energized throughout the morning. I wish you the best of luck in flipping them. For the most part, I'm still completely unable to, but at least I don't get batter in my hair anymore!

Have a fabulous day!
- Maya

P.S. I know it's been a bit of a stressful time of the year, both at school and in people's personal lives. February tends to be a rather dismal month, but remember, you can always bring your own sunshine to these brisk, gray days. Remember to take care of you first - you are absolutely amazing! Stay tuned for a guest post by the lovely and talented Clarise the Poet, as well as a post about being your own Valentine. See ya soon!

Photo by Maya, Photo by A. L. on Unsplash, Photo by Maya