Cramp Cravings! Let’s Make Banana Pancakes with Cinnamon Streusel

Do you have cravings on your period? Totally normal. (Which you can read about in our blog post “Understanding Your Period Every Day of The Month”)

Here’s a delicious breakfast (snack, dinner or lunch!) that you can make that is not only delicious but are great for tackling those period symptoms.

Why they help: 

• Bananas contain vitamin B6 and a healthy dose of potassium, which can help relieve your bloating and cramping symptoms (Insider)
• Cinnamon has anti-inflammatory and anti-clotting properties that help you relieve menstrual cramps. (Medlife)

Banana Pancakes with Cinnamon-Oat Streusel

With Pancake Mix (adapted from Just a Pinch)

Serves Six

Pancakes

2 cups Pancake Mix of choice (I used Kodiak Cakes but you could use whatever you’d like!)

2 tsp Baking Powder

3 small bananas mashed

1 cup milk

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

Streusel

2 tablespoons butter or margarine (firm)

2 TB flour

2 TB Rolled Oats

2 tablespoons packed brown sugar

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/8 tsp vanilla

Dash of salt

Prepare Streusel First:

Cut butter into flour, brown sugar, oats, salt, cinnamon and vanilla in a medium bowl, using pastry blender or crisscrossing 2 knives, until crumbly. Set aside.

1. In a large bowl, measure out roughly 1 cup of pancake mix. You don't have to be exact. I think if you prefer a thinner batter you could probably add more milk. Add the baking powder.
2. In a medium bowl, mash the bananas with a fork. Mix in the milk, eggs and vanilla extract.
3. Add the wet mixture to the dry stuff and whisk. It will be lumpy but that's ok! Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. While one side is cooking gently sprinkle streusel over the uncooked side of the pancake. Flip pancake over and cook until pancakes are golden brown on both side; serve hot with toppings of choice.

From Scratch (adapted from All Recipes|Banana Pancakes I)

Serves Six

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon white sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

1 egg, beaten

1 cup milk

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 ripe bananas, mashed

Streusel

2 tablespoons butter or margarine (firm)

2 TB flour

2 TB Rolled Oats

2 tablespoons packed brown sugar

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/8 tsp vanilla

Dash of salt

Prepare Streusel First:

Cut butter into flour, brown sugar, salt, oats, cinnamon and vanilla in a medium bowl, using pastry blender or crisscrossing 2 knives, until crumbly. Set aside.

1. Combine flour, white sugar, baking powder and salt. In a separate bowl, mix together egg, milk, vegetable oil and bananas.
2. Stir flour mixture into banana mixture; batter will be slightly lumpy.
3. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. While one side is cooking gently sprinkle streusel over the uncooked side of the pancake. Flip pancake over and cook until pancakes are golden brown on both sides; serve hot with toppings of choice.