Create Your Own Protein Pancake Mix with This DIY Kodiak Recipe

With their tender, fluffy-as-a-cloud texture, ever-so-sweet flavor profile, and ability to be topped with whatever fixings your heart desires, pancakes could easily be deemed a flawless breakfast food. But flapjacks have one pitfall that keeps them from earning the accolade: All of their refined carbs and added sugar can leave you crashing by 11 a.m., not ready to conquer all the errands, workouts, and Netflix binges you had planned for the day. Luckily, protein-packed pancake mixes — whether you go for a store-bought option or DIY your own copycat Kodiak pancake mix — allow you to indulge in comfort-food cravings while packing in the protein.

Kodiak Cakes Power Cakes (Buy It, $17 for 3 boxes, amazon.com) is the clear fan-favorite in the baking mix department, holding a spot as one the best-selling pancake mixes on Amazon. However, it's not necessarily the best for your wallet. Sure, the mix nails the flavor of a classic buttermilk flapjack you'd get at a hole-in-the-wall diner and offers 14 grams of protein per serving. But at $6 a pop, it's hard to justify spending the extra cash when a box of generic mix (Buy It, $4, amazon.com) will satisfy that hot cake hankering for less than half the cost per ounce, even if it doesn't have a hearty dose of protein.

Now, you can have the best of both worlds with this copycat Kodiak pancake mix. Crafted by Jessica Penner, R.D., this DIY Kodiak pancake mix is nearly an exact replica of the OG mix, containing the same oat flour, whole wheat flour, whey protein, and buttermilk powder for fluffy flapjacks that fill you up.

By copying the ingredients nearly to a T, Penner was able to create a protein pancake mix that boasts the same nutritional qualities as Kodiak's version. One serving of the copycat mix provides 14 grams of protein and 3 grams of sugar (just like the boxed Kodiak pancake mix) and it contains just one additional gram of carbs, five more calories, and one less gram of fiber than the real deal, according to Penner.

In terms of picking a protein powder, Penner recommends using an unflavored whey protein isolate (Buy It, $27, amazon.com) in your protein pancake mix rather than whey protein concentrate to get the highest amount of protein per serving and ensure there are no unnecessary extra sweeteners, flavors, or fillers added to the mix. Plus, whey protein isolate has a super mild flavor on its own, meaning you can easily incorporate it into any treat, she says.

While you can use flavored protein isolates, such as this chocolate variety (Buy It, $25, amazon.com), in the mix, doing so may amp up the sweetness. Consider cutting down on the sugar in the recipe, to combat this potential problem.

If you're sensitive to whey or want to use plant-based protein powder (Buy It, $27, amazon.com) instead, it is possible to include it in the pancake mix. However, you might be dumping those aforementioned additives into the mix, so you may have to adjust how much sugar you use to prevent things from getting overly sweet. (BTW, this easy pancake recipe is egg-, dairy-, and gluten-free.)

Noshing on protein at breakfast makes you feel full faster and for a longer period of time than when you consume it at lunch or dinner, according to a study published in the International Journal of Obesity. Plus, consuming a breakfast with high-protein and low-glycemic-load foods (think: rolled oats and whole grains) is linked with higher levels of energy, and whey protein boosts satiety more than other types of protein, according to a 2011 study. Translation: This protein pancake mix will ensure your stomach doesn't scream for a snack and second cup of coffee right after breakfast.

Instead of settling for a protein-free mix or repeatedly shelling out the extra dough to buy a fancy one at the grocery store every other week, whip up a big-batch of Penner's copycat Kodiak pancake mix. Not only will you save money in the long run, but you'll be able to have protein-packed pancakes on demand — and yes, it's totally acceptable to eat them for dinner.

Makes: 1 serving (5 to 6 pancakes)

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 10 minutes

For the dry mix:

For the pancakes:

For the dry mix:

For the pancakes:

This recipe was republished with permission from Jessica Penner, R.D., of SmartNutrition.ca.

This pancake mix doesn't have to be a one trick pony. Use your copycat Kodiak pancake mix for other breakfast staples like biscuits, waffles, and crepes. If you want to satisfy your sweet tooth with a protein-dense dessert, use this mix to make funnel cakes or muffins. Alternatively, give it a savory spin by mixing in veggies and spices to whip up some flavorful fritters.

Some of these dish swaps will just require changing the way you cook the mix. For example, muffins only require you pour the mix into a muffin pan and cook as you would any muffin mix. Other dishes, however, will work best if you adjust the recipe slightly (i.e. waffles do best with a thicker batter and crepes are more easily made with a thinner batter),