19 pancake breakfasts you’d never believe were healthy

PANCAKES and ice cream has got to be one of breakfast’s all-time classic hits. If you’re brunching with kids in tow, here are 19 of of Melbourne’s best healthified versions.

Pancakes are always a good choice. Especially healthified pancakes.

TAKING the kids out for breakfast can be tough.

They see all the delicious treats coming from the kitchen and immediately want to order the unhealthiest thing on the menu.

We’ve all been there.

If you let them, you know they’ll be hyped up all day, but if you veto — you risk unleashing their inner sugar monsters and turning them into stroppy brunch spoilers.

Well, worry no more. Cafes around Melbourne have started making healthy breakfasts great again so pancakes no longer have to be off the menu.

These mounds of sweet, fluffy goodness are so delicious the little ones will never know they are eating wholesome (or at least wholesome-er) food.

If that’s not getting the day off to a healthy start, we don’t know what is.

Plus, you get to taste test for quality assurance, which makes this whole fooling-them-into-eating-health-foods so much more satisfying.

You can let them have their pancakes, and you can eat them, too.

See what we did there?

Here’s our guide to some of Melbourne’s most delicious, I-can’t-believe-these-are-not-as-bad-for-me-as-regular-pancakes options.

MELBOURNE’S BEST PANCAKE BREAKFASTS

URBAN PROJUICE: 315 MONTAGUE ST, ALBERT PARK

These gluten-free buckwheat and vanilla pancakes are blissfully fluffy and topped with banana, seasonal fruit, apple and berry compote, vegan vanilla ice cream, toasted superseed crunch

and pure maple syrup.

TREI: 232 BLACKBURN ROAD, GLEN WAVERLEY

If you want to try some of Melbourne’s most famous pancakes, these would be it. The coconut hot cakes stack is to dine for. Gluten free, low fructose and come with vanilla and nutmeg Coyo ice cream, coconut nectar, toasted pistachio and blueberries. A must-eat.

PATCH: 1/32 BENDIGO ST, RICHMOND

Hello, planet of the vegan crepes. These coconut creations are filled with hazelnut butter, fresh barries and banana and served with berry coulis, maply syryp, dehydrated oranges, candied nuts and Coyo ice cream.

FOURTH CHAPTER: 385 HIGH ST, PRAHRAN

Dairy-free, vegetarian raspberry and coconut pancakes with vanilla meringue, raspberries and coconut ice cream will have you living for the weekend. Seriously. Can’t even.

SEROTONIN EATERY: 52 MADDEN GROVE, BURNLEY

That these are called Positive Pancakes is reason enough to eat them. They’re made with banana flour and served with house-made banana nice-cream, berries and coconut yoghurt. The hot chocolates here also come with smiley faces. Winning.

COMBI: SHOP 1/140 ORMOND ROAD, ELWOOD

Hello, gluten-free, vegan buckwheat pancakes.

MR BLACK JUICERY: 1 BLACKBURNE SQUARE, BERWICK

What’s not to love about beetroot pancakes served with berry compote, seasonal fruit, maple syrup and Cocowhip ice cream. The kids will love the gorgeous colour of these pancakes, and you’ll love knowing they’re contributing toward their daily dose of two and five.

WARATAH ORGANICS: 1224 BURWOOD HWY UPPER FERNTREE GULLY

Has there ever been a better name for a breakfast dish than Peace Pancakes? And there’ll be plenty of peace when these beauties come out. They’ll be so busy devouring them that you’ll have a few precious moments of quietude. These are served with house-made banana nice cream, berries, caramel sauce and coconut. And they’re vegan, gluten free and nut free.

MOM CAFE: BEINGWELL HEALTHCARE, 386 MALVERN ROAD, PRAHRAN

Market on Malvern is an allergy-friendly cafe catering to most dietary requirements. Their red velvet pancakes with fresh strawberries, organic coconut yoghurt and chocolate medjool date syrup (gluten free, vegetarian) are a real treat.

foodies: 181 Victoria Ave, Albert Park

We agree. It is hard to go wrong with low-FODMAP, gluten-free and dairy-free frankencakes. These pancakes are garnished with dark chocolate bark, meringues, raspberry sorbet and passionfruit coulis. Winning.

MATCHA MYLKBAR: 72 ACLAND ST, ST KILDA

What is the best way to get your kids to eat their greens? Serve them as fluffy matcha pancakes drizzled with chocolate and served with macadamia ice cream and fresh strawberries.

SHOKU IKU: 120 HIGH STREET, NORTHCOTE

They’re banana pancakes with Nutella and cream; that’s all they need to know. Leave out the raw activated Nutella and plant-based cream bit. We don’t want to overcomplicate things, do we?

LITTLE LUCKY: 3 GRANT ST. BACCHUS MARSH

Vegan, rocky road pancakes? Don’t mind if we do.

LEGACY: 347 CAMBERWELL RD, CAMBERWELL

Do the Hokey Pokey. Pancakes that is. Fluffy orange blossom hot cakes served with pomegranate seeds, honeycomb, fresh strawberries and mascarpone.

RED ROBYN: 393 CAMBERWELL RD, CAMBERWELL

OK, so this isn’t quite a pancake, but we couldn’t resist including it here because a vegan and FODMAP-friendly lamington waffle is about as impressive as it gets. This waffle comes with not-ella cream, raspberry jam sorbet, coconut caramel, chocolate soil and a coconut milk crisp. #getinmybelly

HEAL THY SELF CO: 26 BALLARAT ST YARRAVILLE

As well as having dedicated kids’ pancakes on the menu, these guys do a pretty epic rotating pancakes special. Like this candied cashew, raspberry chia jam and Coyo pancake special.

LITTLE SUNFLOWER: 15 ORMOND RD, ELWOOD

Because lemon, turmeric and quinoa pancakes with mascarpone and maple syrup seem like a pretty grand idea.

SMAK FOODHOUSE: 6C DALY ST, SOUTH YARRA

We could eat these banana ricotta hot cakes with spiced miso ice cream, candied

popcorn, peanut butter caramel hot sauce, lime chips and honeycomb all day.

PRESSED JUICES CAFE: 567 COLLINS STREET, CBD

We highly recommend the pumpkin, ginger and turmeric pancakes with candied walnuts, super seeds and crystallised flowers. Go on; you know you want to.