NuPlus Carrot Spice Pancakes

Sunrider NuPlus Carrot Spice Pancakes © Healthy You Herbs My friends and I love spending weekends exploring California’s gorgeous coastline. We usually start well before daybreak, when it’s dark and the air is fresh and crisp. During one of our recent pre-dawn romps, we stumbled upon a lovely roadside farmer’s market and indulged in scrumptious, locally sourced fruits, vegetables, jams and juices.

  For some reason I fell in love with the carrots. I was surprised by the numerous varieties and colors. The roots were long and still covered in rich, dark coppery soil.   The leafy green stems were bright and bursting with color.  Farmers market report: Carrots in a rainbow of colors    

I grabbed several bunches and decided to make a carrot themed brunch – starring my fresh Carrot Spiced NuPlus pancakes topped with NuPlus Carrot Jam! Carrots are packed with vitamin A and are a rich sources of a wide spectrum of the vitamins and minerals our body needs. Carrots reduce the risk of heart diseases and cancers. Carrots also help support healthy vision. I always add NuPlus because it is one of Sunrider’s whole super foods!

  Back home, we gathered on my backyard deck – the sun was just peaking over the horizon and the sky was still deep indigo to prepare our Carrot themed Brunch and watch the sunrise. Here’s our menu:  NuPlus Carrot Spice Pancakes with Homemade Carrot Jam Crisp turkey bacon Fresh blueberry, strawberry, raspberry, basil salad Scrambled eggs Ice Cold Carrot – Cocoa VitaShake  (made with fresh carrot juice instead of milk, milk substitute or water)

Flourless NuPlus Carrot Spice Pancakes.

Ingredients:

• 2 Packets of NuPlus Apple Cinnamon
• 3/4 pound Carrots
• 1 1/2 cups Flour or Flour substitutes*
• 3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
•  1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ½ teaspoon Pumpkin Spice
• 2 Large Eggs
• 1 1/2 cups Milk (for dairy free pancakes try Almond or Coconut milk)
• 1/4 cup oil
• 2 drops of  Sunny Dew to taste
• 1 packet Quinary® Powder

    Directions:

1. Place Carrots in a medium saucepan of boiling water. Let carrots boil about 12 minutes. Pierce with fork – carrots should be tender but firm. Place carrots in cold water to loosen skins. Drain, remove skins and mash until smooth.
2. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, salt, spice, nutmeg.
3. Add 2 packs NuPlus Apple Cinnamon
4. Mix mashed carrots, eggs, milk and oil in a separate medium bowl. Blend sweet potato mixture into the flour mixture to form a batter.
5. Add 1-2 drops of Sunny Dew to taste.
6. Preheat a lightly greased griddle over medium-high heat. Drop batter mixture onto the prepared griddle by heaping tablespoonfuls. Let cook until golden edges become brown and the surface begins to bubble.   Turning once with a spatula.

We topped our pancakes with my aunt Laura’s homemade Carrot Jam. It’s a family secret but I found this recipe from Food & Wine that’s yummy, easy to prepare and pairs terrifically with Carrot pancakes. Food & Wine Magazine: Carrot Jam Recipe    No time to make your own jam – No problem!  You can top with fresh preserves, berries, fresh spiced apple compote or maple syrup.

  Can’t eat Gluten, Wheat or White Flour?  Try these substitutes that work terrific in pancakes: Almond Flour (gluten free) Buckwheat Flour (gluten and wheat-free) Quinoa Flour (gluten free) – contains twice the protein of rice or corn Teff Flour  

Health Benefits of Carrots: Want to learn more?

Check out these articles –

1. This Washington Post: More Healthful Baking with White Flour Alternatives shares some amazing information healthy alternatives to White Flour.

2. WebMD  Carrot Compound May Curb Cancer Risk

3. WebMd 5 Health Facts About Carrots