Fluffy & Easy Lemon Ricotta Pancakes (Gluten Free)

The fluffiest lemon ricotta pancakes just got upgraded to be secretly healthy too! Just one bowl, entirely gluten free and vegan these ricotta pancakes are fluffy, sweet, and perfect for any spring morning!

These fluffy lemon ricotta pancakes are the definition of heavenly blissful clouds on a plate. They’re so soft and rich with flavor while also being the perfect balance of light and refreshing.

Honestly, these pancakes are one of my proudest moments. My mom, who is obsessed with lemon ricotta pancakes (requests them every Mother’s Day!) declared this is her all time favorite recipe.

They’re just one bowl, super easy, perfect for spring and summer gatherings, and an absolute crowd pleaser. Not to mention, these lemon ricotta pancakes are unnoticeably gluten free and entirely vegan too!

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Inspiration behind these Healthy Lemon Ricotta Pancakes:

Well, one of my mom’s favorite breakfasts in the history of breakfasts is lemon ricotta pancakes. We used to go to the Cheesecake Factory for Mother’s Day brunch and her birthday (all in the same month…May should just be called the Month of Mom…so M.O.M. ha!). In fact, we still do!

She always loves to order the lemon ricotta pancakes. They serve two massive pancakes sprinkled with powdered sugar, berries, maple syrup, and whipped cream.

Absolutely decadent. The pancakes are fluffy and sweet and absolutely delicious.

Well I thought to myself…sure, I could do better! That’s my ego talking haha!

So I decided to take on the challenge- make a lemon ricotta pancake recipe that is just as good, if not better, than the Cheesecake Factory and make them with a twist.

That twist involves making gluten free lemon ricotta pancakes that require zero added gums like most gluten free recipes call for and yet are undetectably gluten free and refined sugar free.

Well, folks, you know I love a challenge! Let’s dive into what is actually in these pancakes, and how they actually came out 🙂

How to make super fluffy Lemon Ricotta Pancakes:

As with all of my recipes, the full written instructions are found down below in the recipe card.

First, we start by sifting the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and sea salt together. Make sure that it’s well combined, as you want even pancakes throughout the cooking process.

Next, we add in the dairy free ricotta, lemon, applesauce (or eggs), and dairy free milk. Mix until there are just no more dry streaks using a hand mixer or a rubber spatula.

Heat a pancake griddle with vegan butter or oil, and once hot, spoon about 1/3 cup of batter per pancake onto the griddle.

You can absolutely use the stove top for these pancakes, but I just love using a pancake griddle. I linked my favorite pancake griddle there. All you need is a little oil or butter when it first heats!

Let each pancake cook for about 1-2 minutes, or until the bubbles start to arise on the tops of the pancakes. Flip and cook for another 30 seconds.

And you’re done! Simple, right?

How to make these ricotta pancakes dairy free

There is a vegan ricotta on the market (one by Kite Hill), but I personally do not recommend it. I think they’re a great brand in general for dairy free products, but the ricotta misses the mark for me. It’s not at all like a regular full fat dairy ricotta, which makes it impossible to be a 1:1 swap.

That’s why I make my own vegan ricotta– and it’s so easy.

What to top these lemon ricotta pancakes with:

I absolutely love topping these lemon blueberry ricotta pancakes with some fresh blueberries or blueberry compote and maple syrup!

However, strawberries, or really any berry, also make a wonderful flavor combination! These would also taste amazing with a little powdered sugar if you’re going the more traditional route, or a dollop of coconut whipped cream.

These ricotta pancakes make the perfect Mother’s Day Brunch, Father’s Day Brunch or Spring and Summer morning get together! They’re beautifully fluffy, sweet, and undetectably healthy- perfect for kids to adults and picky eaters alike!

I hope you love these fluffy lemon ricotta pancakes as much as I do! If you make this pancake recipe, let me know how it goes by leaving a comment down below, as well as a rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ so that others may find it!

As always, I absolutely love to see your beautiful creations on Instagram and Pinterest, so be sure to tag me there!

Happy pancake making!

More secretly vegan pancake recipes:

Best Vegan Buttermilk Pancakes

Fluffy Vegan Chocolate Chip Pancakes

Easy Banana Oat Pancakes

Decadent Vegan Chocolate Pancakes

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