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Carrot Cake Pancakes with Cream Cheese Glaze


Fluffy pancakes are packed with carrots for a delicious dose of Vitamin A that supports your baby's developing vision.



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At 10 weeks, your baby is already wrapping up the majority of their eye development. This means they've got corneas, pupils, eyelids and even tear ducts... pretty impressive for something that's only the size of an orange. By the third trimester, their eyes can open and respond to bright light, and they can even detect the color red since it's the color of your uterus!


Here is a really cool timeline of a baby's eye and vision development from BabyCenter:




There are two big things you can do to support the development of your baby's eyesight in these early weeks... enjoy lots of sunshine and eat a lot of foods with Vitamin A. Researchers have found that preterm babies who were conceived during the darkest months of the year were more likely to develop certain eye disorders, so even if it's winter, try to spend a few minutes outside when you can. Then come inside and warm up with a delicious stack of carrot cake pancakes.


This recipe contains two cups of grated carrots which is 204% of your recommended daily intake of Vitamin A, so even just eating two or three pancakes will give you a significant amount.


Also, please take a minute to appreciate these llama-stamped pancakes:





What ingredients do I need to make this recipe?


  • All purpose flour

  • Baking powder

  • Cinnamon

  • Nutmeg

  • Salt

  • Unsweetened applesauce - you can substitute with canola or melted coconut oil

  • Vanilla extract

  • Brown sugar

  • 2 cups carrots

  • Milk- any kind works, I prefer unsweetened vanilla almond milk

  • Carrots

  • Cream cheese

  • Powdered sugar

  • Chopped pecans - optional


Helpful products for making this recipe:



How many servings does this make?


You will get about 10-12 pancakes that are 3 ½ inches.



Can I freeze carrot cake pancakes?


These freeze great! You can layer them between sheets of wax paper and store in a freezer-friendly bag or container. I skip the wax paper when I'm feeling lazy and don't tend to have any issues separating them.


To reheat, toast them in the toaster on medium heat or microwave in 30 second increments until they're warmed through.



What other foods are high in Vitamin A?


  • Fish

  • Eggs

  • Dairy products

  • Orange and yellow vegetables

  • Leafy green vegetables

  • Tomato products

  • Mangos

  • Cantaloupe






Did You Make This Recipe?

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Mention @preggokitchen or tag #preggokitchen


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Ingredients:


For the Pancakes:

  • 1 ¼ all purpose flour

  • 2 tsp baking powder

  • 1 tsp cinnamon

  • ¼ tsp nutmeg

  • ¼ tsp salt

  • 2 Tbsp unsweetened applesauce

  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

  • ¼ cup brown sugar

  • 2 cups carrots, finely grated

  • 1 cup milk of choice

  • 1 egg

  • ½ cup chopped walnuts for topping (optional)


For the Glaze:

  • 4 oz cream cheese at room temperature

  • ½ cup powdered sugar

  • 5-6 Tbsp of milk


Directions:


For the Pancakes:

  1. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a small mixing bowl

  2. Mix the applesauce, vanilla extract, brown sugar, milk, and egg together in a large mixing bowl

  3. Finely grate the carrots and stir them into the wet ingredients

  4. Stir the dry ingredients into the wet until combined

  5. Turn the stove on to medium heat and spray a griddle with canola oil or melt 1 Tbsp butter or coconut oil.

  6. Working in batches, pour several 1/4 cup portions of batter onto your griddle

  7. Once small bubbles begin to form on the top, it's time to flip them (about 2-3 minutes)

  8. Cook an additional 2-3 minutes and set finished pancakes aside on a plate.

  9. Top with cream cheese glaze and chopped pecans if desired


For the Glaze:

  1. Blend all of the ingredients with a hand mixer or stir vigorously until combined



To store:


1. Leftovers will keep in the fridge for 1-3 days and in the freezer for up to 3 months





Sources:

  1. Harvard School of Public Health. (2023, March 7). Vitamin A. The Nutrition Source. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/vitamin-a/

  2. Howland, G. (2023). Mama natural week-by-week guide to pregnancy and childbirth. Gallery Books.

  3. Scogna, K. (n.d.). Baby Vision Development: When babies open their eyes, see light, and more. BabyCenter. https://www.babycenter.com/pregnancy/your-baby/how-your-babys-eyes-and-vision-develop-in-the-womb_20004926

  4. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2022, June 15). Office of dietary supplements - vitamin A and carotenoids. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminA-HealthProfessional/



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