Chocolate Pancakes

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5 from 16 votes
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Enjoy dessert for breakfast with these thick and fluffy chocolate pancakes! They use whole wheat flour for a healthy dose of fiber and whole grains. 

chocolate pancakes.

Need an excuse to have chocolate for breakfast? These pancakes are your answer. 

Mornings are always a rush in our house, but that doesn’t stop us from having something satisfying for breakfast. To make our mornings a little special, a chocolate pancake goes a very long way.

Table of Contents
  1. The best chocolate pancake recipe
  2. Ingredients needed
  3. How to make chocolate pancakes
  4. Tips to make the best recipe
  5. Storage instructions
  6. Recommended tools to make this recipe
  7. More pancake recipes to try
  8. Frequently asked questions
  9. Chocolate Pancakes (Recipe Card)

The best chocolate pancake recipe

Having a chocolate-flavored treat as your first meal of the day is a real blessing. Similar to my chocolate chip pancakes, What makes these even better is it uses whole-wheat flour. It enriches the pancakes with protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

  • Only 5 ingredients. Five simple ingredients are needed to make these chocolate pancakes. The fewer ingredients you use, the less mess you create in the kitchen which is all we want on busy mornings. 
  • No oil and buttermilk. This pancake recipe doesn’t call for oil or buttermilk. And still, the pancakes turn out tender and fluffy. 
  • No eggs. This pancake recipe is amazing for anyone who is allergic to eggs or follows a vegan diet (like our banana and zucchini pancakes!). 

Ingredients needed

You only need a few staple ingredients for this easy and delicious chocolate breakfast recipe. 

  • Flour. I use whole wheat flour for this recipe as it is healthier than white flour, but any flour works. 
  • Cocoa powder. Unsweetened and sifted. Choose Dutch-processed cocoa powder as it has a richer flavor. 
  • Sugar. Granulated white sugar. 

Substitution idea

To keep these pancakes healthier, you can swap out the sugar for honey, maple syrup, or even coconut sugar.

  • Baking powder. To help the pancakes rise. 
  • Milk. I used unsweetened almond milk but any milk works.  
  • Chocolate chips. Optional, but who doesn’t love double chocolate pancakes? 

How to make chocolate pancakes

As you could expect, making these chocolate pancakes is super easy. Here’s how you make them. 

  1. Prepare the batter. Add all the dry ingredients to a bowl and mix well. Pour in the milk and whisk until there are no big lumps in the batter. Fold through the chocolate chips. 
chocolate pancake batter.
  1. Cook the pancakes. Add a dash of oil to a non-stick pan and place over medium heat. When the pan is hot, add ¼ cup portions of batter to the pan and cook the pancakes for 2-3 minutes per side.
how to make chocolate pancakes.
  1. Repeat. Repeat until all batter is used up. Serve the pancakes warm with your favorite toppings. 
chocolate pancakes recipe.

Tips to make the best recipe

  • Fold in chocolate chips into the batter to provide the pancakes with a richer chocolate flavor. 
  • Always sift the cocoa powder if you want to avoid lumpy batter. 
  • Use almond milk, cashew milk, and oat milk as 1:1 substitutes for cow’s milk if you want to make these pancakes vegan. 
  • Add some ground cinnamon and a dash of vanilla extract to the batter to make the flavor of the chocolate pancakes even richer. 

Storage instructions

To store. Transfer leftover pancakes to an airtight container or bag and store them in the fridge for up to 4 days. 

To freeze. Make a big batch of these pancakes and freeze them for up to 3 months. Put sheets of parchment paper in between the pancakes to prevent them from sticking to each other. 

To reheat. Reheat the pancakes in the microwave or in a pan over medium heat. 

Meal prep idea

Did you know pancakes can be part of meal prep? We love to triple batch this recipe and portion them out for quick breakfasts throughout the week. Once the pancakes have cooled, place them in ziplock bags and keep them in the refrigerator until they ready to eat!

  • Griddle. The perfect kitchen tool for cooking pancakes.
  • Non-stick pan. No griddle? A good non-stick pan with a lid will be fine!
  • Spatula. To flip the pancakes.
chocolate pancake.

More pancake recipes to try

Frequently asked questions

Are pancakes better with milk or water?

While you can use water instead of milk to make pancakes, using regular or plant-based milk is a better idea. Milk provides a creamier flavor and moister texture for the pancakes. 

What is the trick to making good pancakes?

Not overmixing the pancake batter and cooking the pancakes in a well-heated pan are two important steps for making good pancakes. Also, make sure to use a leavening ingredient and flip the pancakes once the surface is bubbly and the edges are slightly dry. 

Are these pancakes gluten-free?

These chocolate pancakes are not gluten-free as they are made with whole wheat flour. To make this recipe gluten-free, use gluten-free all-purpose flour. You may need to use slightly more of the all-purpose flour than the recipe calls for whole wheat flour. 

chocolate pancake recipe.

Chocolate Pancakes

5 from 16 votes
These chocolate pancakes need just five ingredients to make and yield perfectly thick and fluffy pancakes every single time!
Servings: 8 pancakes
Prep: 1 minute
Cook: 5 minutes
Total: 6 minutes

Ingredients  

Instructions 

  • In a mixing bowl, sift in the flour and cocoa powder. Add the sugar and baking powder and mix well. Add the milk and whisk until a batter remains. Let the batter sit for 5 minutes. 
  • Add some oil to a non-stick skillet and place over medium heat. Once hot, add 1/4 cup portions of the pancake batter and immediately cover the pan. Cook for 2-3 minutes, remove the lid, flip, and cook for another two minutes.
  • Repeat the process until all the pancakes are cooked. 

Notes

TO STORE: Transfer leftover pancakes to an airtight container or bag and store them in the fridge for up to 4 days. 
TO FREEZE: Make a big batch of these pancakes and freeze them for up to 3 months. Put sheets of parchment paper in between the pancakes to prevent them from sticking to each other. 
TO REHEAT: Reheat the pancakes in the microwave or in a pan over medium heat. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1pancakeCalories: 118kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 4gFat: 2gSodium: 189mgPotassium: 164mgFiber: 5gVitamin A: 2IUCalcium: 148mgIron: 2mgNET CARBS: 20g
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Author: Arman Liew
Tried this recipe?Give us a shout at @thebigmansworld or tag #thebigmansworld!

Arman Liew

I’m a two time cookbook author, photographer, and writer, and passionate about creating easy and healthier recipes. I believe you don’t need to be experienced in the kitchen to make good food using simple ingredients that most importantly, taste delicious.

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Comments

  1. There is no mention if u grease the frying pan! So do you? If so how much oil/butter do u use? thanks

  2. I’m a bit confused on the recipe. T? Tablespoon, Teaspoon? For the flour? That does not seem like enough to make the pancakes…

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