Everybody deserves to have a little chocolate for breakfast once in a while. These pancakes got five-star reviews from all of my testers. This recipe requires a nonstick skillet to keep the pancakes from sticking. Serve with whatever fresh fruit you like—we enjoy them with strawberries, raspberries, bananas, or a combination of all three.

By Somer McCowan,

Ingredients

  • 1¼ cups whole-grain gluten-free flour (see Notes)
  • 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
  • 1 tablespoon vegan mini chocolate chips (optional; see Notes)
  • ¼ teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 cup unsweetened, unflavored almond milk
  • 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup or ¼ teaspoon stevia powder
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce

Instructions

  • Combine the dry ingredients (flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, flax, chocolate chips, and salt) in a medium bowl. Whisk until fully combined.
  • Combine the wet ingredients (almond milk, maple syrup, vanilla, and vinegar) in a small bowl, and whisk well. This will create a vegan buttermilk for your pancakes.
  • Add the vegan buttermilk and the applesauce to the flour mixture, and stir until the batter is just combined.
  • Let the batter stand for 10 minutes while it rises and thickens as the flaxseeds soak; it may nearly double in size.
  • Heat a nonstick skillet or electric skillet griddle over medium heat and mist with a tiny bit of nonstick spray, if desired. (If you have a large skillet, you can cook multiple pancakes at once.) Scoop the batter into 3-inch rounds. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes or until the bubbles have burst in each of the pancakes and the tops start to appear dry. Flip the pancakes and cook for 1 to 2 minutes more. You should get 12 pancakes total.

    Notes:

    Flour - You can use any other whole-grain flour if you prefer.

    Chocolate chips - Two brands of vegan mini chocolate chips I like are Enjoy Life and Lily’s (stevia-sweetened).

Comments (7)

(5 from 4 votes)

Recipe Rating

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Katie

This is a great recipe to start with if you are new to plant based eating. Easy recipe, great flavor. Topping the pancakes with srawberries/blueberries takes it to another level of good. Tastes like dessert…yummy. Made exactly as recipe states…leftovers for the next 2 mornings. I did not use a cooking spray. When placing batter on griddle, flatten with spatula a bit or it will not cook through.

Carrol Lindsay

All I have to say the chocolate pancake are toe curling delicious. With my pancakes I made a spinach and cherry tomato omelette. yum yum.

Sofia Tapia

My family loved it!

Tanya

The pancakes turnd out great! I forgot to add the cocoa powder and flax seeds and maple syrup. But my family still loved it! Oh, and I put a little more milk.

Alexis

Ok what's the secret? I followed the recipe exactly and definitely did not get a pancake batter. It was so dry and crumbly. So I added about another cup of Almond milk just to get it to stick together. When put in the skillet, I just get mush.

Cheryl Sawney

Née to this healthier eating lifestyle so tried this this morning, and it’s definitely delicious!!

Tonja G

Made these this morning for Father's Day and everyone loved them! Will definitely be making these again!! May try to leave out the cocoa powder next time and try with blueberries. Yum!

About the Author

Headshot of Somer McCowan

About the Author

Somer McCowan

Somer McCowan is a self-taught chef who has a passion for health and inventing delicious recipes. She has worked creating food in bakeries and restaurants in the U.S. and Australia. She blossomed in her own kitchen when she became vegan. Several years ago, she was diagnosed with a severe autoimmune disease called ulcerative colitis, and completely reversed her condition through a whole-food, plant-based diet. Her cookbook The Abundance Diet is designed to help others improve their health through eating the right kinds of food. She lives in Utah where she publishes her popular blog, vedgedout.com. Find her on Facebook and Instagram.
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