This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.
Just in case the festivities of the season have left you wondering if there isn’t one more time and place in the day to fit in a little more chocolate, here is a recipe for Chocolate Chip Pancakes. I started making these for my family on special occasions, like birthdays and holidays, but my creative young son started finding all kinds of ways to call a day special: “Mom, it’s the full moon,” “Today is the last Tuesday of March,” “It’s the first day of school,” “Mom, today it’s snowing!”… The truth is that we now eat these at least once a week.
The pancakes are allergen free and plant-based and can be made with blueberries instead (which is, admittedly, healthier). Because they remain moist and are sweet enough on their own (i.e. without syrup), they make good after school snacks to eat in the car and they work well as a quick pick-me-up on hikes.
We enjoy them with walnuts, bananas, and maple syrup.
INGREDIENTS:
- 1/2 cup buckwheat flour
- 1/4 cup sorghum flour
- 1/4 cup brown rice flour
- 2 tbsp tapioca flour
- 1 tbsp ground flax seed
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 1/4 cup non-dairy milk (or 1 6 oz. tub vanilla non-dairy yogurt plus enough water to make 1 1/4 cups)
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1/3 cup chocolate chips (or blueberries)
Whisk dry ingredients together; whisk wet ingredients together. Whisk wet and dry ingredients with one another. Stir in chocolate chips or blueberries. Grease a well-seasoned cast iron griddle with olive oil. When hot – when you sprinkle a drop or two of water on the griddle and it sizzles – you are ready to spoon your pancake batter onto the griddle. (The chocolate chips will settle to the bottom of the batter, so stir well before spooning it out). Brown pancakes on each side and serve hot with whatever makes you happy.
Leftovers may be rewarmed in a microwave or in an oven in a covered dish.
Serves 2-4 depending on appetite.
