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Pancake Fridays: Chocolate Cake Pancakes (vegan!)

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Welcome to my new blog! You’ll notice it’s lacking a little in the looks department. It’s still very much a work in progress. If anyone has any tips on themes to use, plugins to get, potholes not to fall into…by all means, please share away! In the meantime, please enjoy some well-deserved, much-missed pancakes…

These have been a long time coming.

Chocolate cake pancakes

What’s your favorite kind of cake? I hope 99% of you are raising your hand for the chocolate camp. Me too! But I would never reach for a chocolate pancake over, say, buttermilk or banana nut. Is that weird? I find most chocolate pancakes kind of bland, too sweet, not chocolate-y enough, or dry (one of the worst pancake sins!). Maybe this is due to my memory of the hideous chocolate pancakes from iHop.

Chocolate cake pancakes

Creating a pancake that actually tastes like chocolate cake was quite the production. Falling only behind lemon poppy seed pancakes (which I still have not perfected), these have gone through the most incarnations. The first batch was exactly what I feared: kind of bland and dry. The second, using chocolate protein powder, were thin and floppy (and not chocolatey). The third batch was awesome whenever you bit into a melty chocolate chip, but was ultimately an unremarkable pancake. There were a few unmemorable batches I’m forgetting, but this final batch made up for all those failed pancakes.

Chocolate cake pancakes

Chocolate cake pancakes

These pancakes start with a base of whole wheat flour, adding a great boost of fiber that you can’t even taste in the final product. I highly recommend not subbing other flour for whole wheat. A small amount of oat flour adds tenderness and the lovely, almost crumbly, cake-like bite that I was looking for in a pancake. Powdered sugar lends a hand in the cakey department while granulated sugar ups the sweetness. A chia “egg” gives extra body and moisture to the pancake and chocolate chips, if you choose to use them, give these a kick of ooey-gooey irresistible pockets of sheer chocolatey bliss.

Chocolate cake pancakes

Their deliciousness demands to be enhanced by maple syrup. Go.

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Vegan Chocolate Cake Pancakes

These lightly sweetened chocolate pancakes are tender with a fluffy crumb, just like cake. Add some cinnamon for a Mexican chocolate twist.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 12 pancakes
Calories 100kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 cup almond milk + 1 tablespoon vinegar white or apple cider works best

  • 2 tablespoons chia seeds
  • ¼ cup almond milk
  • 2 tablespoons oil any neutral oil like vegetable, canola, or a mild olive
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla

  • 1 cup whole wheat flour
  • ¼ cup oat flour
  • ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
  • 1.5 teaspoons baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons chocolate chips optional

Instructions

  • Combine 1 cup of milk and vinegar and let sit for 5-10 minutes.
  • Stir together the chia seeds, additional 1/4 cup milk, oil and vanilla and let sit until mixture thickens into a gel, at least five minutes.
  • Whisk together the flours, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, salt, sugars and chocolate chips, if using. Set a large skillet or frying pan over medium heat.
  • Pour the milk + vinegar mixture into the chia mixture and stir to combine. Gently stir into the dry ingredients until just combined. A few lumps are fine, but make sure any big floury lumps are mixed in. Lightly oil the preheated pan and pour batter in ¼ cup at a time. Cook about 2 minutes on each side, or until cooked through. Serve with lots of maple syrup, chocolate chips, shavings, ganache, buttercream…you know. Whatever floats your boat.

Notes

I like to measure out the milk + vinegar concoction in my glass measuring cup, mix the chia mixture in a small cereal bowl and the dry ingredients in a regular mixing bowl. That way, I only have to wash one bowl. (One goes in the dishwasher and the other, hello, is a cup?!)
You CAN substitute 1 egg in place of the chia seeds and additional ¼ cup milk, though I really liked the texture and veerrry subtle crunch of these with the chia.

Did you try this recipe?

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Jessica

    These are amazing. Doesn’t need the oil nor the powdered sugar. Didn’t add either and they turned out amazing. I did add the 2 tbsp of choc chips though.

  3. Alessandra

    Coming back from work at 8pm and day(night)dreaming about chocolate cake but too lazy to go through the hassle of baking… thought Id check out your site for some ideas and bam! ran into this recipe… changed the vegetable oil for some coconut oil I had in my pantry and used the egg vs. the chia substitute… OMG, these were EXACTLY how you described them – so fluffy, chocolatey and cake… An amazing way to get the flavour and texture of cake but in an easy, no fuss way for (near) immediate satisfaction… LOVED IT. Congrats on such fail-proof and original ideas and recipes (and healthy!)

    • erika

      Aww YAY!!! That’s exactly how I was hoping people would use this recipe–because I often feel the same way as you did 😉 Thanks so much for reporting back, Alessandra!! 🙂

  6. Maggie @ Sunnyside Up Smile

    HOLY HEAVEN! ERIKA YOU ARE BRILLIANT! 😉

    I made these for me, my brother and my friend for breakfast this morning and they were absolutely, hands down the best pancakes I’ve ever had. They were so worth the time it took to make them! It was a perfect start to my day. They were amazing- so fluffy, so thick, so fun and so chocolatey. And props for making them healthy! WOW. I could eat them all day every day. You are a pancake goddess I swear. Can’t wait to try more of your recipes! P.S. I love the mod, fresh, clean look of your blog! So cute! Have a happy Friday!

    • erika

      Maggie!!!! You are so awesome!! Thanks so much for letting me know. I’m SO happy you liked them!!! And so happy to have connected through our blogs. Looking forward to reading more from you! 🙂

  8. pumpkinpie

    Yum! I can’t believe how light these taste with whole wheat flour. I used raspberry vinegar, and we enjoyed these so much. Thanks for the recipe!

    • erika

      Thanks so much Sally!! Haha chocolate for breakfast is the best, especially when it doesn’t leave you with a sugar hangover! Although I think I’d suffer through one for one of your cupcakes for breakfast! Those peanut butter cupcakes with that frosting. You’re killing me.

    • erika

      Haha thanks Natasha! That could totally be the tagline for my baking life…sinful and healthy-ish 🙂 If only my photos were as gorgeous as yours!

  11. Rhyann

    Yay! I love the new blog. I’ve also been thinking about switching over.

    And these pancakes. Oh my goodness Erika, you’ve done it again. I’m adding these to the list of stuff to eat. I’m intrigued by the chia seeds in the recipe. I’ve been LOVING them lately. Plus they have so much good stuff in them 🙂

    • erika

      Thanks Rhyann! Ooh yay I’m looking forward to you making the switch! I bet your site will look fantastic!

      You are so sweet! I’m glad you’re intrigued by the chia seeds–I was worried people would be turned off, but it’s so true–they’re so good for you! I think everyone should try using them at least once!

    • erika

      Thank you!! I am thinking about writing up a post about my transition….I’m still letting the idea simmer because there were sooo many parts. But thank you 🙂

      • eatsweetbycarlasue

        I can imagine that it must have been a bit tricky! I have looked into doing it a couple of times, but it just confuses me. Well done on having the courage and determination to do it! It looks great 🙂
        PS. Sorry about the two comments from me…silly computer crashed and I wasn’t sure if it went through. Haha.

    • erika

      Thanks Kristi! It’s so funny–I would never have pegged myself as the type of person who could actually complete a detox. But it’s been a total mindset changer! I bet you could totally do it 🙂

  16. Jade

    Well look at you all moved home and settled! This site looks lovely!! SO clean and beautiful looking. Go you! I will def get those images over to you soon – Unfortunately I am still waiting for my laptop to come home and be fixed. 🙁 Are you still on wordpress then? Or do I need to follow you on Bloglovin now to get your updates?

    • erika

      Aww thanks Jade! No worries on the images! Thanks to your advice, I googled free social media buttons and came up with a bunch of options! That’s so poo that your laptop is STILL being fixed–hope you get it back soon! And I am still on wordpress, just self-hosted…I’m actually not really sure what that means in terms of following! Will you let me know what you find?

  17. Brandi

    Ok, I’ve been wondering where you’ve been woman?! Lol! JK! Love your new modern site, so cute! I also LOVE, LOVE that your first pancake post is vegan….be still my heart! 🙂 To make it even more amazing, they’re chocolate! I love making chocolate pancakes and too have experienced the overly dry cocoa pancake. I definitely need to try these! They look like chocolate pancake perfection. 🙂 Congrats again on the new site my friend! I want to self host eventually soon as well.

    • erika

      Hahaha thanks Brandi 🙂 So glad you know what I’m talking about in terms of those dry chocolate pancakes–blechh. I would love to have you as my vegan-pancake-sounding-board again! If you end up making them, I’d love to see your oil/sugar-free alternations and what you think 🙂

      And I am excited for your future move!! I’m sure your site will look gorgeous!

  19. Choc Chip Uru

    Yay for the new home my friend congrats!!!
    I may be contacting to you as to how you moved soon! And I’m sure you will get it fully up and running how you want 🙂
    Your pancakes today are HEAVEN!

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

  20. Leah

    Love love love your new home. It’s beautiful and fun! I really like the 10 facts about you page too. 🙂

    As for these pancakes… WOW. They look and sound amazing. You seriously are the Pancake Princess!

    • erika

      Aw Leah, you’re too sweet 🙂 I’m glad you like the 10 facts–I was actually thinking about deleting that page! But thanks for speaking up 🙂

    • erika

      Thanks Alex! Yes, I have done everything so far on my own…it’s been a lot of trial and error and slow going at times, but it’s been a huge, mostly fun learning curve! Can’t wait to see if/when you go self-hosted!

    • erika

      Thaanks girl! 🙂 Just read your award fun facts post–I can’t believe you weren’t that into chocolate before! I think of you as the queen of chocolate chip cookies, brownies, and molten chocolate cake creations!

  23. Nancy @ gottagetbaked

    Congrats on the beautiful new site, Erika – I love it! It’s modern, fun and funky – just like you. And I can’t tell you how happy I am that your first post on your new blog is chocolate cake pancakes – seriously, I adore this recipe. If I had to choose only one dessert that I could eat for the rest of my life, I’d kill myself – just kidding! It’d definitely be chocolate cake. You are a culinary genius for making pancakes that actually looks like chocolate cake (I only say “looks” because unfortunately, I can’t taste your fabulous creation through my computer screen). I also won’t have to feel too bad about scarfing down a giant stack of these. Thanks for keeping my taste buds and waistline in mind, lady 😉

    • erika

      Nancy! You always make my day with your comments! For one, I’m thrilled you think I’m modern, fun and funky–what a compliment 🙂 And so glad you appreciate the momentousness of the first post in this new place–I stressed about it for so long, and of course it ends up being nothing like what I had planned, but chocolate cake isn’t too shabby eh? And um, my dessert of choice would also totally be chocolate cake. What else is there??