Chocolate Pancakes

I already know my son will love pancakes. Because at least 3 or 4 nights a week, between 9 pm and 10 pm, I get a craving for pancakes. Like the kind of craving that if I don't have them before bed I'll think about them all night and then might be tempted to wake Dave up and make him get me pancakes. The good news is that since I make a whole batch of pancakes at least one morning each weekend and we package up the leftovers and toss them in the freezer for breakfasts later in the week. Or apparently bed time snacks. We typically have between 6-10 little freezer packs in a bag at any given time, but since I've been eating so many lately, I started making extra batches. Which is why I made these chocolate pancakes that I knew Dave wouldn't be particularly fond of for breakfast (chocolate chip--yes; straight chocolate--not so much). So the baby and I enjoy these while we catch up on Project Runway or some other fun TV. And we love them. Fluffy pancakes with pure chocolate flavor and we don't have to share. It's really the perfect snack. I imagine they'd be good for breakfast, but if I'm being honest I made them at two o'clock in the afternoon and straight to the freezer they went. Maybe one morning.

After seeing a number of chocolate pancake recipes, I settled on this one from Averie Cooks, even though I did make several changes. Averie hasn't steered me wrong and I'm sure if you follow her recipe to a T, they'd be a-maze-ing, but I knew the purpose of these pancakes didn't require salted caramel sauce (the boy is weird with sweets--some are a yes, some are a no). That and I didn't have buttermilk. So there you go. And I swapped the cinnamon for espresso powder to really make the cocoa pop. But otherwise, I pulled these pancakes together and cooked them up on the griddle for a quick treat. Chocolate pancakes would definitely be a great way to start your morning, but baby boy and I (or Thor as I call him when he starts punching me after pancake time) definitely love these before bed. Either way, definitely worth trying.

Chocolate Pancakes

Ingredients

1 cup flour
2 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2 Tablespoons sugar
1 Tablespoon brown sugar, packed
1 teaspoon espresso powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
pinch salt
1 cup milk
1 egg
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, sugar, brown sugar, espresso powder, baking soda and salt.

In a separate bowl, whisk together milk, egg, oil and vanilla extract to combine. Then add milk mixture to flour mixture and stir until just combined and flour is completely moistened.

Lightly grease a skillet or electric griddle and heat over medium-high heat or to 325 degrees F. Pour or scoop about 1/4 cup of batter onto hot skillet and cook for about 2-3 minutes, until edges are set and tops bubble.

Flip and continue to cook for another 2-3 minutes.

Transfer cooked pancakes to a baking sheet in a 200 degree F oven and repeat with remaining batter.

Serve warm with powdered sugar or maple syrup. Or cool completely and wrap in aluminum foil to freezer. Reheat in toaster.

Makes 12 pancakes.

Happy Baking,
The Cookie Princess

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