These chocolate pancakes are enriched with tahini and stuffed with chocolate chips, but don't be fooled, they're super fluffy! They’re so quick and easy to throw together - you’ll have the perfect weekend breakfast in no time.
Pancakes are a great start to a leisurely weekend, especially these fluffy chocolate pancakes. Actually, these double up the chocolate so much, they're technically chocolate chocolate chip pancakes. Simple to make and so light and fluffy, they're perfect for Saturday morning for yourself or your friends and family.
Picture this - chocolate batter with chocolate chips, matched perfectly with creamy nutty tahini and finally topped with a salted tahini maple syrup sauce. Total indulgence that will be perfect for a special occasion or just because, you know, it’s the weekend and.... it's pancakes! Make sure to check out our Biscoff Pancakes too.
This chocolate pancake recipe is solid! It's been perfected and tested thoroughly so be sure to check out all the expert tips we provide below. We know you love pancakes and we also know you'll love this recipe.
If you love chocolate for breakfast as much as we do... You absolutely need to make this Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Baked Oatmeal. Or fancy something lighter? Check out this Coconut Tahini Pistachio Granola. Both are a great way to start the day. Make sure to leave a comment and rate the recipe card and use these links to get to exactly where you need to be.
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Why you'll love this recipe
You need these chocolate pancakes in your life and these are the reasons why:
Easy - this chocolate pancake recipe is simple enough to whip up in the morning even if you're half asleep.
One bowl - fewer items to wash up is always a win in our house. We're only using one bowl for everything, rather than blenders and other things too.
Fluffy - oh these chocolate pancakes are super light and fluffy, but also have the texture of a good pancake. You won't regret making these.
Double trouble - double chocolate with the chocolate chips too, what's not to love?!
Kid friendly - what kid isn't going to love these chocolate pancakes for breakfast?! Throw some fruit on top for extra goodness.
Ingredients
For these chocolate pancakes you only need simple ingredients that are readily available in the supermarket. Here’s what you need to make the batter:
Fat - you’ll need a splash of olive oil as it helps make the chocolate pancakes softer and richer. You can use melted butter in place of olive oil if you want.
Creaminess - the tahini is also part of the fat content but adds a nice nutty flavour and creaminess to these chocolate pancakes. It makes them extra special!
Sweetness - you’ll need some sweetness to help balance the bitterness of the cocoa. Who else has tried a 100% cocoa chocolate bar? Yikes! We use soft brown sugar as it adds a nice caramel note too.
Store cupboard - You’ll need some all purpose flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, salt and don’t forget your vanilla extract.
Mix-ins - These chocolate pancakes are made extra indulgent with some additional chocolate chips.
Customizations
Change up the mix-ins - does your family like different things? You don't all have to have the same thing, mix it up! Why not use white or milk chocolate chips instead? Or here's a crazy idea, you could chop up some peanut butter cups or our dark chocolate cashew butter cups and throw those in instead! Or throw in some chopped nuts, sesame seeds or fresh raspberries! Get creative - what else could you add to make these the ultimate double chocolate chip pancakes?!
Change the nut butter - Don’t fancy tahini? Try making these with runny peanut or almond butter instead. Depending on how runny your nut butters are you may need a tiny splash more milk in the batter to get the correct consistency.
Milk - we use dairy milk, but you can use a dairy free alternative if you fancy.
How to make chocolate pancakes
These chocolate pancakes are perfect for a lazy morning breakfast any day of the week. Follow these simple steps to create your fluffy pancakes.
- Whisk together the oil, tahini, soft brown sugar, egg and vanilla extract to create a wonderfully creamy caramel coloured mixture.
- Gradually pour in the milk whilst whisking constantly.
- Whisk until completely uniform as this will help you make a smooth batter in the next step.
- Whisk the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt together in a bowl.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients.
- Whisk together until uniform to produce a silky chocolate pancakes batter. Add the chocolate chips in and stir gently to mix them throughout.
- Pour ¼ cup of batter onto a preheated pan or hot plate and cook for 2 ½ minutes on the first side until the edges set.
- Flip and cook on the other side for 10 seconds, remove from the pan and keep warm in a low oven. Repeat with the rest of the batter to make the rest of the pancakes.
Expert tips
Tip #1 - leaving the chocolate pancake batter to rest for 5 minutes allows the flour to hydrate and the batter to thicken slightly; the flour becomes more elastic in the mix and will aid the raising agent to provide a fluffier pancake.
Tip #2 - stirring the chocolate chips through the batter rather than dropping them on top encases them so they melt in the middle of the pancake, making these chocolate pancakes totally moreish!
Tip #3 - cook the chocolate pancakes on one side until golden brown on the underside and the batter sets at the edge, you'll also start seeing some bubbles over the top.
Tip #4 - we prefer to use a cast iron griddle pan/hot plate (no ridges) or skillet. They retain and maintain their heat more evenly.
Getting the perfect griddle temperature
Getting the right temperature will mean you'll see the chocolate pancakes puff up nicely when you flip them. This also prevents the cocoa powder from burning, allowing you to make the fluffy pancake.
- Place your pan on the stove and turn the stove on medium heat for 5 minutes and let your hot plate or skillet come to an even temperature across it.
- Turn the stove temperature down to low-medium (for us this is setting 3 on the stove out of 9). Leave at this new temp for 2-3 minutes to cool slightly and acclimatise and then spray your skillet with oil and wipe it off with a kitchen towel so there is a thin layer of oil ready for you to cook your chocolate pancakes on.
What to serve with these pancakes
Here are some suggestions for what to serve with these epic chocolate pancakes if you need ideas:
- Maple syrup
- Chocolate sauce
- Tahini maple syrup
- Squirty cream
- Honey
- Berries
- Various seasonal fruit
- Chocolate chips
- Bacon
Recipe FAQs
Using the correct level of raising agents will allow you to create the fluffiest pancake. The baking powder used in this recipe activates when heat is applied in the cooking process. The gluten that develops in the batter from the flour will trap the carbon dioxide released from the baking powder and provide the fluffiness we are wanting in our pancakes.
Yes, the pancake batter in this recipe is rested for 5 minutes to ensure the flour is hydrated. This helps build the gluten, releases the starches and protein to give the pancake structure. Doing this resting step provides a structure for the carbon dioxide released from the baking powder to get trapped in, giving the pancake more lift.
We’ve tested this pancake a couple of ways.
Mixed in the batter - We’ve found the most effective way to make these chocolate pancakes is to stir the chocolate chips throughout the batter which encases them and allows them to get all melted and gooey inside the pancake.
Dropping them into the cooking batter - Once you have poured the batter onto the hot plate you can drop a sprinkling of chocolate chips on top of the wet side. We’ve found that in this recipe they leave holes around the chocolate chips rather than forming a uniform pancake.
Either way works, but adding the chocolate chips into the batter looks best, but do what you prefer!
Yes! Just allow them to cool on a wire rack and when they are cool:
At room temperature - Put them in a reusable sealable bag or container, they will be good for up to 3 days.
In the freezer - Freeze them on a baking sheet in a single layer, place in a freezer bag and keep them in the freezer for up to 3 months.
To reheat - either warm in the toaster or in a 150C/300F oven for 3-5 minutes until warmed through.
Related recipes
Love these fluffy chocolate pancakes? We knew you would! You'll also want to check out our other breakfast recipes, here are some suggestions to get you started:
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Fluffy Chocolate Pancakes
Ingredients
Wet Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ¼ cup tahini
- 3 tablespoons soft brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup milk
Dry ingredients
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
Mix-ins
- ⅓ cup chocolate chips, to mix in
Salted Tahini Maple Syrup
- 2 tablespoons tahini
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- pinch of sea salt
Instructions
Mix the wet ingredients
- In a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil, tahini, sugar, egg and vanilla until smooth.1 tablespoon olive oil, ¼ cup tahini, 3 tablespoons soft brown sugar, 1 egg, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Gradually add the milk, whisking until all the wet ingredient are mixed together.1 cup milk
Mix the batter
- In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt.1 cup all purpose flour, 3 tablespoons cocoa powder, 2 teaspoons baking powder, ½ teaspoon salt
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet and whisk until well combined but don’t over mix. Leave to rest 5 mins. Stir in the chocolate chips.⅓ cup chocolate chips
Cooking the pancakes
- Preheat your hot plate or frying pan over a medium heat whilst the batter rests. Turn it down to medium low a few minutes before the batter is ready.
- Use a ¼ cup measure to scoop the mixture onto the preheated hot plate or pan.
- Cook on medium low heat for 2 ½ mins until set at the edges and golden on the underside. You might see some bubbles on top of the pancake too. Flip and cook for another ten seconds.
- Keep the pancakes warm in a low oven whilst using the rest of the batter to make all 10 pancakes.
Salted Tahini Maple Syrup
- Add the tahini, maple syrup and salt to a small bowl. Whisk together until smooth and drizzle over the warm chocolate pancakes. Yum!2 tablespoons tahini, ¼ cup maple syrup, pinch of sea salt
Notes
- Nutrition is for one pancake without the additional tahini maple syrup drizzle.
- The tahini maple syrup recipe yields about ⅓ cup - double if you like lots of syrup!
- Preheat the griddle pan to ensure even cooking of your pancakes.
Abby says
I love fluffy pancakes and these definitely hit the mark!