These Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Pancakes are made healthy with whole grains and are a little decadent with the addition of chocolate chips!
When I was little, I had a best friend in the neighborhood by the name of Karen. She was strikingly pretty for a little girl. I wanted her perfect, shiny, thick hair, she was always one to attract the boys, and she had eyebrows like Brooke Shields. I always thought Karen’s family was a bit exotic and interesting too. Her Mom was an interior designer and was always dressed very fashionably, her Dad was a Tom Selleck look-alike with the perfect mustache, and her older brother was seemingly obsessed with Elton John and the piano. Karen’s house was the place to be, and what I remember most about hanging out at her house was eating Chocolate Chip Pancakes.
Every time I spent the night at Karen’s place, her Mom had Chocolate Chip Pancakes waiting for us in the morning. This chocolate-inside-pancakes thing was such a foreign concept to me. Sure, my Mom made buttermilk pancakes on weekends, but certainly never with chocolate chips. It was a real treat. I’ve turned Mrs. E’s pancakes into whole wheat chocolate chip pancakes.
I decided on a whole wheat pancake base because I was trying to balance a little bit of healthy along with the chocolate. The pancake batter is thick- don’t worry about it, since this will help you create a nice, fluffy, thick pancake that is able to hold those chips.
I like to use BIG chocolate chips- like these Ghirardelli Bittersweet ones. Flip your pancake when the edges kind of curl under and look dry. Medium-low heat is perfect.
How can anyone not crack a smile when they’re making breakfast with a happy-face spatula?
Here’s what happens if you get too anxious and try to flip your pancake before it’s ready to be flipped. Too gooey.
I love how these whole wheat chocolate chip pancakes taste. They are a big, fluffy pancake, and I added plenty of chocolate chips to make them extra yummy. The chocolate becomes all melted and wonderful during the cooking of the pancakes. You can add as many chocolate chips as you’d like. I definitely sprinkle more on top!
People are Kind:
Karen’s family was always very kind to me and got me through some tough times in those younger years. I moved away from the neighborhood when I was about 9 years old, and- strangely enough- Karen and I have kept in touch ever since. I’ve only seen her a few times since we were teenagers, and we’re friends on Facebook and Instagram. She still reminds me of Brooke Shields. And I’ve always wondered if her Mom is still making chocolate chip pancakes? Maybe for her grandchildren now? So these whole wheat chocolate chip pancakes, Mrs. E., are for you 🙂
If you are a lover of pancakes, be sure to check out my very popular recipe for Cinnamon Roll Pancakes. And I adore my friend Heidi’s Chocolate Pancakes too.
![stack of chocolate chip pancakes with syrup dripping off](https://www.recipegirl.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Whole-Wheat-Chocolate-Chip-Pancakes-300x300.jpeg)
Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Pancakes
Ingredients
- 1¾ cups whole wheat flour
- 2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1½ cups buttermilk
- 1 large egg
- 3 tablespoons canola or vegetable oil
- chocolate chips, as many as desired!
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
- In a large bowl, whisk together buttermilk, egg and oil. Stir in the dry ingredients and mix just until moistened (lumpy batter is what you're looking for). The batter will be pretty thick, but if it seems a little too thick for your taste, you can mix in a couple more tablespoonfuls of buttermilk.
- Heat a large skillet or griddle and spray with nonstick spray. Scoop the batter onto a heated surface (I like to use an ice cream scoop), spread into a circle and position a few chocolate chips on top. Cook over medium-low heat for about 1 to 2 minutes, until the edges begin to curl under a bit and appear dry when you place the spatula underneath. Flip and cook the other side for a minute or two. Your pancakes should be golden brown on both sides. Serve immediately with syrup.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Those look so good! What a great way to sneak in little healthy stuff, too!
I love the story and the pancake and the spatula too. This post made me smile… I made panceakes last week and would trade it for your chocolate chip studded ones. My stack was sad and disastrous and if you come check it out (i posted it two posts ago) you’ll know what I mean haha.
Thanks for the SMILE
malou
What a fun story and great memories! It’s funny the things we remember as kids. These pancakes look absolutely delicious, what kid could resist them…..or any adult 🙂 Have a great weekend Lori!! xoxo
These look sensational with fun photos too!
Ha! I just bought that very same spat for my hubby (the pancake maker) last Christmas. And it does make us smile. We only do whole wheat pancakes here, and he grinds the wheat. Very hearty, very yummy! Love the story and connection of good food with sweet memories.
These look delicious, Lori! And I just love that spatula.
Ghirardelli chips are the BEST! I use them in all my cookie and pancake recipes, too.
LOL! I love that spatula. A reunion between you and Karen would be awesome. Sweet story.
Aww love this story Lori! My family was always the chocolate chip pancake family on my street. I loved my mom for that. These look so awesome. Great recipe!
This story is so sweet Lori! I love nostalgic food.