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.
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.
Oh my, these are out of this world good!
Touching story, brings me back to childhood! Can’t wait to try these pancakes 🙂
I’m on a mission! The best way to have fluffy ww pancakes is to separate the eggs. Beat all the wet with the yolks, then fold in whipped egg whites at the end. Doesn’t even have to be gentle!
BTW, I have a gingerbread man spatula!
What a cute spatula! These pancakes looks absolutely fantastic! I remember when my parents would take us to IHOP as a kid and the chocolate chip pancakes were my absolute fave (they would always fashion the chips to where it would look like a smiley face – and to a 6 year old, that’s pretty awesome, hehe)
These look like a perfect Sunday morning breakfast, Lori! And I look forward to #chocolatechipweek 🙂
I love that spatula! Where did you get it?
These pancakes look so amazing! I love the story that goes with them
@Kat @ Cupcake Kat, The spatula was a free gift in a swag bag at a food conference 🙂
We totally love these and make them at least once a month. The kids prefer to eat them with a small amount of powdered sugar sprinkled on top and no syrup. However you eat them, they are definitely on my list of things to make often!! Thanks for sharing the wonderful story and memory with the rest of us.
Very sweet story. My best friend’s mom also made chocolate chip pancakes whenever I stayed over, and topped them with cream cheese and maple syrup. Yum! I never had pancakes with chocolate chips at home either, but I make them all the time now, and think of that friend and her family fondly.
These look scrumptious! And I want that happy face spatula. Wherever did you get it?
That spatula would make my morning. Every morning. As would having chocolate for breakfast. These look awesome!