Healthy chocolate pancakes friends. I know, I can’t believe it either, but let’s talk about the events at hand. I actually kind of like Valentine’s Day. I know it’s cool to hate on February 14th because it’s just.., like, a meaningless marketing shill instigated to drive capital to the card/gift companies maaaaan. Why do you have to prove your love on only one day of the year? Scoffs, grumbles, negativity, silliness.
I actually don’t care. Remember when you were young and we all gave valentines and treats to everyone in the class and it was cute, delicious, sparkly, corny, pink and red all over? It was such a fun write-off kind of day. Warm fuzzies. You got to make a pouch out of construction paper, decorate it with glittery paint and take it home all full of chocolate, marshmallow-y things, ju-jubes and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, California Raisins, Strawberry Shortcake etc punch-out valentine cards. It was, in sum, the best ever. Chocolate and paper goods are still 100% a thing I love 18 years later so why wouldn’t I love Valentine’s Day?
Something I don’t exactly love: big, shiny, monumental dinners on Cupid’s big night out. I usually can’t swing it because I’m working anyway but! I feel kinda bad for the service and cooking staff at any given restaurant, surrounded by so much lovey dovey-ness while being away from their special guy/gal. I don’t particularly aspire to contribute to that cruddy feeling while I’m picking away at some sort of heart-shaped root vegetable or cake or something in the candle light. I like going out for an amazing meal, don’t get me wrong. But for V day, home dates just feel right.
Enter these delicious pancakes. They’re chocolaty (duh), wholesome, easy to whip up and perfect for lazing about with your lovey in jammies with some fresh fruit, the newspaper, a thick wooly blanket, maybe some Curb Your Enthusiasm on in the background (SUCH a romantic choice, right?) and a hot, cozy pot of earl grey steeping away. Comforting, warm, close and sweet (and somewhat awkward at any given moment if Larry David is on your TV screen…). It’s perfect. These are also totally fine to make just for yourself. I make a single serving of pancakes about as often as I crave pancakes. Which is… crazy often. Whatever. It starts with self love, guys!
VEGAN COCOA PANCAKES RECIPE
Print the recipe here!
SERVES: 2-3
NOTES: Heart shapes! Go on. Do it.
1 cup non-dairy milk
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
1 cup light spelt flour (or whole wheat, all purpose etc)
2 tsp baking powder
¼ cup + 2 tbsp cacao/cocoa powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
pinch of salt
3 tbsp maple syrup (or agave nectar) plus extra for serving
1/4 cup liquid coconut oil (or other oil)
1.5 tsp vanilla extract
Mix the non-dairy milk and apple cider vinegar in a small bowl and set aside to curdle, about 5 minutes.
Mix the flour, baking powder, cocoa powder, cinnamon and salt together in a large bowl until combined. Add the curdled milk, maple syrup, coconut oil and vanilla. Mix with a wooden spoon until just combined. It should be a tad loose-seeming.
Heat a large, non-stick pan over medium-low heat. Drop ¼ cup measures of the batter into the pan (not too many at a time!). When bubbles start to peak through the surface and you see a bit of light browning/crisping up on the underside, flip the pancakes over carefully, about 1-2 minutes. Repeat for the other side, remove from the pan and set aside on a covered plate to keep warm.
Serve with maple syrup, sliced bananas, berries or whatever other accompaniments you like.
Whoa. These are so yummy looking!
These pancakes look fantastic. Yum!!!! I have book marked the recipe to make next Sunday for my sweetie. Thanks for the idea :)
These look amazing! Beautiful photos too.
Ahh I miss those days of homemade construction paper Valentine’s too. Who didn’t love those chalky hearts with messages on them? This is perfect for the casual Valentine’s Day we’ll have. Breakfast for dinner, yes please :)
I think this can be Valentine’s dinner and my man will be happy! Thanks for sharing this!
I’ve always thought of Feb 14 as more of a share love and homemade valentines with everyone, rather than a big date night. The pancakes look wonderful!
These look fantastic! Lovely photos, too. And I love your blog design. So simple and clean!
Oh yum! I just need to get hubby to make these for v day for me :)
Oh my! These are heavenly treats…I don’t need to wait for Valentine’s Day to make these, I am making a bunch today. Yummy!
oh my oh my…… if only a guy would make this for me…or anything!
Would regular milk work for this recipe?
Hi Sarah,
Regular milk would work just fine. Or you can swap out the non-dairy milk and the apple cider vinegar with 1 cup of buttermilk if you have some :)
-L
i am a terrible gift giver but i love love spoiling hugh with good food for holidays. I’m excited for chocolate pancakes!!
Gorgeous photos! Mmmmm delicious looking pancakes
These look SO good. I love pancakes and I love chocolate, and I can’t imagine anything better than these two things together!! Thanks for the inspiration. And btw, I love valentine’s day too, and I don’t care who knows it :)
XOXO
D
This recipe stole my heart! :) I’m a huge fan of vegan pancakes (I have many recipes on my blog) and this one is definitely on my list of what I’d love to make. Wonderful photography too!
Yum! Can’t wait to make these on St.Valentines day…or every other day of the week! Our Food Lovers would love to read about this on our community page! http://bit.ly/yI0sZU
These look delicious. Curious, though: What does the curdled milk bring to the table?
Hi Ani, the curdled milk thing is meant to evoke buttermilk because it seems to be pretty classic in the realm of pancakes. It adds moisture, a little tang and helps with the rise too! Hope that clarifies!
-L
Your pancakes are incredible! They’re so intensely dark and layering with bananas is perfect… I have featured this post in today’s Friday Food Fetish roundup. Let me know if you have any objections and thanks for the inspiration
This.is.beautiful. I love the picture with the fork and last bite. And the heart! Love.
We made these w/strawberries & syrup, they were like molten chocolate cake for breakfast. Highly recommended. Next time we’ll try them with bananas & coconut whipped cream. Thank you for the post!
Made this today and it was absolutely delicious. Thank you!
Hi these look delicious …what kind of whole wheat flour would they work with ? Like whole wheat pastry flour right ? Or How can I make this gluten free ? What flours should I use ? Thank u !
Hi Afrina,
Yes, wholewheat pastry flour would be a good substitute for the light spelt. Alternatively, if you’d like to go gluten free, this homemade GF flour mix has worked out great for me in almost everything I’ve tried it in: http://www.artofglutenfreebaking.com/2009/11/the-story-behind-my-gluten-free-flour-mix/ Hope that helps you :)
-L
Looks so delicious. My BF loves it when I make pancakes for him. He also loves chocolate, and he loves peanut butter on his pancakes. This might be a match made in heaven.
Hi Laura!
We just polished these delicious pancakes off and wanted to thank you for sharing your amazing creations with the rest of us. I have used chocolate hazelnut milk and hazelnut oil to round out the flavor and it was just great! Thank you SO much!
Delicious pancakes! I’ll try to make them tomorrow morning.
I made these pancakes today and OH MY GOODNESS THEY TASTED SOOOO GOOD. Thank you so much for this recipe, I will certainly make them again very soon. <3
I made these this morning for my kids as part of a birthday breakfast. They loved it, and you may have just turned me into a vegan! I couldn’t believe how light and fluffy they were. These are the best pancakes I’ve ever had! Thank you for the recipe :)
The pancakes are fluffy but they don’t hold well. Will add flaxmeal in future. Thanks for the recipe!
Great recipe, I can’t wait to make!
These pancakes look delicious! Saved this page, can’t wait to give them a go.
hi :) would they be ok if I used normal milk?
Yes, this recipe would definitely work with regular dairy milk.
-L