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Ah, Pancake Day, one of our favourite February celebrations. Whether you usually keep your crepes classic with a squeeze of lemon and a sprinkle of sugar, or you prefer going down the savoury route, we’re here to offer a different angle: chocolate pancakes. Rich and decadent, chocolate pancakes are the ultimate Shrove Tuesday treat.
Read on for some of the most delicious ways to incorporate cocoa into your pancakes.
Why add chocolate to your pancakes?
We may be a little biased, but we reckon most dishes can be improved with a little bit of chocolate — and pancakes are no exception. The beauty of chocolate pancakes is that you can tailor this indulgent delight to your taste preferences. Are you a fan of deep, dark chocolate with a high cocoa percentage? Or do you prefer the sweet and creamy notes of white chocolate?
Incorporate cocoa into your batter, drizzle a little melted chocolate on your stack or load it up with chocolate truffles and nibbles — the choice is yours! Either way, the addition of chocolate makes these iconic breakfast treats all the more decadent and special.
1. Chocolate chip pancakes
Straightforward and delicious, chocolate chip pancakes are the ideal way to add cocoa to your Shrove Tuesday. If you already have a tried and tested pancake recipe, you can simply add a handful of good-quality chocolate chips into the batter before frying it up. Otherwise, why not give this chocolate chip pancake recipe from BBC Good Food a try?
Milk and dark chocolate chips work well, as they offer a depth of flavour that will complement the sweetness of your pancake mix. If you want more texture, you could chop up a chocolate bar instead. This will result in chunkier pieces of chocolate that melt beautifully within the pancake mix.
2. Chocolate banana-oat pancakes
If you’d prefer an oat-based pancake mix, this recipe from Simply Delicious offers a satisfying alternative to the classic. It uses oats in place of plain or self-raising flour and gets a gorgeous gooey texture from the addition of bananas — not to mention a lovely sweet flavour. Wondering where the chocolate is? That comes in the form of delicious cocoa powder.
However, we recommend adding a drizzle of Love Cocoa melted dark chocolate along with the berry topping this recipe suggests.
3. Vegan chocolate pancake recipe
Are you looking for a vegan chocolate pancake recipe? Make sure your plant-based pals don’t miss out with this yummy recipe from Nora Cooks. Complete the dish with a generous spoonful of melted chocolate — explore our vegan-friendly chocolate range for inspiration.
For a grown-up option, you could even add a glug of our irresistible Chocolate & Cacao Nib Gin Liqueur. Just bear in mind this is probably best for an evening pancake dessert rather than a pre-work breakfast!
4. Chocolate-filled crepes
Most of the recipes here are geared more towards thick American-style pancakes. However, if you prefer the finer texture of a crepe, this option is for you. BBC Good Food has a great recipe that makes the perfect base so you can get creative with your chocolate fillings.
While your crepes are cooking, melt a bar of your favourite Love Cocoa chocolate in a bain-marie and prepare any other toppings you fancy. Why not try these options?
Plate up your crepe and add a generous layer of melted chocolate — white, dark, and milk are all perfect. Now, you can load up your toppings as you wish. Fold your crepe in half and tuck in!
Top tips for making the best chocolate pancakes
Whichever recipe you try this Pancake Day, here are some hints and tricks to help you get the most delicious and satisfying results.
Use high-quality cocoa powder and chocolate
As with all baking endeavours, your pancakes will only be as good as your ingredients. So, when choosing your cocoa powder, go for a high-quality option. Likewise, if you’re using real chocolate, make sure you look for bars with a high cocoa butter content for the best melt.
Where possible, look for chocolate that’s produced in a sustainable and ethical way, too.
Always mix your dry ingredients thoroughly
It can be tempting to forgo the whisk but mixing your dry ingredients before adding the wet ones will make sure your pancakes rise evenly.
Try using buttermilk
If you have some to hand, buttermilk will give your pancakes a fluffy texture like no other — and impart a delicious tangy flavour. You can also create the same effect by combining your regular milk with a tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice. Let the mixture sit for 5-10 minutes before adding it to your pancake batter.
Vegan? No problem — you can achieve the same results by adding vinegar or lemon juice to plant milk, too.
Don't overmix the batter
While it’s important to combine all your ingredients well, overmixing can lead to tough, rubbery chocolate pancakes. For best results, mix until the ingredients are combined, but there are still a few lumps in the batter.
Cook at the right temperature
It’s essential to get your pan or griddle to the right temperature before adding your pancake batter. Too low, and you might end up with undercooked, gooey pancakes; too high and you’ll have singed edges. Aim for a middle-high heat.
Flip carefully
Timing is crucial when it comes to successful pancake flipping. Wait until bubbles start to form and burst on the surface of your pancake before flipping. Then cook the other side until it’s golden brown.
Make the most of your chocolate pancakes with Love Cocoa
Whichever chocolate pancake variety you fancy, add a premium element with chocolate from Love Cocoa. We put care and attention into each and every one of our truffles, hot chocolate packs, and chocolate bars. We also want to give back — that’s why we plant one tree for every chocolate bar purchased.
For chocolate that the planet will love just as much as you do, shop at Love Cocoa this Pancake Day.
