Fluffy Chocolate Chip Pancakes
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While I am a fan of “breakfast for dinner” I’m just as big of a fan of actually eating breakfast for breakfast! This Chocolate Chip Pancake recipe is one of my favorite things – a nostalgic treat for me, and one I am so pleased to pass on to my children.
I mean, what possible other excuses can anyone have to eat chocolate at a mealtime and it be okay? My kids think this is very good indeed. They love my chocolate chip bread, and Chocolate Chip Muffins as well! And if you want chocolate chips after breakfast, my Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake is basically cookie vibes in cake form.
For an even more chocolate-packed stack, whip up my Double Chocolate Pancakes – they’re loaded with cocoa powder and melty chips for a next-level breakfast.
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They also love my Lemon Ricotta Pancakes, Banana Pancakes and Blueberry Pancakes. It stands to reason, right?
Why you’ll love this recipe
- This recipe uses pantry staples that you can easily find at any grocery store.
- Super easy to make, perfect for a Saturday morning!
What to serve with pancakes
Serve with your favorite toppings, like maple syrup, extra chocolate chips, honey, fresh fruit etc.
Frequently Asked Questions
Well, we could say that they’ve been eaten for centuries – and we’d be right! Because they are packed full of eggs, milk and butter, they’re popular right before Lent (Fat Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday). People would eat these before Lent, so as to use up ingredients that would otherwise spoil if not eaten. It’s the one final blow out meal before Lent (40 days of fasting) – so may as well make it good, right?
You can refrigerate it for about 24 hours, but I like to grease some mini muffin pans, and bake in the oven for 15 minutes at 350F. Pancake muffins!
Yes, but only about 24 hours. After that, they won’t be so fluffy when cooked.
Wait until bubbles form on top of the pancake, and then pop. The edges should be fairly set, but carefully slide a spatula under the pancake and check. Slide it all the way under and carefully flip, keeping the pancake close to the griddle so it doesn’t slap down and batter spreads.
Well… for me, the first pancake is a test. Of the heat of the griddle, and the pancake mix itself. More often than not the first pancake fails because of incorrect heat level on the griddle. So, make a small one, and see how it does – and adjust as necessary.
Tips for fluffy pancakes
Let the batter rest for a few minutes before cooking. This allows the baking powder to activate and create fluffiness.
Cook the pancakes on medium heat. High heat can cause the pancakes to burn on the outside before they are fully cooked on the inside.
Don’t over-mix your batter. Over-mixing makes tough, rubbery dense pancakes, you don’t want the gluten in the flour to develop, you want to mix until the dry ingredients are just mixed into the wet, but some small lumps will remain. It’s okay!!
Use a pastry brush and melted butter to efficiently grease your skillet or griddle.
Make mini sized pancakes! Just use a 1/4 cup and serve several on each plate. YUM!
Storing pancakes
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat in the microwave
Freezing instructions
This recipe can be frozen after cooking. Stack fully cooled pancakes between sheets of parchment and place in a freezer bag. Seal, label and freeze.
To use, heat in the oven or microwave until heated through.
Key Recipe Ingredients
Remember: this is just an overview and the why of the ingredients I choose here. The full list of ingredients and amounts is found in the printable recipe card below.
- Flour. Just your regular all-purpose flour.
- Baking Powder. This what makes the pancakes rise and become fluffy!
- Salt. Don’t skip this, but if you use salted butter, reduce it to 1/2 tsp.
- Sugar. Add more or less of this depending on your tastes.
- Milk. whole milk, 2%, almond milk, and soy milk all work just fine.
- Egg. Just 1 large egg, beat it!
- Butter. Melt the butter and add it to the wet ingredients and mix before adding the egg. Trust me.
- Vanilla Extract. This can be subbed out for almond extract if you prefer, but I love vanilla in pancakes!
- Chocolate Chips. You can add as many as you’d like, I do about a half cup
Recommended Equipment/Tools
- Mixing bowls
- Measuring cups
- Measuring Spoons
- Non-stick skillet
- Spatula
How to make Chocolate Chip Pancakes
Scroll for Recipe
This next part is only a photo tutorial of the recipe steps. The full list of ingredients, quantities and instructions can be found in the printable recipe card below.
Make the batter
Combine flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar in a large bowl. In a medium bowl, whisk together the milk, egg, butter, and vanilla.
Add the milk mixture to the flour mixture, and stir until the batter is JUST combined (see notes).
Add the chocolate chips and gently fold to combine.
Cook pancakes
Heat a large non stick griddle or fry pan skillet over medium-low heat, and grease lightly with butter.
Pour 1/2 cup batter into circles. Cook the first side, and flip once bubbles appear and sides are lightly golden brown. Cook the second side a few more minutes.
Serve with butter and maple syrup. Devour.
Making a big batch? Store pancakes on a baking sheet in the oven to keep warm while you use the rest of the batter.
More Pancake Recipes:
- Lemon Ricotta Pancakes. Fancy it up (and add protein!)
- Homemade Pancake Mix. A super simple mix to make ahead and keep in the pantry.
- Blueberry Pancakes. Fresh pancakes, bursting with juicy blueberries and with a hint of lemon (as well as a secret ingredient), these blueberry pancakes are a popular breakfast!
- Pumpkin Pancakes. Fluffy pumpkin pancakes made with real pumpkin, and warm pumpkin spices – these pretty pancakes are perfect for fall and taste amazing with just a little butter and syrup.
- Banana Pancakes. Packed with bananas, light and fluffy – this banana pancake recipe is super easy to make, any time of day!
- ALL EASY BREAKFAST RECIPES
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Update: This recipe was originally published in June of 2019. It was republished with updated photos in October of 2023.
Chocolate Chip Pancakes
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons white sugar
- 1.25 cups milk
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons butter melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Mix 1.5 cups all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt, and 2 tablespoons white sugar in a large bowl
- In another bowl, whisk together 1.25 cups milk, 1 egg, 2 tablespoons butter (melted), and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
- Add the milk mixture to the flour mixture, and stir until the batter is JUST combined (see notes).
- Add 1/2 cup chocolate chips and gently fold to combine.
- Heat a large non stick griddle or skillet over medium heat, and grease lightly with butter.
- Pour 1/2 cup batter into circles.
- Flip once bubbles appear and sides are lightly golden brown.
- Serve with butter and maple syrup.
- Devour.
Video
Notes
- Don’t over-mix your batter. Over-mixing makes tough and rubbery pancakes, you don’t want the gluten in the flour to develop, you want to mix until the dry ingredients are just mixed into the wet, but some small lumps will remain. It’s okay!!
- Use a pastry brush and melted butter to efficiently grease your skillet or griddle
- Make mini sized pancakes! Just use a 1/4 cup and serve several on each plate. YUM!
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We’ll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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About Kylee Ayotte
I am a born and raised New Zealander (a Kiwi), now living in Phoenix, Arizona. I’m happily married to the love of my life – a hot American boy I met while traveling the world. I’m a mama to 2 awesome little boys and love red things, rugby, cheesecake, and bacon. Mmmmm. Bacon. Meet Kylee
My 2 year old hums when she’s really enjoying whatever she’s eating. She doesn’t even realize she’s doing it. Has been doing it since she first started solids! So we all know we’ve got a winner with any dish when she starts to hum at first bite. Silence always means half the food is going in the trash. About an hour ago I found your recipe and made these for the kids. Didn’t taste before I gave them. Went to clean up, and I heard the hum!! So much humming!! Did a little jig, immediately bookmarked this recipe and then tasted it myself. Fluffy, just sweet enough, great texture, and incredibly easy to make. I only had 1T of butter left in my fridge and it still worked out perfectly. I won the breakfast battle with 2 toddlers this morning. Might just give them the rest for lunch and dinner.
I’ve tried a few pancake recipes and this is by far my favorite. Thank you so much!! My family loved them & it made me feel great about giving them food they enjoyed!!
I added a bit more vanilla (just for my own taste buds lol) but this recipe was perfect! I haven’t come across a fluffier pancake recipe yet! Thank you ☺️
I made these this morning for my son’s 4th birthday breakfast and our family loved them! I’ve often been disappointed with pancake recipes, but this one was simple and tasted great! I think we have a new birthday breakfast tradition 😊
This a breakfast favorite in our house! Such a fun twist on a classic!