So, I have a problem. Well, maybe its not so much a problem as it is an obsession.
Pancakes. Every weekend. I love playing around with different batter recipes and deciding what toppings or flavors will get mixed in.
Strawberry, mango, coconut anyone?
This weekend I went a little overboard. In a good way of course!
That my friends, is a stack of chocolate-chocolate chip cherry pancakes! HOLY DECADENCE! I felt like I was eating cake for breakfast. The pancakes came out perfectly fluffy with melty chocolate chips and warm fresh cherries inside. Step aside boring pancake batter, there’s a new girl in town!
These are perfect “special occasion” pancakes-they just take a bit of prep time. I wasn’t celebrating anything when I made them, I just had the ingredients and the idea!
If you like black forest cake, these pancakes are for you!
Chocolate-Chocolate Chip Cherry Pancakes
Makes 8 pancakes
Ingredients:
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar, divided
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup milk (I used almond-coconut)
~1/2 cup fresh brewed coffee (or instant)
2 TBS coconut oil (liquid)
1 egg
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 TBS agave nectar
~ 1/2 cup chocolate chips (I used one handful)
~1 lb fresh cherries
Topping:
chocolate chips
cherries
coconut whipped cream
How to:
First, the painfully slow process of depitting and chopping the cherries. I don’t have a pitter, so I used a paring knife to cut up the cherries. By the time I was done, I filled a 1 qt pyrex bowl of the chopped cherries.
Put about half of the cherries in a saucepan with 1/4 cup sugar. Cook on low heat, stirring occasionally to allow the cherries to reduce to a sauce.
Meanwhile, prepare your batter:
Combine all of the dry ingredients (flours, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cocoa powder) in a large bowl. Stir to combine.
In a medium bowl, combine the milk, coffee, oil, egg, vanilla and agave nectar. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir just to combine. Fold in the chocolate chips and about 1/2 cup chopped cherries. Let the batter sit 5-10 minutes. It will be thick!
On a hot greased griddle, pour 1/4 cup of the batter and spread to create your pancake. Flip after several minutes, when bubbles have formed and the sides of the pancake are starting to cook.
Serve with cherry sauce, chocolate chips, coconut whipped cream and any remaining cherries. Enjoy!
