Recipe: Single Serve Double Chocolate Protein Pancakes (Vegan & Gluten Free!)

I have always and will always be a chocolate girl.

Vanilla I can take or leave, strawberry is a hit or a miss, lemon is a no go when you're citrus intolerant and every other flavour doesn't really fuss me... but chocolate? You can rarely go wrong with chocolate. 

This single serve protein pancake recipe came about thanks to that love of chocolate. You see, I decided I reaaally wanted pancakes one morning, however, Jesse was still sleeping away and I didn't know if he'd want any too. 

I headed into the kitchen with a hungry tummy and decided to go with the craving and make a single serve batch of pancakes just for myself. But I didn't want just any pancakes... 

Since I was only cooking for myself and didn't have to worry about my weird husband who thinks chocolate for breakfast shouldn't be a thing (BLASPHEMY!), I decided that I wanted to create the chocolatiest of chocolate pancakes - and that's exactly what I created.

These pancakes are so easy to make and perfect for any fellow chocolate lover. If you want to dial down the chocolate level, just leave out the chocolate sauce and add peanut butter or your favourite pancake toppings instead. They're perfect eaten by themselves or loaded up with fresh fruit (especially strawberries!) - but I'll let you decide how to enjoy them!

So let me share the recipe with you! >> 

Single Serve Healthy Chocolate Protein Pancakes Recipe

serves one - or two if you don't have quite the appetite I do :P 

low fat, gluten free, high protein, vegan, sugar free option 

For the pancakes:

2 tsp (10g) cocoa powder 

1/4 cup (30g) unflavoured whey protein (or your favourite vegan protein powder)

1/4 cup (30g) buckwheat flour or gluten free plain flour 

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 cup (60g) unsweetened applesauce

~1/2 cup almond milk (use only as much as needed!)

1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar 

Maple syrup or stevia, to taste (use as much or as little as you like, depending on your tastes)

Pinch of salt

For the chocolate sauce:
Optional but recommended for chocoholics!

2 tsp cocoa powder

1-2 tsp maple syrup or liquid stevia, to taste

Enough water to make a thick sauce 

• In a bowl, mix all of your pancake ingredients, adding enough milk to make a reasonably thick pancake batter and sweetening to taste.
• Cook your pancakes in a lightly greased non-stick frying pan over a medium-low heat, flipping as soon as the underside of your pancakes is cooked and cooking just until your pancake is cooked through. Be careful not to overcook your pancakes so they don't dry out!
• Note: The batter will NOT bubble so keep an eye on it and flip it as soon as the underside is cooked! 
• Whilst your pancakes are cooking, make your chocolate sauce (if using!) adding enough water to make a thick sauce and sweetening to taste. 
• Serve your pancakes in a stack, topping with your chocolate sauce and any other desired toppings. 

But tell me, are you a chocolate fan? 

And are you a sweet or savoury breakfast lover?