There’s absolutely no reason why everyone can’t enjoy pancakes. I’ve made many types of pancake over the years, including vegan and gluten-free ones. These vegan chocolate banana pancakes are not only delicious and easy to make, but they’re healthy too. Banana replaces sugar as a sweetener in this recipe and the pancakes are made with wholemeal flour. Cocoa powder gives them a good hit of chocolate and you can add superfood flavourings if you so wish.
Shrove Tuesday
Just in case anyone’s missed it, today is Shrove Tuesday, otherwise known as Pancake Day or in French, Mardi Gras, meaning Fat Tuesday. Shrove Tuesday is an important day in the Christian calendar, being the last day before Ash Wednesday when Lent begins.
Traditionally, it’s a day of celebration and feasting when all of the good things in the house are eaten up to make way for the long Lenten fast. This was especially true of butter, eggs and milk. As we know, butter, eggs and milk (with a little flour) make pancakes. So it’s easy to see how a tradition of making pancakes on Shrove Tuesday came about. This is reckoned to be at some point in the Middle Ages.
Tossing pancakes is all part of the fun. If you’re feeling energetic as a result of all those carbs, you can burn them off in a traditional pancake race: pancakes are carried in a frying pan and tossed at the start and finish of the race, with points given for the best flip. I was surprised to learn that the first one recorded was as far back as 1445 in Olney, Buckinghamshire.
Vegan Chocolate Banana Pancakes
Pancake Day cannot go unmarked and in time honoured tradition, I made pancakes for breakfast. In a slightly less traditional approach, I added cocoa and banana to my batter – more Mardi Gras in sunny Rio than in grey rainy Cornwall. I had a surfeit of bananas and reckoned one of those would make a healthier sweetener than sugar.
Generally, I make my pancakes with wholemeal flour, usually wholemeal spelt flour. I find this a lighter flour for baking and it’s also easier to digest than more modern flours. If you’re new to baking with wholemeal flours, why not try these vegan chocolate banana pancakes with a mix of half wholemeal and half plain. It’s a good starting point.
I like to flavour my pancakes with maca powder or baobab for a mini health kick. But sometimes I’ll use cinnamon or even vanilla instead.
I was really pleased I didn’t add any sugar to the mix as the banana made the pancakes quite sweet enough. This meant we were able to add maple syrup to suit our individual preferences.
The first time I made these vegan chocolate banana pancakes, we topped them with maple syrup and sliced nectarines. This made a surprisingly good combination and the nectarines were a perfect foil for the carbohydrate laden pancakes giving freshness, acidity and added flavour.
It’s not often we manage pancakes for breakfast on Shrove Tuesday, but fate was with us that first day. CT reckoned the pancakes were robust and hearty and not too sweet, just what was needed to set him up for the day. They had a real taste of the tropics with the chocolate and cinnamon flavours coming through loud and strong and the banana a faint undertow.
Vegan Chocolate Banana Pancakes: Step-by-Step
Making pancakes is ever so easy. It’s just a case of mixing wet ingredients into dry. But if you’re new to pancake making, I have a few tips to help you on your way.
Step 1. Blend Banana
Whizz the banana, milk, oil and salt up with a jug or stick blender. If you add the salt at this stage, it gets more evenly distributed.
You can mash the banana by hand, and then whisk in the milk, oil and salt, but a blender will give a smoother result. The more the banana is blended in, the better the flavour and distribution of sweetness.
I use my glass jug blender for this as it gives a really quick and smooth result.
Step 2. Measure Dry Ingredients
Measure the dry ingredients into a large mixing bowl. Whisk them together to combine, then using the whisk, create a large well in the middle.
I added a heaped teaspoon of baobab to my pancakes this time around. It has a lovely fruity flavour and is packed with beneficial nutrients.
Step 3. Whisk In Wet Ingredients
Pour the banana batter into the well. Use the whisk to stir the wet ingredients into the dry ones, working from the inside out. Keep going until you’ve mixed everything together.
You don’t have to use a whisk for this, but it works well and saves on washing up.
Step 4. Bake The Pancakes
Lightly oil a non stick frying pan. I use my cast iron skillet for baking pancakes. It does a wonderful job and the pancakes don’t stick. But it is quite heavy.
Put the pan over a moderate heat. Too high and the pancakes will burn and not cook through properly, too low and they won’t rise.
Drop heaped tablespoons of batter into the pan. Three is the best number for a standard sized frying pan as you then have plenty of room to flip the pancakes over.
If the batter is quite thick, you might need to spread the pancakes out a bit with the back of a spoon so that they cook through properly. But if the batter is right, they will spread out naturally.
Bake for three to four minutes or until a number of bubbles have formed on top of the pancakes. Flip them over and allow them to cook for another two to three minutes.
Transfer the pancakes onto a plate and place in a low oven to keep warm until you’ve finished all of the batter. I make twelve pancakes with this amount of batter.
Serve three per person with your choice of toppings.
Toppings For Vegan Chocolate Banana Pancakes
Sliced banana and maple syrup is a favourite topping. However, most berries work really well with chocolate pancakes. Surprisingly so do sliced peaches or nectarines. If you like the idea of something creamy, try making cashew cream.
Pear Cashew Cream
I like to make fruity cashew cream for these pancakes as the fruit acts as a natural sweetener. Ripe pears give a delicious flavour as does a little sweet orange juice. This is how I make pear cashew cream.
- Soak 125g cashew nuts in warm water for at least an hour. Overnight is better if you can manage it.
- Drain and rinse the cashews in a sieve, then pop into a power blender.
- Add two sweet ripe pairs. Core them, but there’s no need to peel. Much of the beneficial nutrients are in the skins, so it’s a shame to waste them.
- Add a pinch of salt and 50 ml of water.
- Blend at a medium speed for a minute, then go as high as you can for thirty seconds or until the cream is beautifully smooth. If it’s a bit too thick for your liking, add in a little more water and pulse to combine.
Other Chocolate Banana Recipes You Might Like
- Baileys chocolate banana pie
- Banana flapjacks with coconut & white chocolate
- Chocolate banana cashew cake (vegan)
- Muscovado banana bread with chocolate chips
- Quick banana chocolate ice cream
- Tortilla wrap hack with banana, chocolate and peanut butter (vegan)
Keep in Touch
Thanks for visiting Tin and Thyme. If you make these vegan chocolate banana pancakes, I’d love to hear about it in the comments below. And do please rate the recipe. Have you any top tips? Do share photos on social media too and use the hashtag #tinandthyme, so I can spot them.
For more delicious and nutritious recipes follow me on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest. And don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to my weekly newsletter. Or why not join the conversation in our Healthy Vegetarian Whole Food Recipes Facebook Group?
If you’d like more pancake recipes, follow the link and you’ll find I have quite a lot of them. All delicious and nutritious, of course.
Choclette x
Chocolate Banana Pancakes. PIN IT.
Vegan Chocolate Banana Pancakes – The Recipe
Vegan Chocolate Banana Pancakes
Ingredients
- 1 banana weighing about 125g with skin on – peeled
- 225 ml plant milk of choice (I use cashew, almond, hazelnut or oat milk)
- 2 tbsp sunflower oil or other flavourless oil
- 1 pinch sea salt (I use Himalayan pink rock salt)
- 200 g flour (I use wholemeal spelt flour, but most flours will work)
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1½ tbsp cocoa powder
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon baobab powder, maca powder or vanilla extract (optional)
Instructions
- Whizz the banana, milk, oil and salt up with a jug or stick blender. If using vanilla extract, add at this point too.1 banana, 225 ml plant milk of choice, 2 tbsp sunflower oil, 1 pinch sea salt
- Whisk the flour, baking powder, cocoa powder and cinnamon, maca or baobab if using.200 g flour, 2 tsp baking powder, 1½ tbsp cocoa powder, 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- Make a well in the centre and pour in the banana mixture.
- Whisk or stir from the centre outwards gradually incorporating the flour until all is just about mixed.
- Heat a frying pan over medium heat and add a small knob of coconut oil or a small amount of sunflower oil.
- Place one to two tablespoonfuls of batter in the frying pan and leave to cook for a three to four minutes or so, until bubbles start to appear on the surface of the batter. Three pancakes at a time works well in a standard sized frying pan.
- Flip the pancakes over and cook for a further couple of minutes.
- Remove onto a plate and keep warm in a low oven whilst you cook the rest of the pancakes and the batter is finished.
- Serve with your choice of toppings (see below for suggestions).
Notes
Nutrition Estimate
Post updated January 2022
Angela says
Love pancakes, recipe saved! I’m inspired by the pear cashew cream!
Choclette says
That pear cashew cream is really delicious and well worth trying.
Janice says
Such an interesting recipe, I love the addition of the cocoa to the banana pancakes!
Choclette says
Well, you know me. Chocolate often makes things even better.
Carrie says
Yummy, chocolate and banana is one of my favourite sweet pairings. Love your suggestion of cashew cream too, so perfect for a special weekend breakfast.
Choclette says
Thank you. Cashew cream is a wondrous thing and it goes perfectly with pancakes.
nancy says
every day should be pancake day and i’d eat these chocolate pancakes !!
Choclette says
Hahaha, not sure I’d want pancakes every day, but definitely more than once a year.
Lesley says
Mmm chocolate and banana pancakes with a touch of cinnamon, what a delicious flavour combination, I’ll have to try this out.
Choclette says
I’m a bit hooked on chocolate and cinnamon, they go together so well. Hope you enjoy the pancakes.
Kate - Gluten Free Alchemist says
Shockingly, I’ve never tried making vegan pancakes and definitely need to try! Pinned to remind me of a great recipe xx
Choclette says
Thank you Kate. It’s not really shocking, but it is useful to have alternative vegan recipes up one’s sleeve.
nancy says
everyday should be pancake day with this recipe!
Choclette says
Hahaha, I think I might get fed up with pancakes everyday, but they’re a great treat from time to time.
Jacqui says
This recipe was perfect for my Sunday brunch! Love it – thanks for sharing.
Choclette says
Pancakes make such a good weekend brunch. Thanks for letting us know you liked them.
Helen @ Fuss Free Flavours says
Love the inclusion of the banana. You know me, add extra fruit or veg at every opportunity.
Lou, Eat Your Veg says
What’s not to love with choccie banana pancakes, I must admit to having not thought of adding choc to the pancake batter, but would be a sure hit with the monsters. Maybe next weekend!
Jane Sarchet says
Love the idea of chucking the banana into the batter mix, and of course the addition of chocolate is always going to be a crowd pleaser!
Janie x
Jacqueline Meldrum says
I love that you added banana to the pancakes Choclette. Chocolate and banana is a winning combo in my books.
Maya Russell says
I’ve never thought of putting chocolate powder into a pancake mixture. I’ll do that next time I make pancakes.
GG says
Chocolate pancakes, really delicious. GG
Janice Pattie says
Loving the chocolate pancakes and with a fruit portion too – heavenly!
Baking Addict says
I like the sound of chocolate and banana pancakes. I think you can guess what I’d like to add to it – peanut butter!
Angie Schneider says
These pancakes look so soft and delicious.
Ren Behan says
Ooh I need no excuse to make these, they look delicious!
Nayna Kanabar says
Love these chocolicious pancakes. They look delicious with the peaches.
Sarah Trivuncic says
I prefer scotch pancakes to crepes – they’re easier to flip over! Loving the peach and chocolate combo 🙂
Deena Kakaya says
There is no way anyone could resist those xx
Tina Anand says
These look delicious Choclette. I will be making pancakes tonight as we don’t eat meat, fish or eggs on Tuesday 🙁 You can imagine how jealous I was getting seeing everyone’s lovely pancake photos. Will be keeping it simple with a drizzle of lemon and sprinkle of sugar.
Alison says
Now these look gorgeous, yum
Karen S Booth says
I knew you would make chocolate pancakes Choclette and these look delicious and the topping is wonderful!
Sylvia F. says
These sound fabolous! Love pancakes in any form and after all these delicious crepes yesterday I’m suffering from pancake withdrawal 😀
Katie says
These sound delicious, a great breakfast treat. Ive recently discovered that cinnamon and chocolate go well together, will have to try this. Bet the banana keeps them nicely soft and moist too
bangermashchat says
We make Scotch pancakes all the time, although for some reason we call them drop scones. But for some bizarre reason have never added chocolate. That’s about to change right now!
Jo says
I love your twist on chocolate banana pancakes, especially since chocolate and banana is usually my favourite pancake filling. I didn’t make any pancakes today (although I ate two at my brother’s!) but I might make some tomorrow.
belleau kitchen says
We stuffed our faces with pancakes tonight. Mushroom and cheese followed by lemon and sugar. Classic but soooo tasty. Your chocolate ones look so luscious!!
Heidi Roberts says
I like apples with my pancakes but my favourite fruit is blueberry!
fiona maclean says
I haven’t made pancakes OR doughnuts. I like chocolate on top of pancakes so perhaps I’d like it in the batter:)
Morgan @ Peaches, Please! says
Looks delicious. I love how everyone made pancakes for today, except for me. I made doughnuts… (shakes head at self)
Kate D says
Nice!!!! Chocolate pancakes are my sort of pancake……..Yummy….
Johanna GGG says
I quite fancy some chocolate pancakes – though your welsh pancakes look delicious too. We have had a bad year for getting into shrove tuesday but I am planning to make some sort of pancakes soon to make some sort of amends