Caramel Chocolate Pancakes

These caramel chocolate pancakes are a delicious dessert and/or breakfast on weekends. They are vegan, gluten-free, can be made refined sugar-free, and nut-free.

📝 Ingredients

• 1 cup oats ((see notes))
• 1/2 cup rice flour (white)
• 3 tbsp cacao powder
• 2 tbsp coconut sugar ((or brown sugar))
• 1 tbsp chia seeds (ground (or flax seeds))
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1 scant cup plant-based milk
• 1 small banana ((see notes))
• 1 tbsp blackstrap molasses ((optional))
• 1 tbsp lemon juice (or lime juice)
• coconut oil ((for frying))
• 3 tbsp maple syrup ((or agave syrup))
• 1/4 cup sunflower seed butter (or nut butter of choice (see notes))
• 1 tbsp cacao butter ((melted))

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1--- Caramel ---
2. 2Put all "caramel filling" ingredients into a small bowl and stir with a whisk.
3. 3Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and spoon about 1 heaped tbsp onto the paper. Use the back of the spoon to spread it out into a round disc about 7-8 cm in diameter (see photo above in the text). Make 6 discs in total.
4. 4Put the pan into the freezer for about 20 minutes.
5. 5--- Pancakes ---
6. 6Meanwhile, put all dry pancake ingredients into a bowl and stir with a whisk.
7. 7Process all wet pancake ingredients (except the oil) in a blender.
8. 8Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl of dry ingredients and stir with a whisk to combine. Let the batter rest for a few minutes.
9. 9Once the caramel discs are firm, you can start making the pancakes: Preheat a skillet to low-medium heat and add a little bit of oil (or you can use cooking spray).
10. 10Pour about 1 1/2 heaped tbsp of the pancake batter into the skillet, spread it and place 1 frozen caramel disc into the center of the batter. Add more batter (approx. 1 tbsp) to cover the caramel.
11. 11Put a lid on the skillet and cook the pancake for approximately 3 minutes. The lid is important, otherwise, the pancake won't cook properly because of the frozen caramel disc! Flip the pancake and cook if from the other side for a further 1-2 minutes. Continue with the remaining pancake batter. (Tip: By using two skillets at the same time you'll save time).
12. 12Enjoy with banana slices and a chocolate sauce!