These light and fluffy homemade chocolate chip pancakes are easy to make when craving something sweet for breakfast. Loaded with gooey chocolate chips, it’s a family favorite!
I have a big sweet tooth and love to enjoy indulgent breakfast recipes. On the weekends, you can find French toast, croffles or chocolate crepes being served for brunch.
Fluffy Chocolate Chip Pancakes
I adapted this easy chocolate chip pancakes recipe from my family’s favorite buttermilk pancakes and my kids love this version with chocolate chips even more! I have even made them into silver dollar pancakes and they are adorable mini sized!
My favorite way to enjoy a chocolate chip pancake topped with a peanut butter, sliced bananas and buttermilk syrup. These homemade pancakes are perfect for birthdays, Mother’s day, and Father’s day along with crepes and Belgian waffles of course!
Recipe Ingredients
These pantry staples come together quickly to create the ultimate breakfast treat but in a pinch I use my pancake mix.
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Butter: I use unsalted to be able to control the amount of salt in these chocolate chip pancakes.
- Flour: I use all-purpose. Learn how to measure flour without a scale for amazing results every time.
- Sugar: Just a little extra sweetness makes these taste great with or without maple syrup.
- Leavening agents: I use both baking powder and baking soda to add height and airiness.
- Salt: This helps balance and enhance all of the flavors.
- Buttermilk: This adds a little tang, as well as interacts with the leavening agents to make super fluffy pancakes..
- Eggs: The necessary binder that brings it all together.
- Vanilla extract: I love to add a little for a little boost of extra flavor.
- Chocolate chips: You can’t have chocolate chip pancakes without chocolate chips. I like to use mini semi-sweet chocolate or regular milk chocolate.
How to Make Chocolate Chip Pancakes
These chocolate chip pancakes couldn’t be easier and take less than 20 minutes to make a batch.
- Prepare griddle or skillet: Preheat a griddle to 325°F or a skillet over medium-high heat. Add butter to a microwave-safe bowl and melt in microwave. Set bowl aside to cool for about 3 minutes.
- Whisk batter ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Next add in buttermilk and melted butter and stir just until combined. Then mix in the eggs and vanilla, just until most of the lumps are gone and the batter is smooth. Fold in the chocolate chips.
- Cook pancakes: Coat the griddle (or skillet) with butter and pour 1/4 cup batter on top. Cook the pancakes until bubbles appear, about 2 minutes. Flip the pancakes and cook the other side for 1 minute, or just until lightly browned.
- Serve. Serve pancakes immediately with toppings of choice like butter, sliced bananas, syrup and even more chocolate chips. :) Enjoy!
Pancake Topping Ideas
There are plenty of delicious toppings to add when serving chocolate chip pancakes. The would all go so well together on a pancake charcuterie board.
- Butter
- Fresh or caramelized bananas
- Strawberries
- Buttermilk syrup
- Maple syrup
- Peanut butter
- Whipped cream
- Powdered sugar
- More chocolate chips!
Frequently Asked Questions
You can always freeze them before adding to the batter if you really want to stop them from melting. Mixing them in with the flour mixture also helps.
Buttermilk is definitely the secret to fluffy pancakes! The acidity in buttermilk helps to tenderize the pancakes, making them super soft and moist. Plus it helps give them height too, so each bite is perfectly light and airy. Trust me, once you make this version, you won’t go back to regular. They are so fluffy, moist and absolutely delicious.
If you sprinkle the chocolate chips on after the batter has been added to the griddle they will burn. The best way to prevent them from burning is to mix them into the batter.
If you aren’t planning on serving these pancakes right away, I have an easy tip that will help keep them warm and fresh. Simply place the cooked pancakes on a baking sheet and place in the oven at 175°F until ready to serve.
This will keep the pancakes just warm enough for serving, but won’t cook them any further. They’ll be perfectly fluffy, moist and ready to enjoy in a matter of seconds. So easy!
Freezing Tips
Another one of my favorite things about these pancakes is that they are super easy to freeze. I often double the recipe and store half in the freezer for an easy grab-and-go breakfast.
To freeze, let pancakes cool completely and then place in a large freezer bag. Store in freezer for use within 2-3 months.
When ready to eat, reheat pancakes in microwave or toaster oven for about 30 seconds or until warm. Top and enjoy!
Love easy pancakes recipes? Try these banana pancakes, sourdough pancakes or oatmeal pancakes, too!
More Fluffy Pancake Recipes
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Chocolate Chip Pancakes Recipe
Ingredients
- ¼ cup unsalted butter , more for the griddle
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 2 large eggs , whisked
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ – 1 cup chocolate chips , mix in more if desired
For serving: Syrup, whipped cream, peanut butter, bananas, strawberries
Instructions
- Preheat a griddle to 325°F, or a skillet over medium-high heat. Melt the butter in the microwave and set aside to cool for 3 minutes.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir in the buttermilk and melted butter just until combined. Mix in the eggs and vanilla just until most the lumps are gone and the batter is smooth. Fold in chocolate chips.
- Coat the griddle (or skillet) with butter and then pour 1/4 cup batter onto the heated griddle. Cook the pancakes until bubbles appear, about 2 minutes. Flip the pancakes and cook 1 minute, or just until lightly browned.
- Serve immediately with desired toppings or place pancakes on a baking sheet in the oven at 175°F to keep warm.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: American, Breakfast, Freezer-Friendly, Kid-Friendly, Sweet Breakfast
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
These were the lightest, fluffiest pancakes! So perfect; my kids have been begging me to make them again!
These pancakes have the best texture! So light and fluffy. I froze half of them for busy mornings.
We love to freeze them too! Glad you enjoyed the chocolate chip pancakes!
Kids love to have these chocolate chip pancakes! So fluffy and delicious. Another addition to my breakfast recipes, thanks Jamielyn!
This is a very good recipe! Although I sprinkle the chips over the pancake on the griddle and tap them into the batter so each pancake gets a healthy dose of chocolate and the batter prevents them from burning while cooking and it gives me options in case other family members don’t want chocolate in theirs.
Great tip! So glad you enjoyed the recipe, Bethany :)
I made them but instead of 2 bananas use 3 and it gives the cookie a more banana flavor.
Sounds delicious!
These chocolate chip pancakes were so good! What a great way to start the day!
My kids LOVE these!!! A must make, asap!! YUM!
Chocolate chips make everything better! I love to use them in the pancakes!
These pancakes are absolutely amazing! Fluffy goodness!
I know what I will be having for breakfast tomorrow! Nothing quite like chocolate pancakes to start my day!