These chocolate pancakes are soft, fluffy, and full of rich chocolate flavor. The best part is that it just takes two ingredients to turn an ordinary box of pancake mix into a breakfast that feels a little more special.
These Easy Chocolate Pancakes Were a Sleepover Hit
I usually make my chocolate pancakes from scratch, but one year, when my daughter (the chocoholic in our family) had friends over for a sleepover, I decided to skip measuring everything out and use pancake mix instead. They were such a hit that her friends talked about that breakfast for years.
This recipe makes enough pancakes for the whole family, and I’ve included half-batch measurements in the recipe notes for days when you don’t need quite as many.
What You’ll Need
I use complete pancake mix, the just-add-water kind, so you don’t need eggs or milk. Unsweetened cocoa powder gives the pancakes their rich chocolate flavor, while sugar balances the cocoa’s bitterness. Add cold water according to the package directions for 2 cups of mix, since the amount can vary by brand.
How to Make Them
- Make the batter.
Combine the mix, cocoa, and sugar. Then add water and mix. - Wait 5 minutes.
Let the batter sit on the counter to absorb the liquid, so your first pancake is as good as the last. - Cook.
Over medium heat, on a non-stick surface, for about 2 minutes per side. - Serve warm.
Top with powdered sugar, pancake syrup or chocolate syrup, strawberries, or sliced bananas.
Laura’s Tips for Great Pancakes
Yes! Unsweetened cocoa powder is not sweet enough on its own, so leaving out the sugar can make the pancakes taste bitter. The sugar balances the cocoa and gives the pancakes a pleasant chocolate flavor.
Yes, but follow the package directions for making pancakes with 2 cups of mix. Bisquick and other non-complete mixes require ingredients such as eggs, milk, butter, or oil. Add the cocoa powder and sugar to the dry mix, then prepare the batter with the ingredients listed on your box.
Absolutely! Fold ⅓ cup chocolate chips into the finished batter for extra chocolate flavor. You can also add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract with the water, 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon with the dry ingredients, or ½ teaspoon instant coffee to bring out the chocolate flavor.
Chocolate Pancakes with a Mix
Ingredients
- 2 cups complete pancake mix
- ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 ½ cups water*
Instructions
Make the batter:
- In a large bowl, combine the pancake mix, cocoa powder, and sugar. Pour in the cold water and mix until there's no visible flour left. Mixing more isn't better; it yields chewy pancakes.
- Let the batter sit for 5 minutes. This helps the dry ingredients absorb the liquid, resulting in a consistent batter that yields great pancakes from start to finish.
Cook the pancakes:
- Heat a large non-stick pan or griddle over medium heat. Once hot, grease it with oil, butter, or spray. Immediately pour ¼ cup of batter per pancake. Cook the first side for about 2 minutes. Flip the pancakes and cook the other side for a little less time. Avoid pressing down with the spatula; this makes pancakes dense.
- Remove the pancakes from the pan and serve them immediately, or keep them warm, covered on a plate or on a sheet pan in a 200F oven while you repeat the process with the remaining batter.
Serve & store:
- Serve these chocolate pancakes with powdered sugar, pancake syrup or chocolate syrup, fresh fruit (strawberries or banana slices).
- Store leftover cooked pancakes in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.
Notes
- Liquid measurements might vary by brand. Check the back of your box and follow the liquid amount for 2 cups of mix.
- Make half this recipe: 1 cup mix, 3 tablespoons cocoa powder, 2 tablespoons sugar, ¾ cup water.
- Biquick & non-complete mixes: these are the boxes that call for eggs, milk, and butter (or oil). Follow the ingredient measurements in the box for pancakes using 2 cups of mix. You’ll mix the cocoa powder and sugar amounts listed in this recipe into the dry ingredients bowl.
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract when adding the liquid
- 1 ½ teaspoons of ground cinnamon to the dry ingredients
- ⅓ cup of chocolate chips to the batter after it’s mixed
- ½ teaspoon instant coffee to the dry ingredients to bring out the chocolate flavor
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