Chocolate Chip Pancakes

I returned home yesterday from a lovely break in the Cotswolds. We ate alot of very good food and as a result i promised myself afew days of healthy eating and moderation. However, I woke up this morning with a sore throat, aches and shivers and the weather outside was grey and overcast. I needed something to brighten up my day and Joy The Bakers' recipe for Chocolate Chip Pancakes came to mind.

I have been following Joys' baking blog for awhile now. Its fun and light-hearted and her recipes are always inventive and very tempting. The buttermilk in these pancakes create a light and fluffy texture and the oozing chocolate chips makes them more indulgent than the average pancake. But adding a drizzle of Maple syrup on top of them takes these pancakes to another level...

Moderation totally out the window, happiness factor increased considerably. Everything looks better after a plate of these.

Recipe - Chocolate Chip Pancakes by Joy The Baker

I halved this recipe which made enough for 3 of us. As it is an american recipe, the measurements are in cups. If you are wanting to try US recipes, its worth buying a set of measuring cups which are readily available in supermarkets.

One thing i found with these pancakes was that despite cooking them on a low heat they burned quite easily. They do need constant checking of the sides to prevent them from overcooking.

2 eggs
2 cups plain flour
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups buttermilk
4 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled
½ teaspoons vanilla extract

1/2- 3/4 cup milk chocolate chips (depending on how chippy you feel)

oil or cooking spray (for cooking)

In a large bowl beat eggs. Add buttermilk, butter and vanilla and mix well. Add flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix well until mostly smooth. Fold in chocolate chips and let batter set for a few minutes.

Heat pan over medium heat. Add a teaspoon of oil to the pan or spray with cooking spray. You can test to see if the pan is hot enough by adding a few drops of water, if or when the drops start to dance its hot enough.

Pour 2 Tablespoons of batter onto the griddle. Cook on the first side until bubbles that form start to pop. You can also gently lift up the pancake to make sure the bottom is not overcooking, if it is the pan may be too hot and you will need to adjust the heat. Flip the pancake over with a spatula and cook until golden brown. Repeat until all the batter is gone. Let cooked pancakes rest on a heat proof plate in a 200 degree F oven until ready to serve.

Drizzle Maple syrup on top if desired.

Enjoy!