Watch everyone scramble out of bed for these insanely delicious Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Banana Pancakes. They’re fluffy, tender, and perfectly sweet!
ME BEFORE THE RECIPE…
Mornings can be quite hectic around here, as I imagine they are for most people that have any kind of responsibilities that begin shortly after the opening of their eyeballs. Whether you are a single person, rushing out the door to work, or a frantic mama of multiple kiddos just trying to make sure they at least have underwear before you send them off to school…mornings can be ROUGH.
I’ve gotten into a predictable routine most mornings. I wake up well before the kids are out of bed so I have time to run. It automatically puts me in a good mood, which means I’m much more likely to treat my family with a bit more kindness than I would otherwise.
After I get my exercise fix, I awaken the gremlins. Once they’re awake, there’s no going back! It’s go time.
Braelyn usually whines about how she can’t open her eyes (or do much of anything productive for that matter) while Emry flops around the bed moaning and groaning about being so tired, eventually making her way out of the bed and face first on the ground. This is where I pull off all of her clothes and strategically dress her for school.
Fast forward to doing hair, threatening Braelyn to get out of bed a few more times, and finally about 30 minutes later, we make it to the breakfast table. Like clockwork, Emry requests a “runny egg” and toast. Braelyn prefers cereal, banana bread, or some kind of muffin. Easy peasy.
But, on the weekends, it’s time to up the breakfast game. I don’t want my kids thinking that all life has to offer for breakfast is fried eggs and cereal…although cereal is still my favorite. So, once the weekend crawls around (cuz we all know it never comes as quickly as we’d like), it’s all about PANCAKES!
Speaking of pancakes, my griddle game has been strong lately. This past weekend we made some chocolate chip pumpkin pancakes (similar recipe here) that were on point, and these fluffy pancakes I posted a few weeks ago will be your new go to recipe. They are almost indiscernible from regular old gluten filled pancakes we all miss so much.
HERE COMES THE RECIPE…
But, by far, my favorite pancakes that I’ve made recently have got to be these glorious Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Banana Pancakes. If you know me, t’s no surprise why. I’m in LOVE (as in completely obsessed) with banana bread. And, well, these pancakes are basically your griddle cake version of banana bread. Can’t complain about that.
I’ll tell you how these magnificent cakes go down. Not like go down your throat. That’s easy. You swallow. I mean how they throw down, go down, in the kitchen. They literally take a few minutes to whip up. This is a recipe I might even consider whisking together on a school morning…if I was extra ambitious and ran really fast and came home 5 minutes early…which probably won’t ever happen, but my kids can dream, right?!
Anyway, all it takes is one perfectly ugly, overly ripe banana to get this party started. I’m talking the browner/blacker, the better. And mash that sucker into oblivion. I don’t like mushy/soggy parts in my pancakes, and that’s what you’ll get if you don’t mash that baby good.
Now for a little dairy talk. Pancakes are always fluffier with buttermilk, so if you’ve got it then use it; a good cup of it. I, on the other hand, never seem to have buttermilk in my fridge when I need it, so I substitute half milk and half sour cream. Works like a charm every time.
Literally the longest part of making this recipe is letting the batter sit while you heat up your griddle. And I do suggest letting it sit for this 5 minutes rather than heating the griddle prior and spooning your batter on right away. There is something about letting it sit and absorb extra moisture that makes your pancakes extra tender, fluffy, and…well…more pancake like. Just do it.
Oh, and another thing you gotta just do is throw in some mini chocolate chips. C’mon, a few won’t kill you. Be a kid again! Who ever said banana bread OR pancakes were better WITHOUT chocolate??? I’ll tell you who. NO ONE. EVER.
And you know what takes these pancakes to a whole new level??? No, a whole new dimension?! Read carefully and follow exactly: smear peanut butter over the top of your warm pancake, slice up some fresh bananas, drizzle with pure maple syrup or honey, and top with an extra shake of cinnamon. Can you say Y-U-M-M-Y?!!!
So take a break from all my banana bread recipes for just one morning, and relish in the deliciousness of these pancakes. They are sure to please. Take my word for it.
YOU MIGHT ALSO ENJOY:
- Gluten Free Fluffy Buttermilk Pancakes
- Gluten Free Perfect Pumpkin Pancakes
- Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Oatmeal Pancakes
- Gluten Free Cinnamon Banana Greek Yogurt Pancakes
- Gluten Free Cinnamon Eggnog Pancakes
- ½ cup mashed overly ripe banana (about 1 medium)
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ cup milk
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons butter, melted
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon xanthan gum (if your flour blend doesn't already contain it)
- 1¼ cups high quality all purpose gluten free flour (or my preferred blend of ½ cup white rice flour, ⅓ cup sorghum flour, ¼ cup tapioca starch, and 3 tablespoons potato starch)
- ½ cup mini chocolate chips
- In a medium sized mixing bowl, mash banana until very soupy and no large chunks remain. Add egg, sour cream, milk, brown sugar, melted butter, and vanilla. Whisk until well incorporated.
- Add salt, cinnamon, baking soda, xanthan gum (if your flour blend doesn't already contain it), and gluten free flour (or my preferred blend). Whisk until smooth. Stir in mini chocolate chips with spatula.
- Let batter sit for 5 minutes while you heat griddle to 300 degrees or a skillet over medium low heat (about 4 out of 10).
- Stir batter one more time. Spray griddle with cooking spray or coat with butter. Drop about ¼ cup of batter 3" apart on skillet. Let cook for 2-3 minutes or until edges are set and bottom is golden brown. Flip and cook an additional 1-2 minutes until cooked through.
- Serve pancakes warm with desired toppings: peanut butter, sliced bananas, toasted pecans, cinnamon, maple syrup, etc.