Chocolate chip pancakes are fluffy, decadent, and surprisingly healthy! You’ll love how easy it is to make these pancakes from scratch, and everyone loves a sprinkle of chocolate chips for breakfast.

Very tall stack of chocolate chip pancakes.

Chocolate chip pancakes always feel like such a splurge, but this recipe is surprisingly healthy!

Made with your choice of flour, fresh eggs, and a few (or many!) chocolate chips, each bite tastes like dessert but will fuel you up for whatever the day sends your way.

About this recipe

An easy pancake recipe that always yields the fluffiest pancakes, you’ll love how easy it is to make these chocolate chip pancakes.

Whether you prefer mini semi-sweet chocolate chips, big white chocolate chips, or chopped dark chocolate chunks, you’ll feel confident pulling these pancakes together every time.

This recipe is perfect for the chocolate chip pancake purists, but the best part about chocolate chip pancakes is that they’re totally delicious and totally customizable. If you’re a huge chocaholic, try our chocolate chocolate chip pancakes!

Big, fluffy buttermilk pancakes with little semi-sweet chocolate chips provide just the right amount of melty chocolate to feel like a special treat, but let you start your day feeling good knowing that you fueled up with whole grains (don’t forget the bacon and eggs!).

Kids might like to add a few chopped butterscotch morsels along with the chocolate, which is so easy and ridiculously delicious.

While they might seem like a special-occasion treat, chocolate chip pancakes are really an every-day food. They’re simple, quick, and include just a little bit of the best of everything: warm cake, melting chocolate, topped with butter and maple syrup. They’re also amazing topped with chocolate syrup and homemade whipped cream (or chocolate whipped cream). We also love dousing these in strawberry sauce, homemade nutella, or chocolate butter (yes, chocolate BUTTER).

However you make them, chocolate chip pancakes always draw a crowd. And once you add these to your weekly rotation, you’ll wonder why you didn’t start making these sooner!

Pancakes dusted with powdered sugar on rectangular tray.

What you need

You’ll find you probably have all the ingredients on hand already! Here’s what you need:

  • Wet Ingredients: egg, milk, melted butter
  • Dry Ingredients: all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, salt
  • Chocolate Chips: We love semi-sweet or dark, but milk chocolate work well too if that’s your jam!
Ingredients needed including chocolate chips.

How to make them

Grab a large bowl and whisk egg, milk, and butter until well combined.

Wet ingredients in white bowl.

Add flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt and gently mix on top of the wet ingredients.

Pancake dry ingredients being added to wet ingredients in white mixing bowl.

Mix all ingredients together, only until just combined, do not over mix.

All ingredients for pancakes mixed together.

Fold in chocolate chips (or save them for sprinkling evenly onto the pancakes).

Chocolate chips added to pancake batter in a white mixing bowl.

Heat a griddle over medium heat and add batter by about 1/4 cup scoops, cooking for 2-3 minutes on each side or until golden brown and cooked through!

Uncooked chocolate chip pancakes on a griddle.

Serve with desired toppings.

Partial view of a stack of pancakes on a white plate, topped with chocolate.

How to make these pancakes your own

  • The baking aisle at your local grocery store probably stocks several types of chocolate chips, and they’re all delicious in this recipe! Milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate, butterscotch, or peanut butter morsels–they’re all great in pancakes!
  • This recipe calls for all-purpose flour, but you can easily use your favorite type of flour. Almond flour will keep the carb count lower, while whole grain wheat flour will give you a health boost. Keep in mind, changing the flour will change the texture of these pancakes.
  • You can substitute coconut sugar for the granulated sugar at a 1:1 ratio.
  • If you’re looking for a fun take on chocolate chip pancakes, consider making mini pancakes! They’re super cute, super fun, and super festive. You can serve a big, tall stack of tiny chocolate chip pancakes and be the breakfast hero! We love silver dollar pancakes.
  • If you’re making this recipe for a special occasion, like a birthday, consider adding a few sprinkles to the batter to add a little color and extra celebration to these cakes. (Check out our birthday cake pancakes, too!)
  • This is one of those recipes that’s so easy to give as a gift. Simply mix the dry ingredients together in a mason jar (so many great holiday-themed jars during any holiday season!), and affix a small bag around the neck of the jar with chocolate chips and the recipe instructions. This is the perfect gift for teachers and coaches as they head off on a holiday or summer break, since they’ll have more time in the morning for a leisurely pancake breakfast!
Cut pancake on a fork, showing chocolate chips.

Make-Ahead, Storage, and Reheating Tips

  • The dry ingredients can be premixed and stored in your pantry (just like you would keep store-bought pancake mix or homemade pancake mix). 
  • Leftover pancakes can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Reheat leftovers in the toaster on the lowest setting. Don’t over-heat leftovers because you don’t want the chocolate to burn. 

Tip! You can leave the chocolate chips out of the batter and add them to the batter as it cooks on the griddle to ensure even distribution of the chocolate. 

Have a sweet tooth?

Try this Crème brûlée french toast or super fun cinnamon toast crunch pancakes!

Can’t get enough chocolate?

Try these DOUBLE chocolate pancakes or hot cocoa pancakes!

Short stack of chocolate chip pancakes with chocolate syrup and whipped cream.

Get the Recipe: Chocolate Chip Pancakes

Chocolate chip pancakes are fluffy, decadent, and surprisingly healthy! You’ll love how easy it is to make these pancakes from scratch, and everyone loves a sprinkle of chocolate chips for breakfast.
5 from 1 rating

Ingredients

  • 1 large egg
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 2 tablespoons oil or melted butter
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup chocolate chips

Instructions

  • In a mixing bowl, whisk egg, milk, and oil until well combined.
  • On top of wet ingredients, add flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Toss together lightly before stirring into wet ingredients. Mix only until just combined, do not overmix.
  • Fold in chocolate chips (see note).
  • Heat a griddle over medium heat. If desired, grease with butter, oil, or nonstick cooking spray. Add batter by about 1/4 cup scoops.
  • Cook for 2-3 minutes or until bubbles appear and don’t disappear. Flip and cook for another 2-3 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through. Serve immediately.

Video

Notes

  • You can leave chocolate chips out and sprinkle them on after pouring batter onto griddle if you prefer a more uniform distribution of the chocolate chips.
Serving: 2pancakes, Calories: 92kcal, Carbohydrates: 12g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Cholesterol: 18mg, Sodium: 157mg, Potassium: 44mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 53IU, Calcium: 72mg, Iron: 1mg