Recipe

Hot Chocolate Pancakes

Recipe and photos by Jamie Plain

Nothing beats the comfort and warmth of hot cocoa on a cold winter night. What if you had a way to take that cozy evening treat and make it into breakfast? These hot chocolate pancakes are rich, decadent and easy-to-make. We can’t think of a better way to start your Christmas morning!

INGREDIENTS:

›› 1.5 cups prepared hot chocolate ›› 1 large egg ›› 1 tsp vanilla extract ›› 1 cup all-purpose flour ›› 1/3 cup dutch-process cocoa ›› 1 tsp baking powder ›› 1/4 tsp salt ›› 1/8 tsp cinnamon

Optional chocolate syrup topping:

›› 3/4 cup chocolate chips ›› 1/2 cup heavy cream ›› Mini marshmallows for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS:

›› Heat griddle to medium/low

›› Prepare 1.5 cups of hot chocolate, then let it cool slightly (enough so that it does not cook the egg). Combine hot chocolate, egg, and vanilla extract.

›› In a separate large bowl combine flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt. Then pour the wet ingredients into the bowl and mix until barely combined. ›› Pour 1/4 cup of pancake batter onto the pan for each individual pancake. Cook until the pancakes just begin to stiffen around the edges then flip and cook around 2 minutes more.

›› If you’d like to make the chocolate syrup topping, combine chocolate chips and cream into a sauce pan over low heat and whisk until completely combined. Take off heat and pour over pancakes. Top with mini marshmallows! OP

JAMIE PLAIN is a nationally published culinary and commercial photographer working as a full-time staff photographer for Tanner Publishing. She has a knack for making tasty food and pretty art. See more of her portfolio at jaastudios.com.