All the flavors of German chocolate cake, but in pancakes. These Vegan German Chocolate Pancakes are every bit as delicious as the traditional cake, but quicker and surprisingly healthier.
Do you ever get a random craving for something you haven't had in like forever? That was me last week. I suddenly had a strong desire for German chocolate cake, but I didn't want to wait for a cake to bake. The next best thing? These Vegan German Chocolate Pancakes. All the flavors of the traditional cake in a fluffy stack of pancakes.
Ingredients
The most important part of any German chocolate cake is the sweet, delicious syrup between each layer. To make it I turned to the amazing date. Blending a cup of dates into paste makes a perfect naturally sweetened gooey filling to go with the shredded coconut and pecans. It takes a lot less time and ingredients than the traditional filling and is much healthier, but still tastes decadent and delicious.
I used minimal coconut sugar in the pancake batter because the topping is so sweet. The pancakes alone are definitely not sweet enough, but with the syrup it's perfect.
- dates
- coconut flakes
- pecans
- unsweetened plain non dairy milk
- vanilla
- white whole wheat flour
- cocoa powder
- coconut sugar
- coconut oil
- apple cider vinegar
- baking powder
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
The syrup for these pancakes is made in a food processor. Soak the dates and blend until paste. Fold in remaining syrup ingredients and set aside while you make the pancakes. Making these pancakes is really no different than others.Start by shifting dry ingredients together before mixing in the wet ingredients. Then cook the pancakes up!
Equipment
You will need a food processor to make the coconut layer that goes between the pancakes. You will also need basic kitchen tools such as measuring cups and spoons, bowls, spatula and a skillet.
Storage
Store leftover pancakes and syrup filling separately in airtight containers in the fridge. Good for 3-4 days.
Did you make this recipe? Let me know what you think! Leave a review and rating in the comments below. This helps me continue to provide great recipes for you.
Recipe
Vegan German Chocolate Pancakes
Ingredients
For the syrup:
- 1 cup dates, about 10-12
- ⅓ cup unsweetened coconut flakes
- ⅓ cup pecan pieces
- 2 tablespoon unsweetened plain almond milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
For the pancakes:
- ⅔ cup flour. I used white whole wheat.
- ⅓ cup cocoa powder
- 1 cup unsweetened plain almond milk. Warm milk slightly to prevent coconut oil from hardening.
- 3 tablespoon coconut sugar
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
For the syrup:
- Soak dates in hot water for 15-20 minutes to soften them. Drain water and dump them into bowl of food processor. Blend until broken down and smooth like a paste stopping to scrap down as needed. Water can be addd a tablespoon at a time to help get things moving. Just don't add more than needed.
- Transfer date paste to a bowl and add coconut flakes, pecans, almond milk, and vanilla. Stir to thoroughly combine. Set aside.
For the pancakes:
- Add apple cider vinegar to milk and set aside for about 5 minutes. It will curdle, this is normal.
- Sift together flour and cocoa powder. This is very important so don't skip it. Add baking powder, salt, and sugar. Stir to combine very well.
- Add milk, coconut oil, and vanilla to dry mixture and stir just to combine.
- Heat pan or electric skillet over medium-ish. Make sure the pan is hot before pouring batter into pan. Check by sprinkling a few drops of water into pan. It should sizzle and quickly evaporate.
- Ladle small amounts of pancake batter into skillet. Cook until bubbles form or the tops and edges look dry. Flip and cook for 1-2 minutes longer. Move cooked pancakes to a cooling rack. Continue to ladle batter until it's all used.
- To assemble spread a layer of the syrup on one pancake, stack another pancake on top, and spread more syrup. Continue layering as many as you like.
Did you make this recipe? Let me know!