the best pancakes i've ever made

happy saturday!

a few days ago, my roommate ari did an incredible thing.  i had made a mess of dishes when i had the girls over for dinner on wednesday.  a mess, i tell you.  there were a lot of dishes.  but. . .it was late and i was tired, and i decided the dishes could wait until the morning.

when i woke up, every last dish was done!

after almost crying {it honest made my whole week}, i promised her and genni a pancake breakfast this weekend - just because they're such fabulous roommates.

and what better day to have a pancake breakfast than a saturday, right?  yes, today was the day!

i was in the mood for something incredible - not just your average pancake-with-syrup.  and so i present to you. . .

positively the best pancakes i've ever made.

berrylicious weekend pancakes

with red love syrup

(adapted from eat, drink, and be vegan.)

berrylicious pancakes:

• 1 1/3 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 tablespoon + 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 large over-ripe banana
• 1 can light coconut milk
• 1/3 cup rice milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/3 bag (about 3/4 cup) white chocolate chips
• 1 1/2 cups frozen mixed berries

first, mix together your dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, nutmeg, cinnamon, and salt).  in a separate bowl, mash the banana super well with a fork.  once it resembles baby food, add the coconut milk, rice milk, and vanilla.  a whisk worked wonderfully here {especially if you don't want to dirty your blender to combine these}.  it will be pretty runny - no worries, it thickens up a lot once you mix the bowls together. . .which you'll do right now.

pour the liquid into the flour mixture, add chocolate chips, and mix really well.  heat the pan to meduim and oil it lightly with coconut oil.  add the mixed berries to the batter right before scooping them onto the pan.  this way, the berries don't break apart as much.  cook just like a regular puffy pancake. :)

now the toppings!

red love syrup:

• 2 cups frozen mixed berries {i used a mix of raspberries, blackberries and blueberries}
• 3/4 cup applesauce
• 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
• 1/2 cup rice milk
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch

in a saucepan combine the berries, applesauce, maple, and salt over medium heat.  let these cook down for about 10 to 15 minutes, stirring every few minutes.

once it's steamy and bubbly {and the berries have started to disintegrate}, mix the rice milk and cornstarch together in a cup.  pour mixture into the berry sauce slowly while whisking.  turn up the heat a tiny bit. :)  keep whisking, and once it starts to thicken, turn the heat to low.  it will look a little bit like homemade jam. . .

 

yum.  that's what i have to say.

other toppings:

• sliced banana
• shredded coconut
• cinnamon sprinkles
• cacao nibs

this combination had us all coming back for seconds. . .and thirds.  best saturday breakfast i've had in a long time!  this recipe served the three of us with two leftover pancakes and about a half cup extra syrup.  which, in my opinion, is just about perfect.  my favorite thing in the world is when weekend pancakes turn into weekday quick and easy breakfasts!

enjoy!