Chocolate Spinach Pancakes mix healthy spinach with sweet chocolate to make a fun, tasty breakfast. This easy recipe uses simple ingredients like milk, flour, egg, and cocoa powder. These soft, colorful pancakes are perfect for toddlers and kids who need a little extra veggie boost without noticing.
Parents, nannies, and busy caregivers will love these pancakes. The recipe includes many helpful variations like gluten-free, keto, and vegan options. Get ready to make breakfast fun, healthy, and delicious with these tasty pancake ideas.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Chocolate Spinach Pancakes taste like a treat but sneak in healthy spinach. These soft and fluffy pancakes make a fun and easy breakfast for busy mornings. Little ones love the chocolatey flavor, and parents feel good about the hidden veggies.
- These pancakes turn bright green with spinach but taste like sweet, soft chocolate pancakes.
- Kids won’t notice the spinach inside. The cocoa powder makes them chocolatey and fun.
- The recipe uses simple pantry staples like milk, flour, egg, and vanilla extract.
- You can use fresh spinach or frozen spinach. Both work well.
- Maple syrup and mini chocolate chips add a little sweetness toddlers love.
- The pancakes freeze well for quick, healthy toddler breakfasts on busy days.
- Great for picky eaters who don’t like eating vegetables.
What You Need To Make This Recipe
These simple ingredients make soft, tasty pancakes with a little veggie boost:
- 1 cup fresh spinach
- 1 cup milk (use dairy milk or plant-based milk)
- 1 egg
- 1 cup whole wheat flour (or all-purpose flour)
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup (for kids over 1 year)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons mini dark chocolate chips (optional)
Substitutions
No need to worry if a few things aren’t in your kitchen. These swaps work too:
- Use frozen spinach. Thaw it and squeeze out the water.
- Try oat milk, almond milk, or soy milk instead of regular milk.
- Skip maple syrup for babies under 1.
- Pick gluten-free flour for a wheat-free option.
- Leave out chocolate chips to cut down sugar.
How To Make Chocolate Spinach Pancakes
This recipe comes together fast. No fancy tools needed — just a blender, a bowl, and a pan.
- Add spinach, milk, egg, vanilla extract, and maple syrup to a blender. Blend until smooth and bright green.
- In a bowl, mix flour, cocoa powder, and baking powder.
- Pour the green mixture into the bowl with dry ingredients. Stir gently. Sprinkle in chocolate chips if using.
- Heat a non-stick pan on medium. Lightly grease it with a little oil or butter.
- Spoon small amounts of batter onto the pan. Cook 2-3 minutes. Flip when bubbles appear. Cook the other side for 1-2 minutes.
- Serve warm. Top with berries, a spoon of Greek yogurt, or a drizzle of maple syrup (for toddlers over 1 year).
How to Store
Keep extra Chocolate Spinach Pancakes fresh and ready for busy mornings. These store well and taste great later too. Make a big batch and save time during the week.
- Place leftover pancakes in an airtight container. Keep them in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Put a piece of parchment paper between each pancake to stop them from sticking.
- Store extra pancakes in the freezer for up to 2 months.
- Let the pancakes cool before placing them in a freezer-safe bag.
- Warm the pancakes in a microwave or toaster until soft and heated through.
- Top with fresh berries, a spoon of Greek yogurt, or a little maple syrup before serving.
Best Tips for Success
These easy tips help make the fluffiest, tastiest Chocolate Spinach Pancakes every time. Even picky toddlers will ask for more.
- Blend spinach, milk, and other wet ingredients until smooth and bright green.
- Use fresh spinach for the best color and soft texture.
- Measure flour, cocoa powder, and baking powder carefully for fluffy pancakes.
- Heat the pan well before adding the batter.
- Flip pancakes when bubbles form on top and the edges look set.
- Keep the heat on medium so the pancakes cook through without burning.
- Add mini chocolate chips for a fun, melty bite toddlers enjoy.
- Make a double batch and freeze extras for easy breakfasts later.
- Let little helpers pour the batter or add toppings for extra fun.
Try more Spinach Recipes like Spinach Pesto, Blueberry Banana Spinach Smoothie and Spinach Muffins and more hidden veggies like Sweet Potato Muffins, Broccoli Cheese Bites and pancakes like Banana Avocado Pancakes etc.
Chocolate Spinach Pancakes Variations
Chocolate Spinach Pancakes come in many tasty versions. Try Spinach Chocolate Chip Pancakes for extra chocolate fun. Pick Keto or Low Carb options for a healthy start. Choose Gluten-Free or Vegan recipes for special diets.
Each variation adds benefits like extra protein, fewer carbs, or allergy-friendly ingredients. All keep the delicious chocolate taste and hidden spinach for a healthy breakfast kids love.
Chocolate Spinach Pancakes
Classic chocolate spinach pancakes blend fresh spinach with rich cocoa powder. Toddlers love the soft, chocolate flavor with hidden greens.
Use the basic recipe with spinach, milk, egg, flour, and cocoa powder. Add maple syrup for sweetness and cook on a non-stick pan.
Spinach Chocolate Chip Pancakes
Add mini chocolate chips for extra chocolatey fun. These pancakes have a little crunch and melty chocolate inside.
Mix mini chocolate chips into the batter before cooking. Use fresh spinach and follow the base recipe steps.
Keto Chocolate Spinach Pancakes
Use almond flour and egg to make low-carb, keto-friendly pancakes. These have fewer carbs but keep the chocolate and spinach taste.
Swap regular flour with almond flour. Use unsweetened cocoa powder and sweeten with a sugar-free syrup.
Gluten-Free Chocolate Protein Pancakes
Gluten-free protein pancakes add strength for active toddlers. Use gluten-free flour and protein powder for a filling breakfast.
Replace flour with gluten-free flour. Add a scoop of toddler-friendly protein powder. Mix well and cook as usual.
Low Carb Oatmeal Chocolate Spinach Pancakes
Add ground oats for fiber and keep carbs low. These pancakes have a chewy texture toddlers enjoy.
Use oat flour or blend oats to make flour. Combine with spinach, cocoa, and egg for batter.
Old Fashioned Chocolate Spinach Pancakes
Use simple, classic ingredients for old-fashioned flavor. These pancakes feel homemade and cozy for toddlers.
Use basic ingredients: flour, egg, spinach, cocoa, and milk. Cook slowly on medium heat for soft pancakes.
One Pan Chocolate Spinach Pancakes
Cook everything in one pan for easy cleanup. These pancakes stay soft and chocolatey with spinach hidden inside.
Prepare batter as usual. Pour small amounts into a heated pan. Flip when bubbles form.
White Chocolate Spinach Pancakes
Use white chocolate chips for a sweet, creamy twist. These pancakes are fun and colorful with green spinach and white chocolate.
Add white chocolate chips to the batter. Cook on a pan as normal. Serve warm.
Chocolate Spinach Pancakes Vegan
Make dairy and egg-free vegan pancakes with plant milk and flaxseed. These pancakes stay fluffy and tasty for vegan toddlers.
Use plant-based milk and a flax egg (1 tbsp flaxseed + 3 tbsp water). Follow the base recipe replacing eggs and milk.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How to hide spinach so kids don’t notice it?
Blend the spinach well with the wet ingredients until smooth and bright green. This makes the pancake batter even and hides the leaves. The cocoa powder helps mask the veggie taste.
2. What if the pancakes are too thick or dry?
Add a little more milk to the batter to make it thinner. Cook the pancakes on medium heat to avoid drying them out.
3. How to keep pancakes soft for toddlers?
Use baking powder for fluffiness. Don’t overcook the pancakes — flip them when bubbles appear on top and edges look set.
4. Can I use frozen spinach?
Yes. Thaw and squeeze out extra water before adding it to the batter. This keeps the pancakes from getting soggy.
5. How to stop pancakes from sticking to the pan?
Warm a pan on medium heat. Add a little oil or butter so the pancakes don’t stick. Pour the batter once the pan feels hot.
6. Can I make this recipe dairy-free or vegan?
Pick a dairy-free milk like almond milk or oat milk for this recipe.. Replace eggs with a flaxseed “egg” (1 tablespoon ground flaxseed + 3 tablespoons water).
Chocolate Spinach Pancakes
Chocolate Spinach Pancakes mix healthy spinach with sweet chocolate to make a fun, tasty breakfast. Perfect foe Toddlers.
4
servings5
minutes15
minutes150
kcal20
minutesIngredients
1 cup fresh spinach
1 cup milk (use dairy milk or plant-based milk)
1 egg
1 cup whole wheat flour (or all-purpose flour)
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tablespoon maple syrup (for kids over 1 year)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons mini dark chocolate chips (optional)
Directions
- Add spinach, milk, egg, vanilla extract, and maple syrup to a blender. Blend until smooth and bright green.
- In a bowl, mix flour, cocoa powder, and baking powder.
- Pour the green mixture into the bowl with dry ingredients. Stir gently. Sprinkle in chocolate chips if using.
- Heat a non-stick pan on medium. Lightly grease it with a little oil or butter.
- Spoon small amounts of batter onto the pan. Cook 2-3 minutes. Flip when bubbles appear. Cook the other side for 1-2 minutes.
- Serve warm. Top with berries, a spoon of Greek yogurt, or a drizzle of maple syrup (for toddlers over 1 year).
