Vanilla Chocolate Chip Protein Pancakes (Vegan)

Last Updated on July 18, 2022 by Annie

Fluffy, filling, and packed with flavor, these vegan vanilla chocolate chip protein pancakes are the perfect way to start your day. Loaded with vanilla protein powder, oatmeal, banana, and vegan chocolate chips, these pancakes are the upgraded childhood favorite your weekend needs!

A top down photo of a stack of vegan chocolate chip pancakes on a black plate with a triangle bite on a gold fork on the right.

With a natural proclivity to all things breakfast, it should come as no surprise that these vegan protein pancakes make a very frequent appearance at the MLAD household. In fact, the weekends my husband has mornings off I make a point to do a “big breakfast”. We’re talking pancakes, breakfast tacos, or even cinnamon rolls.

These vegan vanilla pancakes came after the success of the chocolate protein pancakes with the same need to use up an excess of vanilla protein powder. While it took a few attempts to strike the right balance of sweetness from the protein and not over-doing it with chocolate chips (gasp! is it even possible?!?) I’m please to report that these pancakes are simply sensational.

Fluffy, sky high pancakes, stuffed with nutrition such as protein and ground flax seed, and speckled with chocolate chips. They are just what your weekend breakfast needs!

Why We LOVE these Pancakes

  • Filling and flavorful. Between the oatmeal and the vegan protein powder these pancakes are sure to keep you full all morning long!
  • Great for making in advance. With tips for making the batter the night before or even making and storing to snack on all week, these pancakes are the perfect way to start the day!
  • Versatile. Swap the chocolate chips out for blueberries, banana slices, or chopped strawberry.
A hand pouring a small glass bowl with maple syrup over a stack of vanilla chocolate chip vegan pancakes on a black plate.

How to Make Vegan Vanilla Pancakes with Chocolate Chips

Ingredients You’ll Need

  • Flax eggs– Made from mixing ground flaxseed and water.
  • Non-dairy buttermilk– Mix together non-dairy milk with apple cider vinegar.
  • Dry ingredients– A mix of flour, oatmeal, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and sugar.
  • Vanilla Vegan Protein Powder- I used Orgain Vanilla Protein for this recipe.
  • Vanilla– An added boost of vanilla flavor.
  • Banana– Additional sweetness to the pancake base.
  • Chocolate Chips– For all the chocolaty goodness.
Ingredients for vegan chocolate chip pancakes on a white counter in bowls.

Simple Steps for Vanilla Chocolate Chip Protein Pancakes

  • Make flax egg: In a small bowl mix together ground flaxseed and water. Allow to sit for 5 minutes.
  • Stir up non-dairy buttermilk: While the flax egg sets, mix non-dairy milk and apple cider vinegar together in a liquid measuring cup and set aside.
  • Mix dry ingredients: In a large mixing bowl stir together flour, oatmeal, salt, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, and vanilla protein powder.
  • Combine wet ingredients: Add vanilla, a smashed banana, and the flax egg to the liquid measuring cup and stir to combine.
  • Mix wet with dry: Pour the liquid ingredients into the large mixing bowl and stir with the dry ingredients.
  • Add chocolate: Next fold in the chocolate chips.
  • Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium heat.
  • Scoop about 2-3 tablespoons of batter into the preheated skillet.
  • Cook until bubbles form on the top and the base is light to golden brown.
  • Flip and cook until the base is light to golden brown.
  • Remove from skillet and continue to cook until all batter has been used.

Dairy-Free + Vegan Changes

  • Vegan Protein– For this recipe I used Orgain Vanilla Vegan Protein Powder to add a little extra nutritional umpf to the pancake.
  • Flax Eggs– To keep this recipe vegan I opted to use flax eggs by mixing ground flaxseed with water to create an egg substitute.
  • Non-dairy buttermilk– Buttermilk works to tenderize pancakes and make them fluffy. To keep these pancakes vegan I mixed non-dairy milk with apple cider vinegar to make a buttermilk replacement.
  • Chocolate Chips– Vegan chocolate chips are becoming more popular at the grocery store. Enjoy Life, Simple Truth Organic (Kroger Brand), or Great Value Free From Chocolate Chips (Walmart Brand) are some I use frequently. If you have found other dairy-free chocolate chip brands, feel free to drop a comment below to share!

Serving Suggestions

This is by no means a comprehensive list of ways to dish out these pancakes but they are certainly a great place to start!

  • More chocolate chips on top.
  • Dairy-free butter.
  • A drizzle of maple syrup.
  • A dollop of vegan whipped topping.
A stack of vanilla chocolate chip vegan pancakes with butter on top and a gold fork to the right.

Tips for Making in Advance

If you want to save yourself some time in the morning here are a few ways I prep for these pancakes (and pretty much all pancakes) in advance.

  • Make the batter the night before. Apparently this is a trick all of the best breakfast spots use. Make the pancake batter the night before for a quicker morning prep that gets those pancakes piled up on plates faster!
  • Cook the pancakes and eat the next day. These pancake keep and reheat well so if you want to make them a day or two in advance and re-heat them in the microwave you will get no judgement from me!

Pancake Party!

Get your weekend morning pancake fix with these mouth-watering pancakes next!

If you tried these Vegan Vanilla Chocolate Chip Pancakes and enjoyed them feel free to leave a comment below! I would love to hear how it went! Or, snap a picture and share it with me on Instagram by tagging @mylifeafterdairy to share all your life after dairy adventures!

You can also get delicious dairy-free recipes and tips by signing up for my newsletter!

A triangle bite of vanilla chocolate chip vegan pancakes on a black plate.

Vanilla Chocolate Chip Protein Pancakes (Vegan)

Light, fluffy, and loaded with chocolate chips, these vegan vanilla chocolate chip protein pancakes are the perfect addition to you breakfast routine!

Course Breakfast, Brunch
Cuisine American
Keyword Chocolate Chip, Pancakes, Protein, Vanilla, Vegan
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 16 pancakes

Ingredients

  • 2 Tablespoons Ground Flax
  • 5 Tablespoons Water
  • 1 ½ cups Oat Milk
  • 2 Tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar
  • 1 ½ cups Flour
  • ¾ cup Oatmeal
  • ¾ teaspoon Salt
  • 2 teaspoon Baking Powder
  • 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
  • 4 Tablespoons Sugar
  • â…“ cup Vanilla Protein Powder
  • ½ Tablespoon Vanilla
  • 1 Banana smashed
  • ½ cup Chocolate Chips

Instructions

  1. In a small bowl mix together ground flaxseed and water. Allow to sit for 5 minutes.

  2. While the flax egg sets, mix non-dairy milk and apple cider vinegar together in a liquid measuring cup and set aside.

  3. In a large mixing bowl stir together flour, oatmeal, salt, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, and vanilla protein powder.

  4. Add vanilla, a smashed banana, and the flax egg to the liquid measuring cup and stir to combine.

  5. Pour the liquid ingredients into the large mixing bowl and stir with the dry ingredients. Then fold in the chocolate chips.

  6. Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium heat.

  7. Scoop about 2-3 tablespoons of batter into the preheated skillet.

  8. Cook until bubbles form on the top and the base is light to golden brown.

  9. Flip and cook until the base is light to golden brown.

  10. Remove from skillet and continue to cook until all batter has been used.

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