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Enjoy a sweet breakfast with Healthy Mini Pancake Bites made with oat flour, maple syrup, and almond milk, and loaded with mini chocolate chips!
The most delicious chocolate chip pancake bites
Most of us have experience cooking up pancake breakfasts, but have you ever made yours in the oven?! Today we’re whipping up delicious, healthy mini pancake bites made complete with a maple syrup sweetener and loads of chocolate chips.
This is one of my go-to breakfasts, especially on weekends. It’s perfect for a lazy, slow morning, and it’s a healthy option that gets your sweet tooth under control!
Our healthy mini pancakes recipe creates 24 servings and is suitable for several people. It’s an easy recipe to double, making it a great option for feeding to weekend visitors!
Mini pancake ingredients
These healthy mini pancake bites use 10 different ingredients. If you do a lot of baking, you probably have most of them on deck and ready to go!
- Oat flour: Begin with 1.5 cups of oat flour. This will be the base of the batter.
- Baking powder: Include 1 tsp of baking powder to help the pancakes cook properly.
- Baking soda: Add 1/2 tsp of baking soda as well!
- Salt: Next, add to the flavor with 1/4 tsp of salt.
- Egg: 1 egg helps bind the dry ingredients together and creates a light pancake texture. If opting for vegan pancakes, see below for two simple egg substitutes.
- Maple syrup: Sweeten up the ‘cakes by including 1/4 cup of maple syrup. This is probably my favorite ingredient (next to the chocolate, of course)!
- Vanilla: Add 1 tsp of vanilla for extra flavor.
- Lemon juice: The secret ingredient is 1 tbsp of lemon juice!
- Almond milk: Include 3/4 cup of almond milk to help the batter achieve the correct consistency.
- Chocolate chips: Finally, throw in 1 cup of mini chocolate chips.
Tools used in this recipe
Mini pancake bites require a few different kitchen utensils. You’ll need the below items, as well as a handful of measuring cups. Be sure to measure everything accurately, as pancakes rely on a certain ratio to fluff up and cook properly!
- Mini muffin tin
- Nonstick spray
- Small mixing bowl
- Stirring utensil
- Large mixing bowl
- Whisk
- Cookie scoop
- Toothpick
For measuring, you will need the following sized cups: 1/4 tsp, 1/2 tsp, 1 tsp, 1 tbsp, 1/4 cup, 1/2 cup, 3/4 cup, and 1 cup.
How to make healthy mini pancake bites
In just 15 minutes, this recipe creates 24 light, fluffy, healthy pancake bites. If you’ve never used a muffin tin to make them, get ready. It makes the process worlds easier, and it’s not as messy!
First, preheat the oven to 350ยชF and grease a mini muffin tin with nonstick spray.
In a small bowl, stir together the oat flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
Whisk the egg, maple syrup, vanilla, lemon juice, and almond milk in a large bowl.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet and whisk until well combined.
Stir in the chocolate chips. Using a cookie scoop, divide the batter evenly into 24 mini muffin tins.
Bake for 9-11 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Substitution Tip
In the mood to switch things up? Here are some easy ways to change up your pancakes or replace an ingredient you may be missing!
- Egg: Achieve vegan pancakes by swapping the egg with 1/4 cup of applesauce. You can also opt for a chia seed “egg” made from 1 tbsp of chia seeds and 3 tbsp of water!
- Maple syrup: Not into maple syrup? Swap it with either honey or molasses! Use a bit less and add to taste.
- Almond milk: You can replace almond milk with any other nut or dairy milk in equal amounts.
- Chocolate chips: Chocolate chips make this recipe complete, but you can replace them if preferred! Ideas include frozen or fresh fruit, white chocolate chips, or even walnuts!
How healthy mini pancake bites are healthier
Making healthy versions of recipes is my jam. In this one, it was incredibly easy โ I just swapped in three healthier ingredients!
Oat flour
First, I kicked the white all-purpose flour to the curb and opted for oat flour instead. This is the easiest switch โ you can’t detect it in the final flavor! In fact, oat flour makes for some seriously fluffy and delicious healthy mini pancake bites.
Maple syrup
Did you notice the lack of sugar in this recipe? That’s because maple syrup was used to add the perfect amount of sweet flavor, the natural way!
Almond milk
Finally, I used almond milk in place of dairy milk for a plant-based option and subtly nutty flavor.
Storing leftovers
Did you know pancakes are a great make-ahead breakfast? You can prepare and cook the batter, and then freeze the freshly made ‘cakes for up to 3 months! When ready to enjoy, simply microwave or place in the oven under foil for a couple of minutes.
If you just want to save them for tomorrow, store in the refrigerator in a tightly sealed container. They’ll stay fluffy and fresh for up to 3 days!
If you liked this recipe, you’ll want to try these!
Need some more breakfast ideas? Here are some of my favorites, including breakfast burritos (which are perfect for meal prepping!), a hearty casserole, and muffins.
- Freezer Friendly Southwestern Breakfast Burritos
- Baked Oatmeal for One (Two Ways)
- Sweet Potato Egg Breakfast Casserole
- Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Muffins
Healthy Mini Pancake Bites
Enjoy a sweet breakfast with Healthy Mini Pancake Bites made with oat flour, maple syrup, and almond milk, and loaded with mini chocolate chips!
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups oat flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 3/4 cup almond milk
- 1 cup mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F and grease mini muffin tin with nonstick spray.
- In a small bowl, stir together oat flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- In a large bowl, whisk together egg, maple syrup, vanilla, lemon juice, and almond milk.
- Add dry ingredients to wet and whisk until well combined.
- Stir in chocolate chips. Using a cookie scoop, divide evenly into 24 mini muffin tins.
- Bake for 9-11 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.
There may be affiliate links in this post!ย By purchasing a product I recommend, I may receive a small compensation. However, I only recommend products I absolutely love and use myself. Thank you for supporting Erin Lives Whole, it helps keep this blog afloat ๐
Merry says
These are so light and original! I love that theyโre different than a typical muffin.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Merry, so glad you loved them! ๐
Jen says
These are amazing entire family devoured
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Jen, so glad you all loved them! ๐
Steph S. says
Super easy. Whipped them up in under 10 minutes. Quick bake in the oven. Kids loved them. They literally were all gone with one family trip to cut down a Christmas tree !
Think Iโm making more tomorrow !
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Steph, so glad they’re a hit!!
Rachel S says
Huge hit for the whole fam! Added cinnamon + 1 ripe mashed banana per the other comments and loved the outcome.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Rachel, so happy you loved them and made them your own!!
Rachel s says
Just made these again for the fam and holy cow they are SO GOOD!! A+++
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Rachel, so glad you all enjoyed them! ๐
Dana says
I subbed the egg for a flax egg (1 tbsp flax seed and 2 tbsp water) to make them vegan and they turned out great! They lasted two days in my house and were a hit, theyโre so easy to just pop in your mouth!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Dana, so happy you loved them and made them your own!!
Nadia says
Hello! Did u use flax seeds or flax seed meal?
Molly says
These are super yummy! I added cinnamon to the 2nd batch and liked them even more. We paired them with chicken breakfast sausage links for a protein-rich breakfast.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Molly, so happy you loved them and great idea!!
Lindsay says
I make these weekly for an easy breakfast on the go. Sometimes I mash up two bananas and add them! They are incredible! Fluffy, flavorful, not grainy. Excellence. ERIN youโre the best for these!
Erin says
Hi Lindsay, so glad you loved them so much! ๐
T says
Can we use whole milk instead of almond milk because I do not have alomond milk??
Erin says
Hi, yes of course. Let me know how they come out!!
Kelly K says
Super moist!! I love chocolate chip pancakes so I was dying to make these. I made full sized muffins and they baked for about 13 minutes at 350 for those looking to do that ๐
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Kelly, so glad you loved them and made them into muffins!!
morgan says
super fluffy and moist! easy breakfast to make
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Morgan, so glad you liked them!!
Avery says
These are so delicious!! Theyโre so cute and packed with flavor!! Another amazing recipe!!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Avery, so happy you loved them! ๐
Sheriden says
Iโm getting ready to make these for the third time already because they are so easy and SO DARN DELICIOUS!! Iโm so thankful for all of the easy and wonderful recipes you create to make this mamaโs life easier โค๏ธ
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Sheriden, I am so happy you love them so much! Thank you for sharing!!
Booey says
Made these this morning for breakfast and they were super easy and very delicious! I ground rolled oats in the blender for the flour, used a full-sized muffin tin (it made about 11 small ones for me) and 3/4 cup of full sized chocolate chips…all came out perfect. Can’t wait to eat these for breakfast the rest of the week!
Erin says
Hi Booey, so happy you loved them and great idea!!
Megan J says
So good! Made these tonight for my kiddos in the AM ! They are going to love them!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Megan, so happy you and your family loved them!!
Merry says
These were amazing! Much lighter and fluffier than a muffin. I actually made them in full sized muffin tins since I donโt have a mini muffin tin, and they baked through in about 15 minutes. I started keeping an eye on them after 13.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Merry, so glad you loved them and made them full size! ๐
Polina says
Can you make them as the regular muffins or does it have to be mini ones
Erin says
Hi Polina, yes you can make them as regular ones! I am not sure the baking time, so you’ll just have to keep an eye on regular sized and check once the middle is fully baked.