Oatmeal Whole Wheat Pancakes with Pecans and Chocolate Chips

Can you say YUM!?!!?

I sure can!

I am actually eating these right now while writing this post. It was too good not to share. I mean, really, who says breakfast has to be boring?!

So this morning I wanted to make pancakes, but I never use a mix, and I always do something different to them to make them fun and exciting for Landon. This morning I decided to make oatmeal whole wheat pancakes. For Landon's I mashed in a banana (half of them a did a layer of bananas in the middle, then finally gave in and mashed it in. It was easier and just as good). For mine I got a little adventurous and decided to take inspiration from one of my favorite Pepperidge Farm Cookies: Pecan and chocolate chip. So that is what I did. I sprinkled pecans and chocolate chips in my oatmeal whole wheat pancake... Yum.


See the deliciousness? Oh and you can tell I went easy with the chips, about five in each of my two pancakes, so I can't feel too guilty ;).

Here is how I made them:

1 cup rolled oats
1 3/4 c whole wheat flour
1/4 c brown sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 egg
1 3/4 cup milk + more as needed
2 tablespoons cooking oil
2 tsp vanilla
2 T maple syrup
*1 banana, mashed (for Landon's version)
chocolate chips
pecans

I suggest putting the oats into a coffee grinder, magic bullet, or blender to whiz to an appropriate texture. I left some of the oats whole, but most of them I pulsed to a coarse texture.

Mix all the dry ingredients together, then put the wet ingredients on top and mix well. If you want to do the banana pancakes, add the banana with the wet ingredients and mix well. If you want to do Pecan and Chocolate Chip Pancakes, leave the banana out.

Heat a griddle on med heat and coat well with butter. Pour about 1/4 - 1/3 c batter onto the griddle and sprinkle with choc chips and pecans. When bubbles start to rise to the surface of the pancake, it is ready to flip. Watch to make sure you don't burn it, then remove from griddle when nice and golden brown.

You can top with sliced bananas or syrup and butter or whatever makes you happy.

Oh and I know I promised healthy meals: this one *counts* for me since it has whole wheat flour and oatmeal... haha, don't you love how that works? Oh goodness I love food!

Oh and these pancakes are absolutely wonderful without any additions, so you can use it as a plain pancake batter, or a base for you favorite creation!