Delicious chocolate pancake recipe

Tasty weekend breakfast or last minute dessert, pancakes are a great way of cooking up a treat in no time. Combined with a luscious chocolate filling they will wow kids and adults alike and you can create endless variations on the pancake theme, filling them with strawberries and chocolate or just plain chocolate chips, according to what you have available and the whim of the moment.

The important thing is to get a basic pancake batter recipe that you like and find a pan that works for you, so that the process of making the pancakes is as easy as possible. Once you get going you’ll cook up a stack of pancakes in no time and can have fun playing with different chocolate fillings.

Basic Pancake Batter Recipe

Ingredients
110g / 4oz plain flour
2 large eggs
pinch salt
200ml / 7fl oz milk mixed with 75ml / 3 fl oz water
2 tablespoons melted butter

Sift the flour and salt into a large mixing bowl. Make a hollow in the flour and break the eggs into it, then whisk with an electric beater in the middle, gradually incorporating the flour. Start adding the milk and water a little at a time as you whisk. Keep beating until all the flour is mixed in and you have a smooth batter, the consistency of thin cream. Stir in the melted butter only when you are ready to cook the pancake mix.

To cook the pancakes:
Heat a non-stick frying pan, of the size you want your pancakes to be (about 20cm/8inches is good). Melt a small teaspoon of butter in the pan. Tip off any excess butter. When the pan is hot, turn the heat to medium and pour in about 2 tablespoons of batter. Tip the pan so the mixture coats the base evenly. It should cook in about half a minute, so the underside is golden. Loosen the edges with a palette knife then toss it or flip it to cook the other side briefly. Stack onto a plate and cook the next pancake. Cover the cooked pancakes with a clean cloth to keep warm while you cook the rest.

Chocolate pancake fillings
The easiest way to make chocolate pancakes is to use a really good chocolate spread or Nutella, dolloping it lavishly in the middle of each pancake, as you serve them.

Alternatively, grate a really good chocolate and as soon as you’ve flipped the pancake sprinkle the grated chocolate over it so it starts to melt. Fold it in half and then half again and keep warm until you serve it. Great with strawberries and a dash of cream.

Or if you’re feeling restrained, keep the pancakes plain inside but serve them with chocolate sauce drizzled over.

Feel like eating out for breakfast on the weekend? Try the breakfast at Woodborough Hall restaurant in Nottingham.