Chocolate Buckwheat Pancakes

A delicious looking and sounding recipe I was sent from Clean Home Journal. Healthy buchwheat meets luscious chocolate! ;)

• Ready In: 35 mins
• Serves: 4
• Yields: 12 5 inch pancakes

Ingredients

• BATTER

• 1  cup  buckwheat pancake mix
• 1⁄3 cup  unsweetened cocoa powder
• 4  tablespoons powdered sugar (plus additional for dusting)
• 2  tablespoons  vegetable oil (plus 2 teaspoons for griddle)
• 1  large egg
• 1 1⁄4 cups low-fat milk
• 1⁄4 cup  mini chocolate chip (optional)

• TOPPING

•  butter
• 1⁄2 cup fresh raspberries or 1⁄2 cup  fresh sliced strawberry
•  raspberry flavored syrup or  strawberry syrup

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F and place a baking sheet or oven-proof serving platter in the oven.
2. In a medium bowl, blend the pancake mix, cocoa and 4 Tablespoons of powdered sugar with a whisk or fork.
3. In a 2-cup liquid measuring cup mix the oil, egg and milk; Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture and stir just until blended, about 30 seconds, leaving lumps in the batter (Do not over-mix.).
4. Let the batter rest 5 to 10 minutes then gently stir in mini chocolate chips, if using.
5. While the batter rests, warm an electric griddle to 375 degrees F then lightly brush the surface with 2 teaspoons of vegetable oil (a large, heavy-bottomed nonstick skillet or griddle on the stove, on medium high heat,will also work - heat until drops of water dance on the surface and evaporate) .
6. Pour 1/4 cup of the batter onto the heated griddle for each pancake, flipping the pancakes with a flat spatula when bubbles appear on the pancake edges, after approximately 1 to 2 minutes.
7. Cook until steam rises from the pancakes, about 30 to 60 seconds then transfer to the baking sheet or platter to keep warm in the oven until all pancakes are cooked.
8. Remove the platter from the oven, dust lightly with powdered sugar and serve immediately along with butter, syrup and berries already on the table.
9. Enjoy! ;).