chunky monkey pancakes

I’m a huge fan of Our Best Bites… they have great recipes with pretty ordinary ingredients. Tradition in our house is pancakes for Saturday brunch and I was delighted to find this recipe, which was an instant hit with the boys! It’s great for using up those slightly over-ripe bananas your kids keep avoiding…

1 1/2 cups flour
3 Tbsp sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups buttermilk *
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 Tbs canola oil
1 large or extra large egg
2 small-med ripe bananas
1/4 cups mini chocolate chips tossed with 2 tsp flour
Cooking Spray or butter for pan
1 cups maple syrup
1/2 cups peanut butter

Combine flours, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a mixing bowl and whisk together. In a separate bowl combine buttermilk, eggs, oil, and vanilla and whisk well. Add the wet ingredients into the dry and mix just until moistened and combined. Place bananas in a bowl and roughly mash with a fork. Fold into batter. Add the chocolate chips that have been tossed with flour and stir.
For syrup, heat peanut butter in the microwave for 30 seconds. Add maple syrup and gently whisk to combine. Heat in the microwave for another 30 seconds, whisk, and then set aside.

Heat a nonstick griddle or skillet to medium heat. Coat pan with a little butter and then pour on pancake batter. Use 1/4 cup batter for large pancakes (4-6") and 2 Tbsp for kid-sized ones (2-3"). Wait until bubbles form and edges are set and then flip.
Reheat syrup if necessary and pour over warm pancakes.
Yield:
28-30 2-3" pancakes (using 1/8 cup batter measure)
14-15 4-6" pancakes (using 1/4 cup batter measure)
Freezer Instructions: Let cooked pancakes cool to room temperature. Place in a single layer in the freezer until frozen and then place pancakes in a ziplock bag or airtight container. Reheat in a microwave or toaster until heated through.

*As a substitute for buttermilk, place 1 1/2 Tbs lemon juice or vinegar in a 1 1/2 cup measuring cup and then fill the remainder with milk.

Photo courtesy of Our Best Bites.