• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Diabetes Strong

Healthy Life With Diabetes

  • Home
  • Diabetes
    • Type 1 Diabetes
    • Type 2 Diabetes
    • Prediabetes
    • Diabetes Devices
    • Diabetes Products
    • Diabetes Medication
    • Diabetes Complications
    • Mental Health
  • Diet
    • Meal Plans
    • Low Carb Foods
  • Exercise
    • Workout Videos
    • The Fit With Diabetes eBook
  • Recipes
    • The Diabetes Strong Cookbook
  • About

Home » Recipes » Chocolate Protein Pancakes (Keto, Gluten-Free)

Christel OerumBy Christel Oerum on March 2, 2019, Updated May 10, 2020
Recipes

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure.

Chocolate Protein Pancakes (Keto, Gluten-Free)

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
Chocolate Protein Pancakes

These easy low-carb Chocolate Protein Pancakes are the perfect way to start the day! They’re packed with chocolate flavor but only have 5 grams of carbs per serving for a delicious, healthy breakfast.

A stack of chocolate protein pancakes topped with whipped cream and a sliced strawberry

Who doesn’t love diving into a stack of pancakes in the morning? They are easy to make and always taste delicious!

But traditional pancakes are full of empty carbohydrates and usually topped with sugar-rich syrup. They taste great, but they can lead to blood sugar spikes and low energy throughout the day.

The answer? Instead of traditional pancakes, whip up a batch of these chocolate protein pancakes! They have over 20 grams of protein and only 5 grams of carbs per serving, which makes them perfect for a healthy breakfast, even if you are on a low-carb or ketogenic diet.

You don’t even have to skip the syrup to enjoy your pancakes. Just grab a bottle of sugar-free syrup, which is available at most local supermarkets or online.

Stack of pancakes with whipped cream and a strawberry

How to make chocolate protein pancakes?

Step 1: Whisk together all of the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl until no lumps remain.

Step 2: Make a well in the middle of the dry ingredients and add the eggs, butter, cream cheese, and vanilla extract into the middle. 

Wet ingredients being added to the dry ingredients

Step 3: Fold the batter together gently and set aside for 5 minutes.

Smooth and mixed pancake batter

Step 4: Heat a non-stick frying pan over medium to high heat. 

Step 5: Add 1/4 cup of the batter to the pan at a time. Cook until bubbles form on the top surface, then flip over to cook on the other side, cooking for about 3 – 4 minutes per side.

Serve immediately with some sugar-free syrup or your desired low-carb toppings. I like to put a little whipped cream and a strawberry on top!

Stack of pancakes as seen from above

Cooking with coconut flour

Unlike traditional pancakes that use all-purpose flour, this recipe calls for coconut flour. If you’ve never cooked with coconut flour before, it’s an incredible alternative that significantly reduces carbs. 

Coconut flour is quite dense, so you will use much less than regular flour. By adding enough liquid, it will become very soft and fluffy when cooked.

This is why you need to let the batter rest for at least 5 minutes. This allows the coconut flour to absorb the moisture and give the pancakes a better texture.

Tips for cooking the perfect pancakes

Pancakes are known for being an easy breakfast food. However, there are a few tips and tricks to making the best pancakes possible!

First, don’t over-mix your batter. Leaving some small lumps can help the pancakes form and give them a nice texture.

If the batter is too wet and runny, it will spread into a much larger pancake, which can be difficult to flip. Add some more protein powder, one tablespoon at a time, until the mixture seems thick enough. On the other hand, if your batter is too dry, add some milk, one tablespoon at a time, until the batter reaches the right consistency. 

When cooking the pancakes, be sure to use a good-quality non-stick pan or a heavy-bottomed pan. A thin pan will cook the pancakes too quickly whereas a good-quality non-stick pan distributes the heat evenly and allows for even cooking throughout. 

Optionally, after scooping the batter into the hot pan, you can cover it with a tight-fitting lid to allow the pancake to cook on the top as well. This helps make the pancakes more fluffy and soft. 

Storage

These chocolate pancakes can be made ahead of time, or you can store any leftovers you may have.

Once the pancakes are cooked and cooled, place them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. 

It’s important to make sure the pancakes are completely cool before putting them in the refrigerator. If they are still warm, condensation will make the pancakes soggy.

When you’re ready to eat them, just heat them up in the microwave and enjoy! 

Other healthy low-carb pancake recipes

Looking for more healthy pancake recipes to start your day the right way? Here are a few of my favorites that I know you’ll love: 

  • Easy Protein Pancakes
  • Healthy Pumpkin Pancakes
  • Low-carb Cottage Cheese Pancakes

You can also check out this roundup I created of diabetic friendly pancake recipes for even more great ideas!

When you’ve tried this dish, please don’t forget to let me know how you liked it and rate the recipe in the comments below!

Recipe Card

Chocolate Protein Pancakes

These easy low-carb Chocolate Protein Pancakes are the perfect way to start the day! They're packed with chocolate flavor but only have 5 grams of carbs per serving for a delicious, healthy breakfast.
Prep Time:10 minutes
Cook Time:10 minutes
Total Time:20 minutes
Author:Christel Oerum
Servings:2 servings
4.1 from 10 votes
Review Print

Ingredients

Dry ingredients

  • 1 scoop vanilla protein powder 
  • 1 tbsp. cocoa powder
  • 2 tsp. baking powder
  • 1 tbsp. coconut flour
  • 1 tbsp. granulated sweetener
  • 1 pinch salt

Wet ingredients

  • 2 eggs
  • 4 tbsp. unsalted butter  (softened)
  • 1 tbsp. cream cheese
  • 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Whisk together all of the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl until no lumps remain.
  • Make a well in the middle of the dry ingredients and add the eggs, butter, cream cheese, and vanilla extract into the middle.
  • Fold the batter together gently and set aside for 5 minutes.
  • Heat a non-stick frying pan over medium to high heat.
  • Add 1/4 cup of the batter to the pan at a time. Cook until bubbles form on the top surface, then flip over to cook on the other side, cooking for about 3 – 4 minutes per side.

Recipe Notes

This recipe is for 2 servings of chocolate pancakes. The number of pancakes per serving will depend on what size you make them, but there should be 2-3 per serving.
Don’t over-mix the batter. Some small lumps are fine.
After mixing the batter, allow it to rest for at least 5 minutes so the coconut flour can absorb the moisture.
If the batter is too thin, add more protein powder, one tablespoon at a time. If the batter is too thick, add milk one tablespoon at a time.
A good-quality non-stick pan or heavy-bottomed pan is best for cooking pancakes. A thin pan will cook the pancakes too quickly.
Cooked pancakes can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Make sure they are completely cool before storing, otherwise they will become soggy.

Nutrition Info Per Serving

Nutrition Facts
Chocolate Protein Pancakes
Amount Per Serving
Calories 379 Calories from Fat 282
% Daily Value*
Fat 31.3g48%
Saturated Fat 18g90%
Trans Fat 0g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1.9g
Monounsaturated Fat 8.4g
Cholesterol 262.5mg88%
Sodium 289.5mg12%
Potassium 194.3mg6%
Carbohydrates 5.4g2%
Fiber 2.8g11%
Sugar 1.4g2%
Protein 19g38%
Vitamin A 1075IU22%
Vitamin C 0mg0%
Calcium 237mg24%
Iron 1.7mg9%
Net carbs 2.6g
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Chocolate Protein Pancakes, keto pancakes
Did you make this recipe?Click here to leave a comment & star rating!

Success! Now check your email to download the eBook chapter.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

Powered by ConvertKit
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

Categories: Recipes Tags: Gluten Free, Keto, 30 min or less, Breakfast

Christel Oerum

About Christel Oerum

Christel is the founder of Diabetes Strong. She is a Certified Personal Trainer specializing in diabetes. As someone living with type 1 diabetes, Christel is particularly passionate about helping others with diabetes live active healthy lives. She’s a diabetes advocate, public speaker, and author of the popular diabetes book Fit With Diabetes.

View all posts by Christel Oerum

Related Posts

  • Keto Chocolate Brownies

    These indulgent keto chocolate brownies are gluten-free, sugar-free, and come together in one bowl! They're the perfect sweet treat for a low-carb diet. Making keto…

  • Slice of cheesecake with a bite missing
    Low-Carb Cheesecake (Keto & Gluten-Free)

    This gluten-free, low-carb cheesecake has the flavor and rich, creamy texture of a traditional cheesecake without the sugar! This is the perfect keto dessert to…

  • 10 Delicious Keto Fat Bombs
    10 Delicious Keto Fat Bomb Recipes

    Keto fat bombs are easy, on the go snacks that give you a little ‘pick me up’ of energy and a feeling of satiety. Here…

Previous Post: « Thyroid Disease and Diabetes – Symptoms, Tests, and Treatment Options
Next Post: 8 Diabetes-Friendly Pancake Recipes (Low-Carb) »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. AvatarRailRecipe says

    February 23, 2021 at 1:45 am

    Chocolate pancake is one of the most favorite dishes, loved by all age groups of peoples. The recipe you shared is really nice and easy to cook.

    Reply
  2. AvatarJannah says

    August 7, 2020 at 1:32 pm

    Why do they only last 24 hours in the fridge?

    Reply
    • Christel OerumChristel Oerum says

      August 8, 2020 at 12:07 pm

      That’s just a conservative estimate. They can tend to become somewhat dry if stored longer

      Reply
  3. AvatarDel says

    July 27, 2020 at 2:46 am

    Hi, is there a substitute for the vanilla protein powder?

    Reply
    • Christel OerumChristel Oerum says

      July 28, 2020 at 10:07 am

      This recipe needs the protein powder to work, but you can use another type of protein powder if you like. If you substitute the powder for flour it’s no longer a low carb recipe

      Reply
  4. AvatarKass says

    January 2, 2020 at 1:09 pm

    Am I able to freeze these

    Reply
    • Christel OerumChristel Oerum says

      January 2, 2020 at 2:31 pm

      I haven’t tried so I’m not sure how well they freeze

      Reply
  5. AvatarJamie says

    August 31, 2019 at 5:07 pm

    Hello. I’m curios why you use coconut flour instead of all purpose flour? And if I have plain protein powder can I use that instead? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Christel OerumChristel Oerum says

      September 1, 2019 at 3:19 pm

      Coconut flour is used in order to reduce the amount of carbohydrates in the recipe. You can use regular all-purpose flour but that will increase the carbohydrates significantly and it will no longer be “keto”. You can use a regular low carb protein powder if you wish

      Reply
  6. AvatarRhonda Brotherton says

    July 19, 2019 at 9:16 pm

    Is 2 pancakes a serving? Does the label number include a drizzle of sugar fee syrup? I am assuming not.

    Reply
    • Christel OerumChristel Oerum says

      July 20, 2019 at 5:47 pm

      The number of pancakes will depend on how large you make them. The batter portion is meant to serve 2 people. If you make them medium-sized you should have about 2-3 pancakes for each serving. The syrup we link to is calorie-free so won’t impact the nutrition value

      Reply
  7. AvatarLizayra says

    May 20, 2019 at 4:24 pm

    Was really good even mu son love it

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Popular Articles

What are normal blood sugar levels?

What are Normal Blood Sugar Levels?

How Natural & Artificial Sweeteners Affect Blood Sugar

The Best Sweeteners for People with Diabetes

How to lower your A1c

How to Lower Your A1c: The Complete Guide

How to cook chicken breast

How to Bake Chicken Breast in the Oven (So It’s Always Juicy)

How to Avoid High Morning Blood Sugars

How to Avoid High Morning Blood Sugar

Diabetes meal plan

7 -Day Diabetes Meal Plan (with Printable Grocery List)

Footer

Follow Us on Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Disclosures
  • Media
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Editorial Policy
  • Advertisement Policy

© 2015 – 2020 Diabetes Strong. All right reserved. Diabetes Strong does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. GET ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.