Pumpkin Chocolate Applesauce Protein Pancakes

Fall flavors are here and the two favorites amongst the crowd are apple and pumpkin. Two flavors you can never go wrong with. Two foods that are also shelf-stable if you consider applesauce and canned pumpkin. This recipe has a bit of a twist though. For starters we use pumpkin flavor, but not real pumpkin in this one. Look, I had to find some recipes to tone down my usage of the can stock, Secondly, we add chocolate because everyone needs some chocolate in their life. 

This is honestly one of my favorite recipes because it's simple, uses pretty much almost all shelf stable pantry items and is a nutritious one. 

My favorite component and the secret to a rich chocolate flavor is the addition of cacao powder. Cacao powder is unsweetened dark chocolate in its raw form and has so many great health boosting benefits. I tend to buy the Navitas Organic brand on-sale or the Trader Joe’s brand of this food and always have it on-hand. The Trader Joe's is definitely more affordable if you're banking on a budget.

You’ll need:

• ¾ cup Pumpkin Spice Pamcakes’ Pancakes Protein Waffle Mix. 

  • (Code KATIEKREATES saves you 10%)

• 1 scoop of Chocolate Protein Powder

  •  (I use Iconic Chocolate Protein Powder)

• 2.5 tbsp of Cacao Powder

  • I use either Navitas Organic or Trader Joe’s

• 1 scoop of Collagen Powder 

  • I use the Vital Proteins Unsweetened

• 1/2 cup of Unsweetened Applesauce 

• 3 tbsp Liquid Egg Whites

• 1/2 tsp of Pumpkin Pie Spice

• 1-2 tbsp Baking Powder

• Water to consistency

I absolutely love starting off my recipes by measuring my dry ingredients into a mixing bowl. I add in the protein pancake mix and the vanilla protein powder.

To start (K)reating your perfect fall morning breakfast, you’ll want to begin by taking a medium sized mixing bowl and adding the dry ingredients of the protein pancake mix, cacao powder, collagen powder, and protein powder into a bowl. Then, you’ll add the applesauce to the mix. I tend to utilize the single containers of the motts unsweetened applesauce

Once you pour those into the bowl, you'll add the baking powder and pour the liquid egg whites directly on top of the baking powder to help create the fluffiness. Slowly add water as you whisk the batter together until you reach desired consistency. 

Once the batter is whisked together, let the batter rise for a few moments while you heat up your griddle! You may benefit by giving the griddle a little spritz of cooking spray to avoid the griddle from sticking. I love using the Dash griddle or a fun shaped pancake one. It definitely makes it more festive and enjoyable especially if you're making these for families, events, or large groups of people. 

Once the Pancakes are finished you can add your favorite toppings. I really love using Greek yogurt, cinnamon, whipped cream, cream cheese, cottage cheese etc., to make a more fulfilling and satisfying meal. You can tell I love dairy haha, but there’s no limit on what you can do when it comes to toppings. That’s the beauty of toppings, and pancakes they are so customizable to what one desires in the moment.