Easy Pancake Muffins (Chocolate Chip)

Name: Easy Pancake Muffins (Chocolate Chip)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 2 cups pancake mix (, see note); ¾ cup dairy free milk; ½ cup unsweetened apple sauce; 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar; 4 teaspoons vanilla extract; 1 teaspoon cinnamon; ¼ teaspoon sea salt; 1 cup dairy free chips (, or chocolate chunks or chopped chocolate bar); maple syrup (, optional for serving)

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These easy pancake muffins use pancake mix and four other ingredients, plus add ins, to make delicious fluffy muffins in under 30 minutes!

You can easily customize these pancake mix muffins with fillings of your choice. A great snack for kids, especially as a grab and go option!

Maple syrup drizzling on a muffin cut in half laying on a tan plate in front of a white bowl with a towel filled with muffins.

This post was sponsored by Chelsea Approved but the content and opinions expressed are fully my own.

If you're looking for a full muffin recipe, try my vegan apple muffins or vegan banana muffins, but if you want something fast and easy this pancake muffin recipe using pancake mix is for you!

Ingredients

Making muffins with pancake mix is simple to do, and it's the perfect grab and go breakfast! This vegan and gluten free recipe is made with chocolate chips, but see below for different flavor ideas.

Here is what you need to make pancake muffins with mix:

Pancake mix
Dairy free milk
Unsweetened apple sauce
Apple cider vinegar
Vanilla extract
Cinnamon
Sea salt
Dairy free chips
Maple Syrup - optional for serving

A bag of pancake mix on a tan surface with apple sauce, milk, chocolate chips, seasonings, and brown liquids in different bowls and spoons.

I developed this recipe using a pancake mix from Chelsea Approved. I was blown away by their products! They have a line of baking mixes made with simple ingredients, and that are certified Gluten Free, Vegan, and Kosher.

When they say simple, they mean it! This pancake mix is made with buckwheat flour, cane sugar, baking soda, citric acid, and sea salt, that's it! Plus, it's super easy to use, whether you make pancakes, waffles, pancake muffins, or other baked goods.

And because I'm always up for a good backstory, I fell even more in love with the brand when I heard about Chelsea Approved. Chelsea was diagnosed with a condition that was exacerbated by certain foods. She figured out which foods to avoid to live her best life. Meanwhile, this inspired her family to create more food everyone, including Chelsea, could enjoy.

Chelsea (a Registered Dietitian) is still working together with her family to continue their journey making and sharing vegan and gluten free baking mixes with the world!

A bag of pancake mix in front of two other bags sitting on a tan surface with various ingredients to make muffins around them.

A spoon getting some pancake mix out of a tan and white bag of it and other bags and baking ingredients in the background.

How to Make Muffins With Pancake Mix

This recipe for pancake muffins is easy to put together in no time! Here's what to do:

Whisk together all of the ingredients, except for the chocolate chips, in a medium bowl.
Fold in the chocolate chips.
Pour the pancake muffins mix into a prepared muffin tin.
Bake.
Cool and enjoy!

NOTE: You can print the FULL recipe with all ingredients & detailed instructions below!

A glass bowl filled with flour in front of a bag of pancake mix surrounded by ingredients to make pancakes.

A glass bowl with ingredients to make pancake muffins about to be mixed together on a tan surface surrounded by more of those other ingredients.

Mix in Ideas

We like using chocolate chips, chocolate chunks, or a chopped chocolate bar to add extra flavor, but you can customize this pancake muffins recipe to make it your own!

Try any of the following:

Blueberries
Strawberries
Apples
Raisins
Nuts
Lemon or orange zest
Cinnamon and sugar
Cocoa powder
Pumpkin purée
Shredded dairy free cheese
Vegan bacon - try mushroom bacon or coconut bacon
Vegan sausage

What to Serve With Pancake Muffins

Dress up these muffin tin pancakes with any of the following toppings:

Maple Syrup
Whipped Cream
Chia Seed Jam
Homemade Nutella
Chocolate Syrup
Caramel Sauce
Date Paste
Or, make pancake cupcakes by topping them with Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting or Chocolate Frosting!

Make a full breakfast or brunch spread with any of the following dishes:

Preparation Tips

Don't over mix the batter, it can affect the texture.
Try to fill the muffin tin with batter evenly so they bake at the same rate.
This recipe uses a pancake mix by Chelsea Approved that is gluten free and contains sugar. If you can't find this brand, keep in mind:
- If you use a non gluten free mix, the end result may come out different.
- Additionally, if your pancake mix does not have sugar you will need to add some. I’d add about 8-10 tablespoons of cane sugar. Coconut sugar can work too but they won’t be as sweet.
The baking time may vary by a minute or two. Start checking them at 17 minutes and take out when a toothpick comes out clean and the tops just begin to get firm.
You can also make pancake mini muffins! Reduce the bake time to about 10-12 minutes and keep a close eye on them.

Storage Tips

Let the pancakes cool in the muffin tins. They will cook a little more.
- Once cool to the touch, remove and continue cooling on baking racks until completely cool.
Seal the muffins in an airtight container or bag.
Store at room temperature for up to 3-5 days.
You can also freeze them!
- Place them on a plate or baking sheet with room around each pancake muffin and flash freeze for 1-2 hours.
- Transfer to an airtight container or bag and freeze for up to 3 months.

Common Questions

Can you make muffins with pancake mix?

Yes! This recipe goes to show it's not only possible, but easy to make muffins from pancake mix.

Can you bake pancakes?

Yes, you can bake pancakes. Most people use a pie pan or sheet pan. The easiest way for single serving baked pancakes is by baking them in a muffin tin.

How long do you bake muffins at 350°?

These muffins are done baking between 17 and 20 minutes. Mini muffins will take less time, about 10-12.

What can you make with pancake mix?

There are so many possibilities for baking with pancake mix! These pancake bites are my favorite, but you can also make biscuits, coffee cake, desserts, or even use for savory dishes like pot pie.

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