Cast Iron

Olive Oil Pancakes with Dark Chocolate and Sea Salt

by:
June 15, 2021
4.5
11 Ratings
Olive Oil Pancakes with Dark Chocolate and Sea Salt
Photo by James Ransom
  • Prep time 15 minutes
  • Cook time 40 minutes
  • Makes 10 to 12 six-inch pancakes
Author Notes

Amanda's chocolate toast (baguette + dark chocolate + olive oil + sea salt) easily makes the top five list of my favorite flavor combinations. Whenever the stars align and i have extra good bread and chocolate in the house, that aren't destined for some other end, I make myself a few pieces of that wonderful toast. These pancakes were inspired by Amanda's chocolate toast, and I think the combination is just as wonderful in pancake form. I used Cook's Illustrated's Light and Fluffy Pancake batter as a jumping off point, swapping the melted butter for olive oil and subbing buttermilk, but then I added a few tricks borrowed from Aretha Frankenstein's brilliant (genius!) waffle recipe- I replaced 1/4 of the flour with cornstarch and let the batter rest for 30 minutes before cooking. Finally, in order to enhance the crispy edges I had achieved by adding the cornstarch, I fried each pancakes in a couple of tablespoons of canola oil (I did a side-by-side comparison of olive oil-fried and canola oil-fried pancakes, and preferred the canola), just like my friend Molly's mom would do when she made us chocolate chip pancakes in high school. —arielleclementine

Test Kitchen Notes

The olive oil, salt and chocolate combo really is a good one. And these super easy, fluffy pancakes are a great backdrop for it. The recipe is a good buttermilk pancake batter on its own before you add chocolate and salt. With the resting and the starch they are quite tender. The orange zest and drizzle of olive oil work nicely, but I have to admit that syrup was good too. To avoid burning the chocolate when you flip, add a spoonful of batter on top of the chocolate bits. —Stephanie Bourgeois

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 cups buttermilk
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 large egg, beaten
  • 1/4 cup canola oil, for frying, plus more as needed
  • 1 bar of your favorite dark chocolate (appx 4 oz), chopped into 1/2 inch chunks
  • 1 tablespoon flaky sea salt
  • 2 tablespoons good extra virgin olive oil, Spanish if you've got it, for serving, plus more as needed
  • 1 orange, zest of, for serving (thanks to aargersi for the idea!)
Directions
  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a small bowl, combine the buttermilk, 3 tablespoons of olive oil, and the beaten egg. Pour the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients and whisk a few times, so that the items are just combined, but some lumps remain. Allow the batter to rest 30 minutes if you've got the time.
  2. Heat a large heavy-bottomed skillet (cast iron if you've got it) over medium-low heat. Add a couple tablespoons of canola oil and heat until shimmery. Pour 1/2 cup of batter into the center of the pan and immediately scatter a generous tablespoon of chocolate chunks over the pancake, then top that with a small pinch of flaky sea salt, trying not to crush the flakes, if possible. Cook 1 to 2 minutes, until hollow bubbles appear around the top of the pancake and the edge looks good and crispy. Flip, and cook about 1 minute more, or until the bottom is evenly browned. Repeat this step, one pancake at a time, adding more oil as necessary, until all the batter has been used.
  3. Serve the pancakes with a drizzle of good olive oil instead of butter and syrup (sounds weird but it works!) and some freshly grated orange zest. Yay pancakes!
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arielleclementine
I have always loved food. My favorite books as a kid always featured food (eg. The Berenstain Bears Get the Gimmies- so much candy!) and I loved cooking shows like Yan Can Cook and The Frugal Gourmet. I started cooking the Thanksgiving dinner for my family when I was 13 years old. I have food52 to thank for inspiring me to come up with my own recipes, as well as for introducing me to a community of fantastic cooks and their amazing recipes. I try my best to cook locally and seasonally, and I tend to prefer straightforward, simple recipes where the ingredients get to shine. I live in wonderful Austin, Texas with my husband, Andy (a video game programmer) and my son, Henry (an 8-month-old who loves to eat).

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37 Reviews

NXL
NXL November 4, 2021
These are so delicious! I used bittersweet chocolate and served as suggested. The medium low heat didn't get the job done, so I cooked on medium. Also, only got 7 pancakes using the half cup measure. Definitely would make again...
 
Zixin C.
Zixin C. April 4, 2014
Love the recipe! It was so delicious, thank you very much. <3 and, as you could probably imagine, lemon zest works just as beautifully with a different sort of fragrant kick. ;)
 
Tracey M.
Tracey M. December 28, 2013
Made these pancakes Christmas morning and everyone them! The olive oil drizzle is a wonderful idea. Will include the orange zest next time (which will probably be tomorrow!).
 
Ashley M.
Ashley M. December 15, 2013
Made these this morning - No buttermilk so I used the whole milk-vinegar trick and it worked beautifully. LOVED drizzling with EVOO instead of butter and syrup - they were so rich I can't imagine putting syrup on them!!
 
Camille F.
Camille F. October 12, 2013
Hi! I only have this generic powdered buttermilk lying around. I don't even know how to use it and have found lots of people online saying that powdered buttermilk cannot be used as is or diluted with water when it comes to baking and stuff like that. Can you tell me how to use the powdered buttermilk so I can make this glorious glorious pancake recipe? Thank you so much.
 
Gloria P.
Gloria P. November 2, 2015
there must be something on the box that tells you had to make it a liquid ie: water + buttermilk mix
 
SunBunny
SunBunny October 6, 2013
Thanks for turning my wheels Arielle. Great recipe.
 
DianeS
DianeS May 13, 2013
My husband and son made these for me (and themselves, of course!) for Mother's Day. How much more fabulous and decadent could a breakfast be? Orange zest was a great addition. Some used maple syrup, which was also good.
 
arielleclementine
arielleclementine May 13, 2013
how wonderful! i'm thrilled you enjoyed them! happy mother's day :)
 
candaceb
candaceb January 27, 2013
Aww, Arielle, you are the best at taking old favorites and updating them to pure heaven!
 
Lara C.
Lara C. January 19, 2013
made these today, delicious! the best pancakes ever :)
 
EmilyC
EmilyC July 31, 2012
I tried these and they are awesome! Love how crispy they get. This is officially my new go-to pancake recipe, whether I'm adding chocolate, blueberries, or just going plain.
 
Kitchen B.
Kitchen B. April 28, 2012
Oh my, this reminds me of my favourite icecream combo's - the best vanilla ice cream, with the best olive oil you can find, a pinch of sea salt and grated orange zest!!!! A must try. Thank and congrats on the CP
 
LeBec F.
LeBec F. April 28, 2012
kb, don't forget the mayo! (just kidding:-)
 
arielleclementine
arielleclementine April 30, 2012
that sounds completely brilliant! i will definitely be trying it!
 
dani
dani April 27, 2012
I hope you'll make these for me next time I visit.
 
arielleclementine
arielleclementine April 30, 2012
thanks mama! it would be my very great pleasure :)
 
Ms. T.
Ms. T. April 27, 2012
Mmm, I am SO adding these to my list! Congrats on the CP :)
 
arielleclementine
arielleclementine April 30, 2012
hooray! thanks, Ms. T!!
 
Shalini
Shalini April 27, 2012
These look great! I think the crispy edges with the buttermilk fluff and tang and the cornstarch and the chocolate and the sea salt and the olive oil all sound delicious! Can't wait to try them!!
 
arielleclementine
arielleclementine April 30, 2012
thanks, Shalini! amanda is a super genius with the flavor combinations! i'd never have thought to put olive oil with chocolate and sea salt, but it really is outstanding.
 
fiveandspice
fiveandspice April 26, 2012
Congrats on the CP Arielle! I don't know how I missed these, but oh my gosh best combination ever all wrapped in fluffy delicious pancakes! Wow.
 
arielleclementine
arielleclementine April 27, 2012
oh thanks fiveandspice!! you're the nicest :)
 
MeghanVK
MeghanVK April 26, 2012
Love the flavor combo.
 
arielleclementine
arielleclementine April 26, 2012
thanks so much, MeghanVK and many congrats on your win! it's a beautiful recipe :)
 
mrslarkin
mrslarkin April 26, 2012
yahoo! i knew this would be a CP. Congrats, ac.
 
arielleclementine
arielleclementine April 26, 2012
so nice! thanks mrslarkin!!
 
elizabethintexas
elizabethintexas April 19, 2012
I make a version of these and I would eat them every day if my family allowed it. They are delicious.
 
arielleclementine
arielleclementine April 26, 2012
haha! completely agree elizabethintexas! i'm in texas too! (austin!)
 
arielleclementine
arielleclementine April 13, 2012
thanks so much everybody!!
 
mrslarkin
mrslarkin April 13, 2012
Hooray for pancakes! This sounds brilliant!!