Recently I was in an online discussion about being or not being a pancake mom.

Pancakes are now my thing.  Key word being "now."  Early on in our marriage I was not a good pancake maker.  They came out burnt on the outside and gooey on the inside.  But when it comes to baking, I am not to be deterred!  I kept at it until I figured it out.

Most people have a pizza night in their family.  Reegan takes after her grandpa and is not much of a pizza eater, so we dubbed a pancake night!  Usually either Friday or Saturday.  I usually make something in keeping with the season.  This being autumn, I've been making pumpkin pancakes the past couple of weeks.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Pancakes

1-2/3 cups all-purpose flour

3 tablespoons brown sugar

1-3/4 teaspoons baking powder

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 teaspoon ground allspice

3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1-1/4 cups milk

3/4 cup pumpkin puree

1 egg

1 tablespoon and 2 teaspoons vegetable oil

2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar (I didn't have any, so I increased the milk a bit and it turned out great)

1/4 cup chocolate chips

Mix together the milk, pumpkin, egg, oil and vinegar. In a separate bowl combine the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, allspice, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg, stir into the pumpkin mixture just enough to combine. Mix in chocolate chips.

Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Use approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. 

First, I had to make the brown sugar.  Do you know how easy it is to make brown sugar?  You just have to mix some molasses (or treacle for those in the UK) and sugar.  I can't find American brown sugar (I've found natural cane sugar that has a similar consistency, but I love the flavor that molasses adds), so I make my own.

1 cup of sugar and 1 & 1/2 tablespoons of sugar gives you a cup of light brown sugar.  Increase the molasses to 1/4 cup for dark brown sugar.  I mix it in a jar with a fork to get it all mixed in.

I then chop up some chocolate.  This is actually the first European country I have lived in where I could buy chocolate chips.  They are in a teeniny bag though.  I've only bought them once.  They are the semisweet version and I am all about the milk chocolate.  So, I'll continue to chop up milk chocolate bars.

 Ready for the griddle!

 Yum!

These have a nice spiced flavor with a hint of sweet from the chocolate and were oh so good!!

I make pumpkin chocolate chip muffins every year, which I haven't made yet but plan to this week.  That's what inspired the pancakes.  And I have yet to make pumpkin crumble, but I plan to this season!

My mouth is watering just thinking of it!