These popular vegan buckwheat pancakes are easy to make, gluten-free and perfect any day of the week.

A stack of buckwheat pancakes on a plate, topped with blueberry, banana and syrup.

Love pancakes? You’ll love these healthy buckwheat pancakes! They’re easy to make, gluten-free, oil-free and come together in 15 minutes for a quick, hearty breakfast any day of the week.

This recipe is also egg-free and dairy-free so make an excellent option for those with allergies or other dietary restrictions.

Buckwheat flour is often categorized a grain but it’s actually not a grain at all! It’s a pseudo-cereal like quinoa. Buckwheat flour is nutritious and a good source of minerals and vitamins, as well as being high in protien and fiber than wheat flours.

Enjoy them straight from the pan, topped with blueberry, banana and syrup or stash them in the fridge or freezer and reheat in the toaster for a quick snack or breakfast.

Recipe Features

  • Dietary Needs: Vegan (dairy-free, eggless), oil-free, gluten-free and nut-free.
  • Nutrition Features: Under 300 calories per serving with 8 grams protein and 7 grams fiber.
  • Option to make sugar-free by using monk fruit sweetener, stevia or another sugar-free sweetener.
  • Easy to make in 15 minutes in one bowl.
  • Delicious nutty flavour and light, fluffy texture.
  • Easy to double and store well for quick grab-n-go breakfasts or snacks.
  • Try them with blueberries, raspberries, chocolate chips or any other add-ins.

Are buckwheat pancakes healthy?

Buckwheat pancakes provide a healthy alternative to pancakes made with white flour. These pancakes provide 7 grams of fiber and 8 grams of protein per serving for a more balanced meal.

It’s also possible to make the pancakes sugar-free by using a sugar-free sweetener like monk fruit or stevia and they make a great base for healthy additions like blueberries. Buckwheat is also naturally gluten-free, making buckwheat pancakes an excellent option for those with celiac or a gluten intolerance.

What’s the difference between buckwheat pancakes and regular pancakes?

Buckwheat pancakes have a nuttier, earthier flavour than regular pancakes made with white or whole wheat flavour. They may also vary from a light colour to a dark, greyish colour depending on if light or dark buckwheat flour is used.

Regardless of the differences, buckwheat pancakes still cook up wonderfully light, fluffy and delicious, just like traditional pancakes.

A sliced stack of blueberry and banana topped pancakes on a plate.

Ingredient Notes

A complete list of ingredients with amounts and full instructions is located in the printable recipe card below. This section covers ingredient and substitution considerations.

  1. Buckwheat flour. I used store-bought buckwheat flour for this recipe and have not tested it with homemade buckwheat flour or any other gluten-free flours. I used light buckwheat which is why my pancakes have a more traditional pancake colour. Dark buckwheat flour will result in darker, grainier pancakes but is still ok to use.
  2. Baking powder. It’s important to use active baking powder to give these some nice fluff! If you’re unsure if your baking powder is active, put 1 tsp in a small dish and pour hot water over it. It should bubble up right away if it’s active.
  3. Sweetener. I used maple syrup to sweeten these. It can be substituted with coconut sugar, agave or brown rice syrup. For sugar-free pancakes, sweeten to taste with stevia.
  4. Vinegar. The vinegar helps add some extra fluff to the recipe and gives it a subtle buttermilk flavour. You can use white vinegar, apple cider vinegar or lemon juice.
  5. Liquid. I have tested this recipe with water, almond milk and cashew milk and haven’t noticed much of a difference between them. They came out slightly fluffier when made with nut milk but in a pinch, water is totally fine!

How to Make Buckwheat Pancakes

Let’s go over a few tips and tricks for buckwheat pancake success!

Step 1. Combine the dry ingredients.

Mix the dry ingredients together in a bowl. Make sure to mix well thoroughly distribute the baking powder, salt and cinnamon.

Flour, cinnamon, baking powder and salt in a mixing bowl with a spoon.

Quick Note: Begin heating a non-stick pan or pancake griddle over medium heat so it’s fully heated when you’re ready to start cooking.

Step 2. Add the wet ingredients.

Add the sweetener, vanilla and milk to the dry ingredients and start folding together until the flour is all wetted. For a yummy variation, fold in 1/2 cup of fresh blueberries or a sprinkling of chocolate chips.

Once you’ve mixed it up, let it rest for 8-10 minutes while you heat the cooking surface.

Raw pancake batter in a mixing bowl.

Step 3. Cook the pancakes.

Make sure the pan or griddle is fully heated and prepped with a bit of non-stick cooking spray. Drop batter onto the pan in 1/4 cup portions.

Flip the pancakes when bubbles appear across each pancake and the sides start to look dry and firm. Flip and cook for a couple more minutes, repeating until you’ve used all the batter.

A plate full of pancakes.

Serve your buckwheat pancakes with maple syrup, banana, blueberries and any other toppings you enjoy!

A stack of buckwheat pancakes on a plate, topped with blueberry, banana and syrup.

Notes & Tips

Serving Size: I get 8 medium-sized pancakes out of this recipe but it can easily be doubled if you need a bigger batch. Leftovers keep great in the fridge and are quite tasty cold. They can also be reheated in the toaster!

Liquid Amount: Start with 3/4 cup liquid and add 1-2 tbsp more, if needed. If you use 3/4 cup, the batter will be quite thick and you will get 8 medium pancakes. You can add more liquid for slightly thinner pancakes and to stretch the batter further. I’ve found 1 cup of liquid to be too much though, so it’s better to start with 3/4 cup and add a touch more if needed.

If you do add too much liquid, no problem, just stir in a little more flour to thicken. I use 3/4 cup liquid as I like pancakes on the thicker side! If you do use up to 1 cup liquid they’ll be thin pancakes closer to crepes. Both are good, just depends what you like! Keep in mind the batter will also thicken a bit as it rests before cooking.

Measuring Accuracy: For best results, use a kitchen scale to measure ingredients.

FAQs

Is buckwheat gluten-free?

Yes. Although buckwheat has wheat in its name it’s not even related to wheat. In fact, buckwheat isn’t even a grain! So yes, buckwheat is gluten-free. Just make sure you use gluten-free certified buckwheat in severe cases such as coeliac.

What does buckwheat flour taste like?

Buckwheat has a delicious, earthy, nutty flavor that’s perfect in pancakes, baking and even savory recipes like veggie burgers.

Should I use light or dark buckwheat flour?

You will find two different kinds of buckwheat flour in stores, light, and dark. The difference being light buckwheat flour is ground from hulled buckwheat whereas dark buckwheat flour is made from unhulled buckwheat.

I prefer light buckwheat flour for baking and pancakes as it’s finer in texture and lighter in colour.

What if light or dark flour is not specified?

I’ve seen packaged buckwheat flour that does not specify light or dark. In those cases, it turned out to be dark buckwheat flour. Dark buckwheat flour is fine to use in these, the pancakes will just be darker in color and grainer than they’d be with light flour.

A sliced stack of buckwheat pancakes topped with blueberries and banana on a plate.

Storing & Reheating

  • Fridge: Leftover pancakes can be stored in the fridge in a sealed container or food storage bag for up to 3 days.
  • Enjoy cold or reheat briefly in the microwave, over or toaster.
  • Freezing: Let cool completely then either freeze on a baking tray then transfer to a freezer bag or sealed container or freeze with a piece of parchment between each pancake to avoid them sticking together.
  • If frozen, thaw briefly at room temperature or in the fridge or reheat from frozen in the microwave, oven or toaster.

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A stack of buckwheat pancakes on a plate, topped with blueberry, banana and syrup.

Vegan Buckwheat Pancakes

★★★★★ 4.9 from 55 reviews
  • Author: Deryn Macey
  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Cook Time: 10 mins
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 8 pancakes 1x
  • Category: Breakfast
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegan
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Description

These delicious buckwheat pancakes make the perfect breakfast. Naturally gluten-free, oil-free and refined sugar-free, this recipe is great for the whole family.

Ingredients

Scale

Instructions

  1. Mix the flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon together in a mixing bowl until well combined.
  2. Add the rest of the ingredients and gently fold together until all the flour is wetted. If it’s a bit clumpy, that’s great, do no over mix.
  3. Let the batter rest for 8-9 minutes while you heat a non-stick pan or griddle over medium heat.
  4. Spray the pan with non-stick cooking spray then scoop the batter onto the pan in scant 1/4 cup portions.
  5. Let cook until bubbles appear all over each pancake and the edges start to look dry and cooked, this should take 3-4 minutes. Flip and cook for 1-2 more minutes. Repeat until you’ve used all the batter, you should get about 8 pancakes.
  6. Enjoy right away topped with your favourite pancake toppings or store in the fridge or freezer. Leftovers can be reheated in the toaster or oven.

Notes

Start with 3/4 cup liquid and add 1-2 tbsp more, if needed. If you use 3/4 cup, the batter will be quite thick and you will get 8 medium pancakes. You can add more liquid for slightly thinner pancakes and to stretch the batter further. I’ve found 1 cup of liquid to be too much though, so it’s better to start with 3/4 cup and add a touch more if needed. If you do add too much liquid, no problem, just stir in a little more flour to thicken. I use 3/4 cup liquid as I like pancakes on the thicker side! If you do use up to 1 cup liquid they’ll be thin pancakes closer to crepes. Both are good, just depends what you like! Keep in mind the batter will also thicken a bit as it rests before cooking.

For blueberry buckwheat pancakes, fold in 1/2 cup of fresh blueberries after you mix in the wet ingredients.

I used store-bought light buckwheat flour for this recipe and have not tested it with homemade buckwheat flour or any other gluten-free flours. I used light buckwheat which is why my pancakes have a more traditional pancake color. Dark buckwheat flour will result in darker, grainier pancakes.

For best results, use a kitchen scale to measure ingredients.

I get 8 medium-sized pancakes out of this recipe but it can easily be doubled if you need a bigger batch. Leftovers keep great in the fridge and are quite tasty cold. They’re also perfect for reheating in the toaster!

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1/2 the recipe
  • Calories: 290
  • Sugar: 14 g
  • Sodium: 380 mg
  • Fat: 3 g
  • Carbohydrates: 63 g
  • Fiber: 7 g
  • Protein: 8 g

Keywords: buckwheat pancakes, vegan buckwheat pancakes, buckwheat flour pancakes

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