Vegan Buckwheat Pancakes
These popular vegan buckwheat pancakes are easy to make, gluten-free and perfect any day of the week.
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.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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.
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.
Serve your buckwheat pancakes with maple syrup, banana, blueberries and any other toppings you enjoy!
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
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.
Buckwheat has a delicious, earthy, nutty flavor that’s perfect in pancakes, baking and even savory recipes like veggie burgers.
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.
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.
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.
Did you try this recipe?
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I’d love to hear about it! Click here to leave a review and be sure to tag me @runningonrealfood if you post it on social media.
Vegan Buckwheat Pancakes
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 10 mins
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 8 pancakes 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
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
- 1 cup (120 g) buckwheat flour
- 2 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 3/4 cup + 1-2 tbsp unsweetened almond or cashew milk (see notes, can use water if needed)
- 2 tsp apple cider vinegar or lemon juice
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
Instructions
- Mix the flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon together in a mixing bowl until well combined.
- 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.
- Let the batter rest for 8-9 minutes while you heat a non-stick pan or griddle over medium heat.
- Spray the pan with non-stick cooking spray then scoop the batter onto the pan in scant 1/4 cup portions.
- 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.
- 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
This is the perfect pancake recipe. Have been making twice a week the whole family loves it ! Thanks!
★★★★
Just made the buckwheat pancakes. Yummy. Added a little ground flax seed and blackberrys. A tad bit more milk. I used the 3 sisters oat and seed milk, it worked well. Thank you for sharing your recipe
I tried so much different egg free pancake recipes and never got success. This one however turned out great. Super tasty and fluffy, I put some coconut yogurt and blueberries on top of it, it was divine. Thanks so much for the recipe.
★★★★★
Sounds delicious. Thanks, Bee!
Hi! I’m looking to make these for my 10 month old (with lots of food intolerances) if I omitted the maple syrup could I add mashed bananas to sweeten or would that change the texture too much? Thanks!!
That should be fine but they might be a bit denser and mushier with banana. Thanks!
Turned out great and very fluffy. Only issue is the taste of the baking soda. Does it need so much?
★★★★
I think it is because the recipe calls for baking powder rather than baking soda, which would alter the taste.
We love these pancakes ❤️. Blueberries mixed in or topped with maple syrup and fruit. One of my favorite breakfasts for camping or at home.
★★★★★
Awesome pancakes – these are the only GF vegan pancakes that have actually turned out fluffy and yummy. The texture is great, and they are super fluffy. I added a substitute egg to mine (from the Bob’s Red Mill egg powder). I mixed in a little GF flour to lighten up the buckwheat and used coconut oil for the pan.
The one thing I will note is that the portions from this OG recipe must be SMALL. I have no idea how you’d get 8 good sized pancakes from this recipe and be able to feed two adults. I doubled the recipe and only got ten 10″ pancakes (which I think are a good medium-sized portion). My recco would be to double the recipe if you’re feeding two or more people (so you can have leftovers as well).
Thanks for the feedback. Glad you enjoyed them!
Makes a good shape pancake and is easy, but tastes meh. This recipe needs a sweetener.
★★★
Did you add the maple syrup? You can always add more for sweeter pancakes!
For whatever reason, I have never had success making my own pancake batter..ever.. but THESE ARE A SUCCESS every time!! I used this recipe to make waffles which has now become a staple in my lifestyle. THANK YOU!!
★★★★★
Thank you for trying them! So happy you enjoy them 🙂
Can you store the batter in the fridge to cook the next day?
I haven’t tried that myself. I think it will get a little too thick after storing, so you may have to thin it out with more water before baking but other than that I don’t see why not. Let me know if you try it.
Wow! I am so happy I found this, I’m on a super restricted elimination diet right now but I can have everything in these, my oven is also broken so I used the airfryer and silicon moulds, they rose a lot so second batch I just made muffins! These were such a treat and amazing how they come out with no Flax seeds or oils!
★★★★★