Fluffy Vegan Whole Wheat Pancakes
These fluffy vegan whole wheat pancakes take just minutes to make with basic ingredients for an easy and delicious breakfast.
This easy pancake recipe only takes a few minutes to whip up with simple ingredients. They might just be the best vegan pancakes around! You’ll love how light and fluffy they are.
Made with whole wheat flour, they’re quite filling too and can even be made sugar-free if needed. Enjoy a big stack for breakfast (or dinner!) with all your favourite toppings like fresh fruit and maple syrup.
Table of Contents
Recipe Features
- Dietary Features: Vegan (dairy-free and egg-free), oil-free, nut-free and can be sugar-free.
- Easy to double or triple for a family-sized batch.
- Customize by adding banana, berries or chocolate chips.
- Super easy to make with minimal basic ingredients needed!
- The best light and fluffy texture and delicious, nutty, whole grain flavour.
- 5-star reviewed recipe that everyone loves.
Ingredient & Substitution 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.
This recipe is essentially just 3 ingredients: whole wheat flour, baking powder and a sweetener. The liquid can be water or milk and cinnamon and vanilla are optional!
- Whole Wheat Flour: The recipes uses 100% whole wheat flour but all-purpose flour, white whole wheat flour or a 1:1 all-purpose gluten-free flour will also work.
- Baking Powder: Be sure to use baking powder, not baking soda. For the best fluffy pancakes, make sure your baking powder is active. You can quickly test it if you’re unsure but adding 2 tsp to 1/2 cup of hot water. If it fizzes, you’re good to go!
- Liquid: You can use any kind of plant-based milk (almond milk, soy milk etc.) or just water. I don’t notice much different between milk and water, so I usually just use water to keep it super simple.
- Sweetener: You can use maple syrup, coconut sugar, cane sugar or for sugar-free pancakes, stevia, monk fruit sweetener or erythritol.
- Flavour Enhancers: Vanilla and cinnamon are optional but add extra flavour.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Scroll down to find the complete written recipe. This section features a quick, visual reference of the steps for making these.
Step 1: Mix the dry ingredients together in a mixing bowl.
I like to use a fork or whisk to help break up any lumps of flour and help thoroughly distribute the baking powder and salt. This is important for a fluffy result!
Step 2: Start heating a non-stick skillet, pancake griddle or crepe pan over medium heat. Add your liquid to the dry ingredients and gently fold until all the flour is wetted.
The batter will be quite thick and almost foam-like, but still pourable. This is perfect and means the baking powder is working.
Quick Tip: Let the batter rest for 5-10 minutes while you wait for the cooking surface to heat. This is key for fluffiness.
Step 3: Once the pan is hot, use a bit of non-stick cooking spray, if needed, then add approximately 1/3 cup portions of the batter to the pan.
Let them cook until the edges appear dry, firm and golden brown, and small bubbles are starting to appear in the batter. This should take about 4-5 minutes.
Flip and cook for another 30-90 seconds until cooked through and brown on both sides.
Repeat until you’ve used up the remaining batter. If you like, you can keep them warm in the oven at a low temperature until you’re ready to serve.
Notes and Tips
For Vegan Buttermilk Pancakes: For a slightly tangy buttermilk flavour and a bit more rise to your pancakes, you can add 1-2 tsp of lemon juice, apple cider vinegar or white vinegar to the non-dairy milk and let it sit for 2-3 minutes before adding it to the batter.
FAQs
Nope! This recipe works without eggs or an egg substitute like a flax egg but you can add one if you’d like for a bit of extra nutrition.
For pancake recipes that use flax, try my quinoa flour pancakes or coconut blueberry pancakes.
It really depends on your pan. I have a pan that will work without any oil or cooking spray but another that needs it otherwise my pancakes will stick.
If needed, I recommend dabbing a paper towel in avocado oil, olive oil or coconut oil to lightly grease your cooking surface or using light coating of nonstick avocado, olive or coconut oil spray.
You can, so feel free to make a double or triple batch and stash some in the freezer.
I suggest freezing them on a baking tray first then transferring them to a freezer bag or airtight container. Otherwise, freeze them with a small square of parchment paper between each one to prevent them from sticking together.
The frozen pancakes can be thawed briefly at room temperature then reheated in the oven, a toaster oven, microwave or even popped in the toaster.
Topping Ideas
Below are some yummy ideas for topping your pancakes:
- Toasted coconut flakes or coconut bacon.
- Quick chocolate sauce: Mix melted coconut oil and cocoa powder together at a 1:1 ratio then sweeten to taste with maple syrup, agave syrup, liquid monk fruit sweetener or stevia. Melted chocolate chips or dark chocolate also works.
- Date caramel, date paste or homemade caramel sauce.
- Nuts: Walnuts, pecans or slivered almonds.
- Sautéed apples or baked apple slices.
- Caramelized banana or sliced banana.
- Nut or seed butter like peanut butter, almond butter, tahini or coconut butter.
- Maple syrup or agave syrup (tahini and maple syrup is amazing together!).
- Chocolate chips: For chocolate chip pancakes, mix 4 tbsp into batter or sprinkle a few onto each pancake once you add the batter to the pan.
- Fresh or thawed frozen berries. For blueberry pancakes, gently fold up to 1 cup fresh berries into the batter or drop a few fresh or frozen berries onto each pancake after you add the batter to the pan.
- For a special occasion, like Christmas or Easter morning, try them toped with coconut whipped cream and strawberries.
- Blueberry Chia Jam
Did you try this recipe? I’d love to hear about it! Click here to leave a review.
PrintWhole Wheat Fluffy Vegan Pancakes
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 5 mins
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 2 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This whole wheat vegan pancake recipes is sure to be your new go-to for easy, fluffy and delicious pancakes.
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole wheat flour (120 g)
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk (250 ml)
- 2 tbsp pure maple syrup (30 ml)
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon, optional
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract, optional
Instructions
- Mix together the whole wheat flour, baking powder, sea salt and cinnamon (if using) in medium mixing bowl using a fork or whisk to help break up any lumps of flour and distribute the baking powder and salt.
- Add the wet ingredients (non-dairy milk and maple syrup) and gently mix until all the flour has been mixed in. The batter will be thick and slightly lumpy.
- Let the batter rest for at least 5 minutes while you heat a nonstick skillet or griddle over medium heat.
- If needed, lightly oil the pan with coconut oil or olive oil or spray with a light coating of non-stick cooking spray, then scoop approximately 1/3 cup portions of the batter onto the pan.
- Cook the pancakes until the edges look dry, firm and golden brown and bubbles are appearing, then flip and cook for another 30-90 seconds until thick, fluffy and browned on both sides.
- Repeat with the remaining batter then serve right away with your favourite pancake toppings like fresh fruit and maple syrup.
Notes
Sweetener: Maple syrup can be substituted with your choice of sweetener such as coconut sugar, cane sugar, brown sugar or for sugar-free pancakes, stevia, monk fruit sweetener or erythritol.
Liquid: Almond milk can be substituted with any non-dairy milk (except canned coconut milk) or water.
For Buttermilk Pancakes: Use all-purpose flour instead of whole wheat flour and add 2 tsp lemon juice, apple cider vinegar or white vinegar to the milk and let sit for a few minutes before adding to the batter.
For best results, make sure you active baking powder. If you’re unsure if your baking powder is still good, you can test it by by mixing 1 teaspoon of baking powder with 1/3 cup hot water. If the baking powder is fresh, the mixture should fizz.
Add-Ins: Try mixing up to 1/2 cup fresh blueberries or 4 tbsp vegan chocolate chips into the batter or dropping a few onto each pancake after you’ve added the batter to the pan.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 of recipe
- Calories: 276
- Sugar: 12 g
- Fat: 3 g
- Carbohydrates: 57 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 9 g
Keywords: whole wheat vegan pancakes, oil-free vegan pancakes
Originally published January 26, 2014.
HI, I just made these! They were great , thank you so much!!
Delicious with raspberries, blueberries and maple syrup!!
I used organic whole meal flour and what a great way to get your fibre for the day!
Best wishes!
★★★★★
Great! So happy you enjoyed them. Thank you for the review!
I never leave reviews but these are the best vegan pancakes I have ever made!
★★★★★
So glad you enjoyed them! And reviews are super helpful and appreciated, so thanks for taking the time!
1 cup whole wheat flour (120 g) … can I please check this with you? In Australia a cup is 250g.
Thanks 🙂
One cup of flour or one cup in general? Flour is typically 30 g per 1/4 cup serving, or 120 g per cup, as per most brands packaging. If you have a 1 cup measuring cup that reads 250 ml, that is the right size. Thanks!
Made this recipe thrice , awesome! I use brown sugar , same measurement and water instead of milk ,plus added optional ingredient,overall the taste isn’t too sweet ,just on point sweetness, made it for my mom and aunt, they both said it’s awesome even though I didn’t made it for myself to really eat it, only tasted a few bites to test whether it’s ok for the first time I made this, additionally ,i made it for them just to be grateful for their hardwork in work life, anyway Thanks for the recipe !I’m also grateful for it, Cheers from Singapore!
★★★★★
Amazing! So happy they were enjoyed. Thanks for the review!
I love these pancakes. They are so yummy, light and truly fluffy.
I used monk fruit sugar instead of stevia or maple syrup. Just the right amount of sweetness. Thanks so much for this recipe, I have been craving buckwheat pancakes for years.
★★★★★
These were amazing. I used swerve to keep it low sugar. So easy to make. Thank you!
★★★★★
Perfect! So glad they were enjoyed.
Super easy to make, and delicious!
★★★★★
Glad you enjoyed them, Sarah!
Perfect! Just added a bit of wheat bran and flaxmeal, and topped with fresh strawberries. My go-to pancake recipe!
Yum! Glad you enjoy them! They’re my go-to as well. 🙂
I’ve used and shared this recipe with several friends. It’s so good I can’t stop making them lol.
★★★★★
Haha, that’s awesome! Thanks for sharing!
Wow, the cinnamon makes them pop, yummy!
★★★★★
fluffy and surprisingly tasty! I used less salt but added flax seed and peanut butter powder….. yum yum
★★★★★
Great basic recipe! I used 1/2 water and 1/2 plain yogurt, topped with fresh organic blueberries.
The key is to get the griddle just the right temp. Thank You
★★★★★
Great! So glad you enjoyed them. Blueberries are the perfect topping! Thanks for the review.
Awesome! Sturdy little pancakes, in fact, I am going to
use them as the ‘ biscuit, shell, bagel’ to hold breakfast –
like- rice, tofu eggs, fruits and veggies. Hub is not WFPB using it
as a healthier substitute for drive thru ‘McGriddles.’
and I can work in some ‘substitutes’ for his sandwich
at times. ; )
★★★★★
Great pancakes. P! My husband and I have avoided most animal products (beef, chicken, pork) since March and have focused on whole plant-based foods. I heated blueberries and crumbled a mixture of pecans and walnuts for a hearty topping. They were yummy. I prepared with unsweetened almond milk and added ground flaxseed to add nutritional value. This will be my go to pancake recipe on Saturday mornings. I am not a pancake fan but I loved these.
★★★★★
My husband is not a pancake eater. But he’s asked me twice so far to make them. These are fantastic. I made extra from the batter and froze them. When he asks for them, I warm them in the oven. So good. 😋
★★★★★
Perfect! So glad you’ve been enjoying them. Thanks for the review!
I cannot believe how simple yet incredible this recipe is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
★★★★★
Amazing!! I’m so glad it received so many exclamation points, haha! Thanks for leaving a review, so happy to hear you loved them.
Can I make it with oat flour?
This recipe won’t work with just oat flour, you’d need to add something else or use a gluten-free blend. I have buckwheat flour and chickpea flour pancake recipes if that helps! Otherwise, I’d suggest looking online for a vegan oat flour pancake.
The “BEST” pancakes! I ran out of my organic sprouted grain pancake and waffle mix. It’s impossible to find and I was having to buy it on line. I googled recipes this am and found yours. Needless to say, I won’t be buying the organic mix anymore. I did add 2 tablespoons of applesauce and omitted the maple syrup. Also added blueberries! Totally awesome…..THANK YOU!
★★★★★
Perfect! I’m so happy to hear you found a new go-to. Thanks for letting me know!
Hi, would love to try these, do you think it’ll work with buckwheat flour ?
Thank you kindly
I’m not sure but I have a popular buckwheat flour pancake recipe here!
Thank you so much this worked out perfectly!!
★★★★★
So glad they worked out for you, Seth! Thanks for letting me know.
Can I use this recipe for my waffle iron? I do not like pancakes but I love making waffles?
I use this recipe for waffles and pancakes all the time. Works perfect either way!
★★★★★