Valentine's Day Pancakes (Heart Shaped Pancakes)

Published: Feb 11, 2014 · Modified: Jan 30, 2023 by Rebecca Pytell · This post may contain affiliate links.

These Valentine's Day Pancakes are easy-to-make gluten-free heart-shaped pancakes, perfect for showing that special someone some extra love! Healthy and vegan chocolate raspberry pancakes make a delicious breakfast-in-bed surprise for kids and adults! Cute and naturally sweet, bursting with real raspberries and cocoa powder, this recipe can be made any day of the year!

There's only one breakfast idea fit for Valentine's Day and it must include pancakes, chocolate, and hearts. That's why these heart-shaped Valentine's Day pancakes are the only recipe you should think about making this year! Healthy gluten-free chocolate pancakes filled with real raspberries and cooked using a heart-shaped pancake mold! These festive heart pancakes will be loved by anyone you make them for; kids, adults, or even just for yourself!

Why You'll Love This Valentine's Day Breakfast Recipe

While you can make these heart pancakes any day of the year, they're ideal for Valentine's Day! This simple homemade recipe is allergy-free and safe for everyone to indulge in! These chocolate pancakes are:

Gluten-Free
Vegan
Allergy-free (Dairy-Free, Soy-Free, Egg-Free, Nut-Free, Peanut-Free, Wheat-Free, Sesame-Free, Corn-Free, Coconut-Free)
Sugar-Free or Low-Sugar
Quick, Easy, Simple Ingredients
Kid-Friendly
Make-Ahead & Freezer-Friendly
Perfect Valentine's Day Breakfast or Brunch Idea

Ingredients You'll Need

Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour: Use your favorite all-purpose gluten-free flour as the base of your pancake batter.
Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: These healthy chocolate raspberry pancakes are made with real cocoa powder for an intense and rich chocolate taste without the added sugar or fats.
Baking Powder: Extra baking powder is the key to extra fluffy pancakes!
Applesauce: Just ¼ cup of unsweetened applesauce will work as your eggless binder for these vegan pancakes and provide natural sweetness!
Non-Dairy Milk or Water: You can use whatever non-dairy milk you have in the fridge or just use water for this recipe.
Raspberry Extract: Not only does this recipe include real raspberries, but it also includes raspberry extract for an even greater flavor!
Raspberries: You can use fresh raspberries or, depending on the season and store availability, you can use frozen! Frozen raspberries are actually easier to use and are typically crushed up and smaller, making them perfect for these heart pancakes!

Ingredient Substitutions & Topping Ideas

The original recipe published in 2014 called for Ener-G egg replacer. You can use the equivalent of 1 egg for this recipe if you choose, instead of applesauce.
If you want to add additional sweetener to your pancakes, you can add a tablespoon of granulated sugar-free sweetener or sugar.
The original recipe used half all-purpose flour and half buckwheat flour. If you want to keep this nutritious whole-grain mix, swap ¼ cup of all-purpose flour for buckwheat flour.
If you don't have raspberry extract, just use vanilla extract!
Add two to three tablespoons of mini or regular vegan chocolate chips to this recipe for even more chocolaty goodness!
Top your pancakes with pure maple syrup or use some chocolate syrup or sugar-free chocolate stevia syrup!
Some coconut whipped cream or vegan fluff is also a great topping idea for these Valentine's Day pancakes!

How To Make Heart-Shaped Valentine's Day Pancakes

In a medium-sized bowl, mix together the gluten-free flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and optional sweetener until combined.
Add in the applesauce, raspberry or vanilla extract, and non-dairy milk. Mix everything together until just combined, careful not to overmix the batter.
Gently fold in the raspberries and allow the batter to rest while you heat a skillet over medium-high heat.
Grease your heart-shaped pancake molds using non-stick spray or a paper towel dabbed with oil.
Place the mold in the center of the hot skillet before adding about 3 tablespoons of the batter to the mold.
Once bubbles form on the top of the batter, after about 2 minutes, gently lift the mold off, (use a butter knife to help if needed), before flipping the heart pancake over with a spatula.
Cook the pancake for an additional 2 minutes before removing and repeating the process with the rest of the batter.

Can You Make Heart Pancakes Without A Mold?

If you don't have a heart-shaped mold (buy one here), you can also use a squeeze bottle. Your heart shape will be less precise, but will still work in a pinch! Fill the squeeze bottle with the pancake batter and draw a heart outline on the hot skillet before filling it in with more batter. Cook the batter the exact same way as you would if using a mold.

Storage Instructions

Make-Ahead: To make these Valentine's Day pancakes ahead of time, mix together the batter and cook the pancakes as instructed. Allow the pancakes to cool on a wire rack before storing them in a container or plastic bag in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Leftovers: If you make a big batch and have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container or plastic bag in the fridge for up to 2 days.
To Freeze: To freeze the cooked pancakes, allow them to cool on a wire rack before wrapping them in wax paper and allowing them to freeze flat in a storage container or plastic storage bag in the freezer. Use within 4-6 months for best quality.
To Reheat: Reheat leftover pancakes from the fridge in the microwave for 45-60 seconds. Wrap the pancakes in a damp paper towel to keep them soft and moist. If reheating frozen pancakes, you can use the microwave or ideally the toaster oven (or regular oven) at 350°F and allow the pancakes to evenly warm and the edges and steam on the inside.

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