Pumpkin Cacao Nib Pancake Stack

Halloween is nearly here! Can you believe it? I feel like it was just the start of the year and I was photographing my birthday tart. I was carving pumpkins with a group of friends last week and talking about how it was by far my favorite childhood activity above everything else. Even riding my bike! Pumpkin carving a multi-sensory experience for me and I have always enjoyed every bit of it. After talking about it for a few minutes, someone said, "So, Halloween must be your favorite holiday?". I had never really thought about it, but I guess it kind of is! I love Thanksgiving, but I think Halloween definitely holds the top spot.

I used to have a sort of Halloween season ritual as a kid. As soon as October 1st arrived, I would start planning for the holiday. I would check out the same Halloween book from the library every year. It was full of Halloween themed crafts, stories, and pictures. Upon getting it home I would plan out my costume, what decorations I wanted to create, and start thinking about the design for my jack-o-lantern. I would also insist that my mother buy these large orange trash bags with jack-o-lantern faces on them meant for filling with leaves and pine needles. I would happily help fill them up then place them in the front yard to act as bright orange sentries. All of the planning and scary movie watching would always culminate in me meticulously putting on my costume and heading out for some trick-or-treating on Halloween night. It was and still is the best time of year.

Since Halloween falls on a Saturday, I decided to give you some lazy Saturday morning breakfast inspiration. These pancakes are rather simple to put together. The maca and cacao nibs will give you some sustained energy for all of your Halloweeny festivities throughout the day without the crash that can accompany coffee. I love using cacao nibs in these because you get the flavors of chocolate without the added sugar. And, if you are making these for kids, they are getting a little dose of veggies in their breakfast with the added pumpkin puree. It's a win-win for everyone! Have a wonderful Halloween friends :)

If you are still looking for further Halloween treat inspiration, try these favorites from the archives:
* spiced apple pumpkin muffins with quinoa pepita streusel
* chai spiced dark chocolate chunk cookies 
* minty coconut & dark chocolate chunk patties
* dark chocolate pumpkin truffles with smoked sea salt
* monster munch
* cocoa hazelnut spread

Pumpkin Cacao Nib Pancake Stack
notes: I've included maca powder in the recipe below because I like the added boost of energy in the morning but you can leave it out if you like. I enjoyed these with a little coconut butter and some grade B maple syrup. I highly recommend it :)

120g Bob's Red Mill GF 1 to 1 baking flour mix
1 tbsp maca powder (optional)
3/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 tbsp coconut sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
pinch of sea salt
2 tbsp cacao nibs, plus more for sprinkling on top

50g pumpkin puree
170g coconut milk (or any other plant milk)
1/2 tsp vanilla paste or vanilla extract

oil for the skillet (I used coconut oil)

for serving: coconut butter, maple syrup, thinly sliced apples, etc.

Heat a skillet or griddle over medium heat. While the skillet is heating up, whisk together the flour, maca, pumpkin pie spice, coconut sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and sea salt until combined. Then, stir in the cacao nibs into the mixture. Add the pumpkin, coconut milk, and vanilla and whisk until you have a smooth batter. If the batter seems a bit too thick, add a splash or two of additional coconut milk.

Once the skillet is ready, add just enough oil to grease the bottom of it. Pour about 2-3 tbsp worth of batter into the skillet and gently coax it into a circular shape that is about 4 inches in diameter. Let the pancake cook for 1 to 2 minutes until you start seeing a few small bubbles coming up from the bottom. Gently flip the pancake then cook an additional 30 seconds to 1 minute until the bottom is golden brown. Repeat with the remaining batter. Makes about 5 medium sized pancakes. It will feed 1 super hungry adult or 2 moderately hungry adults.

You can serve these up any way you like but I prefer to slather a bit of coconut butter on each pancake, drizzle a bit of maple syrup on top, then sprinkle with a few cacao nibs. If I want some fruit, I'll layer thinly sliced apples in between the pancakes.