Choco-Chip Pancakes | King's Quest: Once Upon a Climb

          I love the new King's Quest game from The Odd Gentlemen! A few days ago I finished the most recent installment, "Once Upon a Climb" (chapter 3), and it was lovely! King Graham revealed the one dish that he's adept at making, though at the time, he was trapped in a tower and unable to make it.

"All I knew how to make was choco-chip pancakes,
and I didn't see any choco-chips."

–King Graham, "King's Quest: Once Upon a Climb"

          At the end of the game, the dear, elderly King Graham (voiced by Christopher Lloyd) makes his famous choco-chip pancakes for his sweetheart's birthday, same as he has done every year. It's such a touching scene (and they also gush about buttered popcorn flavored jelly beans ;) ). I'm so looking forward to chapter 4!

King Graham's Choco-Chip Pancakes

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Ingredients: 
2 Cups Flour
1 Tbsp. Sugar
2 tsp. Baking Powder
1 tsp. Baking Soda
1/2 tsp. Salt
2 Cups Buttermilk (or 2 Tbsp. lemon juice plus enough milk to get to 2 cups total, then stirred)
2 Eggs, beaten
3 Tbsp. Unsalted Butter, melted & cooled
3/4 Cup Mini Chocolate Chips + more for sprinkling
Maple Syrup
Whipped Butter or Whipped Cream*

Directions:
1. In a large bowl whisk together the dry ingredients (the 1st 5) & in another bowl whisk the wet ingredients (the next 3). Pour the wet into the dry, add the chocolate chips, & stir only until you get a moist, lumpy batter (don't over-mix or your pancakes will be flat!). Let the batter sit while you preheat your skillet to 350ºF or large pan to medium. If you'll need to keep the finished pancakes warm before serving, preheat your oven to 175-180ºF & slide in a baking tray.
2. Spray some non-stick spray onto your skillet, or spread around a little butter or brush on coconut oil. Use a 1/3 cup measure to scoop the batter onto the skillet & spread it around slightly to make a nice circle. Cook until the batter gets bubbly on top, about 2-3 minutes, & then flip the pancake over & cook for about 2 minutes more, until a nice golden brown. Serve with maple syrup on top (& buttered popcorn jelly beans on the side!)
*Serving Suggestion: Whip up some whipped cream or sweet butter by whisking 1 cup of heavy cream in a chilled metal mixing bowl with 2-3 Tbsp. of sifted powdered sugar. Whisk/mix until thick & smooth for whipped cream, or go a little longer until it's a bit stiffer. If you'd like to go all the way to butter, keep whisking until the solid fats separate from the liquid (buttermilk!) & the solid mixture is smooth. Drain (cheesecloth or flour sack cloth works great) & save the liquid to use for pancakes or other recipes!

* For another King's Quest recipe, try my Walnut Strudel! *

* For another pancake recipe, try these Blueberry Pancakes for "Haven". *