Vegan Buckwheat Pancakes Gluten Free

If there’s one type of recipe I am an expert at, it’s crepes and pancakes. Born and raised in France, where buckwheat flour is mainly used for French buckwheat crepes.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

Buckwheat flour is not only a gluten-free flour but also a healthier flour option than gluten-free all-purpose flour. If you are after a gluten-free pancake recipe that is also naturally nutritious, you must start baking with buckwheat flour. These buckwheat pancakes are truly fluffy filling, and they will keep you satisfied and energized up to lunchtime. Taste-wise, buckwheat pancakes are absolutely delicious, adding earthy, nutty notes to baked goods.

Expert Tips For Buckwheat Pancakes

While most people think buckwheat flour is bitter and turns food ultra dry and dark, this is untrue. One of the things I learned about buckwheat flour after baking with it for more than 20 years is that all blends are not equal. Some brands add bits and pieces of the back hull from the buckwheat groat. These bits can be more present in some flour brands adding a grittier and darker color to the food you bake with. That’s why the first step to start baking with buckwheat flour is to test and choose the perfect blend. Buckwheat flour should be pale, greyish, and not too gritty to the touch. This is the first step to succeed and deliver fluffy buckwheat pancakes that truly look and taste good.

Ingredients and Substitutions

This Vegan buckwheat pancake recipe is super easy to make with only a few wholesome ingredients.

Buckwheat Flour – Make sure you pick a light buckwheat flour with a white-grey color, and fine texture, not gritty or ultra dark. The dark blend contains larger pieces of hull and makes the pancakes denser, not fluffy, and very dark in color. The color of buckwheat flour varies from brand to brand. It tends to be darker in Europe (e.g. France has a darker buckwheat flour called ‘farine de ble noir‘ or ‘farine de sarrasin‘), and it is lighter in the US or New Zealand/Australia. Baking Powder and Baking Soda – Make sure you use gluten-free baking powder and a fresh batch of each raising agent. The combination of both makes the pancakes ultra fluffy. In fact, buckwheat flour is a dense, heavy, gluten-free flour, and the combination of raising agents is how you make fluffy, vegan, gluten-free pancakes. Apple Cider Vinegar – The acidity of the vinegar activates the leaving agents and also creates a vegan buttermilk when combined with plant-based milk. Unsweetened Almond Milk – This is the best milk substitute for buckwheat flour pancakes. It’s light and tasteless and therefore, it keeps the pancakes fluffier. You can also use other plant-based milk, like soy milk, oat milk, or coconut milk. But it makes the pancakes slightly heavier pancakes. Liquid Sweetener – I love to use unrefined sugar, so the best liquid sweeteners are brown rice syrup, agave syrup, coconut syrup, and maple syrup. Vanilla Extract – For flavor and to cover the light bitterness of the flour. Coconut Oil – melted and cooled, or choose a light-flavored oil like almond oil or avocado oil for healthy options. You can substitute oil with applesauce for an oil-free vegan, gluten-free pancake recipe. Note that this will make the pancakes dryer.

Watch Me Make It

How To Make Vegan Buckwheat Pancakes

The Best Gluten-Free Pancake Toppings

The best vegan gluten-free pancake toppings for these buckwheat pancakes are:

Liquid Sweetener – Healthy options are unrefined sweeteners like pure maple syrup, brown rice syrup, apple syrup, or coconut syrup. Nut Butter – Pour a drizzle of almond butter, cashew butter, or peanut butter on top of the pancake stack. Fruits – Add some fresh or frozen berries, like raspberries, blueberries, or strawberries. Otherwise, use banana slices or diced apples. Unsweetened Shredded Coconut – If you can toast the coconut before, it adds an extra nutty flavor that goes amazingly well with the buckwheat flavor. Sliced Almonds to add crunch and extra nutty flavors. Vegan Butter – Add a piece of vegan butter on top of warm pancakes it will melt and make the buckwheat pancakes ultra moist and buttery.