And whipped cream.

I got a little chocolate drizzle happy.  Not to mention this was a time sensitive photo, the first whipped cream mound melted and slipped off the back due to the hot and delicious nature of the pancakes.  Pictured here, whipped cream mound… — I got a little chocolate drizzle happy. Not to mention this was a time sensitive photo, the first whipped cream mound melted and slipped off the back due to the hot and delicious nature of the pancakes. Pictured here, whipped cream mound take 2.

Some mornings I wake up and oatmeal, fruit, or eggs just aren't going to cut it. Some mornings call for pancakes. And some mornings call for pancakes that involve coffee, chocolate, and whipped cream. The fact that the sun is shining again after a little snowstorm, family is around, it's Spring Break, and Good Friday, might also have had something to do with it. So I decided to "Treat Yo'self." Donna Meagle would be proud.

Last night I watched the final episode of Parks & Recreation. It was the perfect ending in every sense except that it was just that, the end. Wahhhhhhhh. Guess I'll just have to start it all over again. If you've never watched Parks & Rec then stop right where you are and go watch it. Or better yet, make these delicious pancakes (more like dessert trying to disguise itself as breakfast food, which also happens to be two of my favorite categories of food) and eat them while watching Parks and Rec. Actually, regardless of if you've ever seen the show or not, that's probably what you should do. Treat Yo'self. Even if it's midnight, because breakfast food is appropriate anytime of the day.

If I had it my way, I would have breakfast for all 3 meals of the day. Eggs and toast for breakfast, french toast and fruit for lunch, pancakes or waffles for dinner. But that's not entirely socially acceptable (but we could start a movement!) nor a well-balanced diet, so I save that for Treat Yo'self days

Alright, enough of the funny talk and let's get down to serious business.

Coffee Pancakes with Mocha Syrup

Makes 2-3 servings, or 6-8 pancakes.

Ingredients:

Mocha Syrup

Make this first so it has time to cool and your pancakes don't get cold!

1/4 cup sugar
2 Tbsp cocoa powder
1 tsp corn starch
2 Tbsp strong brewed coffee
1 tsp vanilla extract

Combine all ingredients except vanilla in small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until boiling. Reduce heat to low and boil for 5 minutes.

Remove from heat and add vanilla. Allow to cool while you make the pancakes. Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 1 month. Sugar is a wonderful preservative. I'm going to live so long.

Whipped Cream

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
2 Tbsp granulated sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

In the bowl of a stand mixer or with a hand held mixer, beat cream until soft peaks form. Add sugar and vanilla, beat until stiff peaks appear.

Coffee Pancakes

Make these last so they will be nice and hot when you serve them!

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 Tbsp baking powder
1 Tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp ground espresso, or freshly ground coffee (sometimes I use the contents of a Nespresso capsule)
1 egg
1 cup milk of choice, or water
2 Tbsp oil of choice, or melted butter or coconut oil
1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

Preheat lightly greased griddle or pan to 350 Fahrenheit.

In a medium bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, and ground espresso.

Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add the egg, milk, oil, and vanilla. Stir until just moistened, some lumps will remain. If you prefer thinner pancakes, you may add more milk. Allow to sit for a few minutes.

Pour about 1/4 cup of batter onto hot griddle, allow to cook 1-2 minutes on each side, either until light golden-brown or when the air bubbles pop, but don't fill in immediately. If the first pancakes seem too thick or too thin, add more milk or flour, respectively, until desired consistency is reached. Repeat with remaining batter.

Any leftover batter or pancakes can be stored in the refrigerator for about 1-2 days. They can be reheated on the griddle or pan, microwave (boo), or my favorite way, the toaster.

Assembly:

Place pancakes on a plate. If desired, butter each pancake. Drizzle generously with mocha syrup and top with copious amounts of whipped cream. And maybe drizzle with more syrup. Don't forgot a complementary cup of coffee. Complementary as in it goes with it nicely, not I'm giving you a complimentary cup of coffee. I would totally give you a free cup of coffee, but, you're reading a blog right now, and this is only 2016. Maybe by 2038 when Leslie Knope is President, I can send you coffee over the interwebs.

Adapted from Pastry Affair

And Happy Good Friday. This morning I kept thinking to myself "Black Friday" but that is quite the opposite of what today is. No consumerism today. A day to reflect on Jesus as He took our place on the cross. The least deserving and only perfect man to walk the earth, bearing the wrath and punishment of separation from God the Father so that we might never have to. Instead, He cloaks us in His righteousness so that we might receive the love of the Father freely. Hallelujah, what a Savior.