The best part of Valentine’s Day is probably buying discounted chocolate on February 15th… but I also like to concoct red velvet treats and make everything in the shape of hearts.

Have a sweet week and spread the love!

Ingredients: 

1¼ cup milk

Juice from ½ of a small lemon

2 eggs

1 ½ cups white flour

¼ cup white sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

¾ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Beet juice or red food coloring 

¼ cup unsalted butter (1/2 stick), melted and cooled, plus more for cooking 

Chocolate chips (optional)

Berries and maple syrup for serving (optional)

Instructions:

1. Combine milk with lemon juice and let sit for 5 minutes. In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs until smooth. Add vanilla extract and red coloring, and then stir in the milk/lemon juice mixture and butter.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, cocoa powder, and salt.
3. Add wet ingredients and stir until no lumps remain.
4. Heat a griddle or pan with butter. Flick a water droplet onto the pan when it seems hot enough. If it sizzles, it is ready for cooking.
5. Drop spoon-fulls or measuring cup-fulls of batter onto the pan. Add chocolate chips, if desired. After 1-4 minutes, bubbles will form in the pancakes. When they pop, they are ready to flip.
6. Cook pancakes an additional minute or two on the other side, or until lightly browned. Transfer onto a plate.
7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 until you have used all of your batter.
8. Serve warm with berries and maple syrup.