Lemon Chia Seed Whole Grain Pancakes with Blood Orange Syrup

A huge thank you to QVC and Vitamix for sponsoring this delicious pancake recipe and keeping the College Houswife afloat!

What a week!

Happy Friday! This whole week was bananas.

I spent most of it getting ready for this insane video shoot in my very own kitchen at home. I filmed a number of recipe and lifestyle videos for the blog and social media. I’m talking outfit changes, making full on recipes and hopefully not looking too awkward! Being in front of the camera is such a game changer and my hat goes off to anyone that can do both front and behind scenes work seamlessly!

Luckily for the most part, my kitchen was pretty ‘styled’ and just needed some new plants and a few neutral pieces in place. The hardest part was getting all the groceries prepped. I felt like I was preparing for a very weird, out of place, miss matched Thanksgiving.

The prep had the same insane feel of Thanksgiving but with weird mismatched recipes that had nothing to do with each other. I had two of my best friends from high school here helping for the day. Thank goodness for them! One was on wardrobe prepping all my outfits (because she has insane style!) and Abbie, my right hand lady for all things to do with the blog.

Video work really does take a village! And every ounce of energy ya got! I can’t wait to show you the videos but more importantly I can’t wait to relax this weekend!

I plan on resting Saturday with lots of comfy clothes and even more pancakes!

Today’s recipe is a healthier take regular Saturday morning pancakes. I am definitely that weird person at ihop or brunch that always orders the ‘seedy wheat’ pancakes. I love the taste of them but even more importantly the texture! Pancakes are one of those recipes that you can ‘healthify’ a little bit but they will still taste delicious and like regular pancakes!

I added chia, flax seed, almonds and swapped out regular flour for whole wheat! All of these ingredients really give the pancakes a hearty buckwheat flavor that I was going for. I paired them off with some freshly blended blood orange syrup using agave nectar and blood oranges.

My favorite part about this pancake recipe! The batter is blended up all in one vitamix machine container! Yes, you heard me! A hot, delicious breakfast with just a pan and a vitamix left to wash after! Plus, you wont have a batter mess by the stove because the pancakes pour out easily right from the machine container!

I teamed up with QVC to spread the word about their one day Vitamix sale on February 17th! I’ve got to be sure to spread the word to my Nanna because I’m pretty sure she spends most weekend mornings browsing QVC. It seems like whenever I come over she’s got another ‘just a little something’ for me from her QVC brigade and I am always okay with it!

Now, I’m off to kick my feet up for the weekend and figure out some lazy breakfast plans for tomorrow. These pancakes will 100% be included.

ALSO! If you follow me on Instagram (which I hope you do!) be sure to check today’s post out, as we will be giving away this vitamix featured in today’s post (thank you QVC!!) It’s super simple and you have multiple chances to win! Go go go!

Lemon Chia Seed Whole Grain Pancakes with Blood Orange Syrup

For pancakes
1 ½ Cups of whole wheat flour
½ Teaspoon of baking powder
½ Teaspoon of baking soda
1 Cup of rolled oats
1 Tablespoon of flax seeds
1 Tablespoon of chia seeds
¼ of almonds
1 Cup of almond milk (or regular milk)
3 Tablespoons of agave nectar
Zest of one lemon
Juice of half a lemon
2 Whole eggs + one white
for syrup
2 Whole blood oranges, peeled
½ Cup of agave nectar

Place flour, baking powder, baking soda, oats, flax seeds, chia seeds, and almonds into the Vitamix. Secure lid, turn the machine on and slowly increase speed to variable 5 for 30 seconds.

Add in almond milk, agave nectar, lemon zest, lemon juice, eggs and egg white. Turn on machine and slowly increase to variable 5 for 25 seconds. Check batter and if any lumps have formed on the side of the machine container scrape down and blend for an additional 10-15 seconds.

Heat a griddle or heavy bottomed sauté pan over medium heat. Spray with non-stick spray or spread evenly with butter until melted. Pour a ¼ cup of pancake mixture (I just eyeballed it!) into the pan and cook until bubbles form on the pancake. Flip pancake and cook for an additional 30-60 seconds.

*Note! To keep your pancakes warm before serving heat your oven to 225 degrees Fahrenheit. Place your pancakes a baking cooling rack, on top of a baking sheet (for ventilation) and into the oven to keep pancakes warm without continuing to cook!

Rinse Vitamix machine container and add in whole, peeled blood oranges and agave nectar! Turn machine on and slowly increase speed to variable 5 for 10-15 seconds or until the oranges are blended but not liquefied. Pour into a syrup container and serve with hot pancakes!