Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Pancakes

My kids LOVE pancakes and waffles and I've finally made a whole grain recipe that I feel good about feeding them. This recipe works well for pancakes or waffles. The pancakes turned out light and fluffy & the waffles were crisp and delicious. I have tripled this recipe so that we have extras to put in the freezer for weekday breakfasts. My oldest son doesn't like the chocolate chips so I add those to the batter after I've already fried up a few pancakes & waffles for him.

Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Pancakes

5 ¼ cups whole wheat flour

½ cup wheat germ

¼ cup ground flax meal

2 Tablespoons baking powder

2 teaspoons salt

3 ½ cups skim milk

1 ¾ cups plain yogurt

6 eggs, beaten

2 Tablespoons vanilla

½ teaspoon stevia or ½ cup sugar
¾ cup melted coconut oil or butter
1 bag mini chocolate chips (optional)

In a large bowl combine flour, wheat germ, flaxmeal, baking powder, and salt and mix briefly with a whisk. Set bowl aside. In a separate bowl, whisk the skim milk, eggs, vanilla, and stevia or sugar together. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients; stir in the wet ingredients and add the melted coconut or butter last, being careful not to over mix the batter. Add chocolate chips if desired. Heat a large skillet over medium heat and/or a waffle maker and coat with cooking spray. Cook in the skillet until bubbles appear on the surface and then flip with a spatula, and cook until golden brown on the other side.