I play around with different pancakes all the time, and I love how this particular combo turned out. I really think the coconut oil is a big part of what makes the texture, so if you can use it I highly recommend you do! If not, a substitution would surely work, but won't be the same. For milk, you can easily use soy, hemp, hazelnut, oat, rice, or whatever you prefer. The vital wheat gluten can be replaced with any high protein flour for similar results. Soy flour would be a good option. If you don't have it on hand, regular flour will do. I recommend serving with walnuts or pecans and if you use syrup, that you go with just the tiniest bit of the real stuff - these are sweet on their own thanks to the applesauce.