These fluffy apple pancakes are a breakfast game-changer, packed with fresh fruit and warm spices in every delectable bite. Ready in just 30 minutes, this recipe transforms basic pancake batter into a cozy morning treat that’ll make everyone rush to the table.
The perfectly balanced flavors and tender apple pieces create an irresistible stack that’s both nutritious and indulgent, with only 226 calories per serving.
Ingredient Section
- Dry Mix: 1 cup all-purpose flour, 2 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tsp baking powder for perfect rise
- Warm Spices: 1½ tsp cinnamon, ¼ tsp nutmeg, ½ tsp cloves, ⅛ tsp salt for cozy flavor
- Wet Mix: 1 cup whole milk, 1 large egg, 1 tbsp melted butter for richness
- Flavorings: 1 tsp vanilla extract for depth
- Fresh Produce: 1 cup grated apple (about 1 medium apple, peeled) for natural sweetness
Instructions Section
- Blend Dry Ingredients: Whisk flour, brown sugar, baking powder, spices, and salt in a medium bowl until well combined
- Mix Wet Components: In a separate bowl, combine milk, egg, melted butter, and vanilla until smooth
- Prepare Cooking Surface: Heat skillet over medium heat, add a light coating of butter
- Create Batter: Pour wet mixture into dry ingredients, mix until just combined. Small lumps are good!
- Add Apple: Gently fold in grated apple until evenly distributed
- Cook Pancakes: Pour ¼ cup batter per pancake, cook until bubbles form (2-3 minutes), flip and cook until golden
- Serve: Enjoy while warm with your favorite maple syrup drizzle
Perfect Flipping Tips
Wait for those tiny bubbles to pop up on the surface – they’re your signal that it’s time to flip! For apple pancakes, give it a full 2-3 minutes on medium heat.
The edges will start to look slightly dry too. Use a wide spatula and flip with confidence – one quick, smooth motion does the trick. Don’t worry if your first few flips aren’t perfect – pancakes are forgiving!
Apple Selection & Prep
Sweet apples like Honeycrisp or Fuji work beautifully in these pancakes. After peeling, use the large holes of your box grater for perfect shreds. A little tip: if your apple seems extra juicy, give the shreds a gentle pat with a paper towel to remove excess moisture. This helps keep your pancakes light and fluffy!
Tasty Toppings
While maple syrup is amazing on these pancakes, try these yummy extras: a pat of butter and a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar, warm caramel sauce, or a dollop of whipped cream. For a fall breakfast special, add some chopped pecans or walnuts on top. Want something different? Try a spoonful of vanilla yogurt with a drizzle of honey!
Storage & Reheating
Keep leftover pancakes in an airtight container in your fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, pop them in your toaster on low, or warm them in a 350°F oven for about 5 minutes.
For busy mornings, freeze them with wax paper between each pancake. They’ll stay good for up to 2 months. Just microwave frozen pancakes for 30 seconds, then toast until warm and crispy!
The BEST Apple Pancakes
Equipment
- Medium bowl
- small bowl
- Skillet
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 Tablespoons light brown sugar packed
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 large egg
- 1 Tablespoon butter melted and cooled slightly
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup apple grated (about 1 medium apple, peeled and grated)
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove and salt.
- In a separate small bowl combine the milk, egg, butter and vanilla and beat to combine.
- Preheat your skillet over medium heat and grease lightly with butter or cooking spray.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix just until combined–don’t over mix, the batter should have some small lumps. Gently fold in the grated apple.
- Spoon about ¼ cup of batter for each pancake. Cook until small bubbles form on the surface of the pancakes (2-3 minutes), and then flip and cook on the opposite side until golden brown.
- Serve pancakes warm with your favorite syrup.
