Apple Cinnamon Pancakes

Celebrate the start of sweater weather with these fluffy Apple Cinnamon Pancakes! The easy cinnamon pancakes are crowned with soft and sweet cinnamon sugar apples and maple syrup, leaving you with the best fall breakfast.

Apples coming into season means it’s time to pull your favorite sweater from the closet and start baking a mountain of comfort foods. Apple crisp and apple coffee cake are two of my favorite apple desserts, but I can’t get enough of these Apple Cinnamon Pancakes for breakfast. They’re fluffy, comforting, and taste like dessert!

This apple cinnamon pancake recipe begins with simple and healthy-ish cinnamon pancakes. Next, diced apples are cooked and tossed with cinnamon sugar, filling your kitchen with the aromas of fall. Adorn the fluffy pancakes with the golden, sweet, and tart apples and plenty of maple syrup, then dig in!

Recipe features

• It’s one of the best breakfasts to indulge in during fall. The cinnamon-infused pancakes are warm, fluffy, and comforting, while the cinnamon sugar apples take every bite over the top.
• They’re as easy to make as any other pancake recipe, like my banana yogurt pancakes and cinnamon chocolate chip pancakes.
• I swapped the classic pancake ingredients, like sugar, white flour, and milk, for wholesome substitutes to give this recipe a healthy-ish twist.

Ingredients

Apples - Use any apples you like or that are in season. Fall is the best time to make cinnamon apple pancakes because there are plenty of varieties of apples that are at their peak.

Cinnamon and sugar - Ground cinnamon and granulated white sugar are sprinkled over the cooked apples, lending a warm sweetness that’s almost too good to be true.

Applesauce - To add moisture to the pancakes without needing oil. Make sure you use plain unsweetened applesauce or else the pancakes will be too sweet.

White whole wheat flour - I love making pancakes with whole wheat flour because it gives them an almost rustic, nutty flavor. A 1:1 mix of whole wheat and regular all purpose flour should work, too.

Instructions

Step 1: Mix the wet ingredients. Whisk the eggs, applesauce, maple syrup, milk, and vanilla together in a large bowl. 

Step 2: Finish the batter. Stir the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt together in a separate bowl. Pour the dry ingredients into the wet mixture and gently stir to combine.

Step 3: Cook the apples. Melt the coconut oil in a skillet over medium heat. Once hot and melted, add the diced apples to the skillet. Sprinkle the cinnamon and sugar over top, then cook until soft.

Step 4: Cook the pancakes. Heat a greased griddle or skillet over medium-low heat. Pour ¼ cup of pancake batter at a time onto the griddle/skillet, then let it cook until you see bubbles form on top and around the edges. Flip and cook until both sides are golden brown.

Step 5: Serve. Serve each pancake with cinnamon sugar apples and plenty of maple syrup on top. Enjoy!

Tips and FAQs

• Do not overmix the pancake batter. You only want to stir the wet and dry ingredients together until no dry flour streaks remain. There might be lumps left behind, but that’s okay! Completely smooth pancake batter will leave you with flat or dense pancakes.
• Melted butter works just as well as coconut oil and will infuse the cooked apples with a rich flavor. Feel free to use it as a substitute!

Variations

Make this recipe your own by folding fun mix-ins into the batter, such as:

• Chocolate chips
• Shredded apples
• Blueberries
• Banana slices
• Shredded coconut
• Nutmeg
• Pumpkin pie spice

When they’re ready to eat, decorate the pancakes with even more toppings. Any of these ideas would be delicious:

• Toasted walnuts, almonds, or pecans
• Whipped cream
• A scoop of vanilla ice cream
• Powdered sugar

What kind of apples are best for cinnamon apple pancakes?

The best apples will be firm, tart, and sweet, and in season during fall. I like making these with Gala, Pink Lady, Honey Crisp, and Golden Delicious apples.

Can you cook the apples ahead of time?

Yes, you can cook the apples 2 to 3 days in advance and store them in the fridge for later. Just know that they can become soggy as they sit, so it’s best to eat them as soon as possible. Reheat them in a warm skillet before topping them on the pancakes.

Can you make vegan apple cinnamon pancakes?

The pancakes are inherently dairy free but you can use two flax eggs or an extra ½ cup of applesauce (1 cup total) as a substitute for the eggs.

What do you serve with cinnamon pancakes?

All of your favorite breakfast recipes! The sweet and comforting flavors help these pancakes pair well with eggs (or tofu scramble), breakfast sausages, fresh fruit, yogurt bowls, toast, apple smoothies, and breakfast sandwiches.

Storage

Refrigerator: The cooked and cooled pancakes will stay fresh for 3 to 4 days when they’re stored in an airtight container or ziplock bag in the fridge.

Freezer: Flash-freeze the pancakes on a baking sheet until solid, then transfer them to an airtight container or bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw them in the fridge overnight or reheat from frozen.

Reheating: Warm the pancakes in the toaster oven, microwave, or a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Top them with the fresh or reheated cinnamon apples, then enjoy!

More fluffy pancake recipes

• Flourless Banana Pancakes
• Cinnamon Tahini Pancakes
• Protein Pancakes

If you made this recipe, be sure to leave a comment and star rating below. Thanks!