Healthy Apple Pancakes

Start your day with Healthy Apple Pancakes, a quick and delicious breakfast or brunch. Made in a bowl in under 10 minutes, this easy apple pancakes recipe turns out fluffy every time!

A burst of flavors and textures – Sweet and cinnamony, these fluffy pancakes come with delightful apple bits inside. You will love the healthy caramelized apples on top!

Today I’m excited to share my FAVORITE pancake recipe to date. Apple Pancakes, a dream to wake up to. If there’s one think about me is that I love apples. Together with blueberries and bananas, they are my favorite fruits. Apples are deliciously sweet, high in nutrients and incredibly versatile. They’re great for grab-and-go snacks, oatmeal bowls and scrumptious desserts. 

It was right after devouring my moist cinnamon muffins in under 2 days that I had the idea of making apple pancakes. And what for a great idea! Soft and fluffy, they come with tender bits of apples and plenty of taste. An explosion of flavors that you won’t be able to resist! 

Why you will love this recipe?

• Fluffy and delicious. With sweet pieces of apple and a cinnamony taste, these pancakes are a dream to wake up to. Everyone will love this recipe, kids and picky eaters included!
• Healthy and satisfying. Made with whole grains and no refined sugar, this recipe packs in plenty of dietary fibers and healthy nutrients that will keep you full until lunchtime.  And if you are into fitness, consider adding protein powder. I’ll explain all details further down the lines. 
• Quick and easy. This breakfast recipe comes together in a bowl in minutes, with just a handful of simple ingredients.
• Meal prep friendly. If you have no time to cook in the morning, prepare your breakfast ahead and store in the fridge until the next day. Oh, you will love that these easy apple pancakes freeze well! Keep on reading for more information. 

Pancake ingredients

• Rolled oats or flour: This apple pancake recipe is quite versatile, meaning that you can prepare it with either rolled oats or flour. For a healthier breakfast I recommend oats, oat flour, whole wheat flour, white whole wheat flour and spelt flour. Also all purpose flour works.
• Applesauce: Choose natural options without additional sugars, spices or preservatives. The applesauce gives pancakes a soft texture and sweet taste without the need for oil and excess sweeteners.
• Egg: Egg makes cinnamon pancakes fluffier, softer and richer in taste. As a vegan alternative use one flaxseed egg.
• Nut butter: The nut butter improves taste and texture of healthy apple pancakes with no oil or butter. I prefer almond butter because it pairs well the cinnamon flavors. But you are free to choose any other option, or sunflower seed butter in case of a nut allergy.
• Maple syrup: The maple syrup sweetens healthy pancakes naturally without refined sugars. You can substitute with honey, agave, or your favorite granulated sugar (such as coconut sugar or brown sugar).
• Milk of choice: Any type of milk will work, be it dairy or dairy-free. My suggestions are unsweetened soy milk, unsweetened almond milk, oat milk and semi-skimmed milk.
• Baking powder: This will make your pancakes rise and get fluffy. A possible substitute is baking soda, but you will need a lesser amount (about 1/4 teaspoon instead of 1/2 teaspoon).
• Spices: Cinnamon, vanilla extract and a pinch of salt gives apple pancakes their signature taste.

Mix-in ideas

Level up your breakfast experience by including optional ingredients into the batter. From walnuts for the extra crunch to chocolate chips for the sweet tooth, here are some great additions:

• Chocolate chips: Dark chocolate chips, semisweet chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips or sugar-free chocolate chips. 
• Nuts and seeds: Pieces of walnuts, pecans, almonds, hazelnuts or a mix of those.
• Seeds: Pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, flaxseeds, or a mix of seeds.
• Protein powder: Add 20 grams (1/4 cup) of protein powder and adjust with more milk if necessary. Keep on reading for more details.

How to make apple pancakes

Whether you use rolled oats or prefer flour, this pancake recipe is quick and simple to make. Based on your choice, the preparation method will change as follows:

• Apple pancakes with oatmeal: Add all ingredients – expect the apples – to a high speed blender and process until smooth. Finally, stir in the pieces of fruit.
• Apple pancakes with flour: In a mixing bowl, beat the egg together with applesauce, nut butter, maple syrup, vanilla extract, cinnamon and a pinch of salt. Whisk until smooth, then mix in flour, milk and apple dices.

After preparing the batter, you will need to cook. Spray a griddle or pan with cooking spray and place over medium heat. Once hot, pour one scoop of batter into the pan. Cook your pancakes over medium heat until the underside is golden and bubbles begin to appear on the surface, then flip with a spatula and cook until golden.

Healthy apple topping

This stack of pure fluffiness comes with healthy caramelized apples on top. The best thing is, the topping is quick and simple to make. You’ll only need apples, maple syrup and cinnamon. Stir everything together, microwave and enjoy alongside your pancakes.

Apple pancakes with protein powder

Whether you work out or whether you are just trying to get more protein in, I recommend preparing these pancakes with protein powder. Trust me, it’s very simple. All you should do is adding to the base recipe 20 grams (1/4 cup) of protein powder and adjusting with about one to three extra tablespoons of milk. When choosing your protein, my suggestion is to prefer vegan protein powder or casein. Differently from whey, they preserve the original fluffy texture without turning dry and rubbery.

Storage informations

Apple pancakes are great for meal prepping. As they store and freeze well, you can make them ahead and in the morning you won’t need to spend time in the kitchen. Here’s how to store apple pancakes, in the fridge and in the freezer:

• Fridge: Let cool, then place into an airtight food container and refrigerate for a maximum of 4 days. Before eating, microwave for about 30 seconds or reheat in a skillet.
• Freezer: Once they have cooled completely, transfer into a zipper bag or food container and freeze for up to 2 months. In the freezer they will last for up to 2 months. When you are ready to eat, take them out and reheat in the microwave or in a toaster until soft and fluffy.

Recipe tips

Before concluding, let me give you a handful of tips on how to make apple pancakes. I suggest reading through the following lines with attention, and you’ll get a deliciously fluffy stack of heaven.

• Choose the right apples: The best options are Honeycrisps, Granny Smith, Fuji and gala. Depending on your preferences, you may want to use a sweeter or tarter fruit.
• Experiment with mix-ins: Together with apple chunks, consider stirring in some extra ingredients such as walnuts, pecans and chocolate chips. They will give the pancakes your own signature…and plenty of taste!
• Sweeten to taste: This recipe recommends about 1/2 tablespoon maple syrup (or honey); but this is a just a reference. If you have the sweet tooth, be more generous with sweetener.
• Don’t overmix the batter: When whisking the wet and dry ingredients together, make sure you stir just to combine. Avoid overmixing, as it can result in tough pancakes.
• Cook on medium-low heat: For even cooking and fluffiness, cook your pancakes over medium-low heat. Avoid high temperatures, as they can cause the pancakes to burn and get dry.

FAQ – Frequently asked questions

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