Fluffy apple cinnamon pancakes with tender bites of fresh apple and a cozy hint of spice. Perfect for a fall morning or anytime you’re craving a warm, comforting breakfast.

Plate of fluffy apple cinnamon pancakes with a wedge cut out, topped with warm cinnamon apples and syrup, with green apples in the background.

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Fluffy Apple Pancakes with Cinnamon

I always keep a jar of homemade pancake mix in the pantry for whenever we’re craving pancakes. With fall approaching, we decided to make fluffy apple cinnamon pancakes for a fun twist instead of our usual apple desserts.

Light and tender with applesauce, freshly grated apple, and just the right amount of warm cinnamon spice, these pancakes are full of cozy fall flavor. Top them with homemade apple pie filling and cinnamon pancake syrup for the ultimate breakfast treat.

Ingredient Notes

Mixing bowl filled with pancake batter, topped with freshly grated apple and applesauce, ready to be stirred together.

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

  • Grated apples: I like to use Granny Smith for its tart and crisp flavor. Shred the apples using a grater to help get the consistency evenly in each pancake.
  • Applesauce: Adding just a little extra apple flavor and moisture to the pancakes. I love to use my easy crockpot applesauce but any applesauce works!
  • Flour: All-purpose flour gives the texture of the apple pancakes.
  • Sugar: Light brown sugar works so well with apple flavor.
  • Baking powder and baking soda: The necessary leavening agents to make these pancakes light and airy.
  • Salt: Just a little bit helps to enhance the flavors in these apple cinnamon pancakes.
  • Cinnamon: The warm spice brings fall flavors to the forefront.
  • Milk: The creaminess of milk helps wet the dry ingredients.
  • Egg: The binder that brings it all together.
  • Vanilla extract: One of my favorite flavors to pair with apples.

How to Make Apple Cinnamon Pancakes

Collage of making apple cinnamon pancakes – left image shows pancake batter with applesauce being mixed in, right image shows pancakes cooking on a stovetop griddle.
  1. Mix. Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in a large bowl. Add in the milk, egg, vanilla, and applesauce and mix with a wooden spoon until the batter is smooth (and most lumps are gone). Then fold in the grated apples.
  2. Cook. Pour 1/4 cup batter on a buttered griddle or skillet. Cook over medium heat until you begin to see bubbles on top, about 1 to 2 minutes.
  3. Flip. Use a spatula to flip the apple cinnamon pancakes over and cook on the other side for about 1 minute, or until lightly golden. Make sure to lower the heat if they begin to brown too fast.

Favorite Toppings

  • Quick apple filling: Try this filling from my apple crepe recipe. It’s the best way to add an extra boost of flavor.
  • Syrup: Maple syrup or buttermilk syrup are all made easily and add just the right amount of sweetness to the fluffy apple pancakes.
  • Powdered sugar: Sprinkle the powdered sugar overtop for a sweet sugar topping.
  • Butter: Cinnamon butter and slow cooker apple butter are both delicious flavors of butter to spread over warm pancakes.
  • Caramel sauce: This sauce is smooth and silky with the perfect apple and caramel combination!
Stack of fluffy apple cinnamon pancakes with a slice removed, showing the soft texture inside, topped with cinnamon apple mixture and syrup.

Tips for the Best Apple Pancakes

  • Best apples: Granny Smith is my go-to, but any firm apple with a balance of tart and sweet works well. Try Honeycrisp, Braeburn, or Pink Lady for great flavor and texture.
  • Dairy-free option: Swap the milk for unsweetened soy, almond, oat, or cashew milk. Using unsweetened keeps the apple cinnamon pancakes from becoming overly sweet.
  • For the fluffiest apple pancakes, use milk: Milk adds fat and protein, which help create a soft, tender texture and better structure than using water alone.
  • Don’t overmix the batter: Overmixing can make pancakes dense and flat instead of light and fluffy. Stir just until combined.
  • Measure the batter: Use a 1/4 cup measuring scoop, cookie scoop, or ice cream scoop. Measuring helps pancakes cook evenly and finish at the same time.
  • Fun serving idea: Arrange them on a pancake charcuterie board alongside other favorites like oat pancakes and easy banana pancakes for a brunch spread.
Tall stack of fluffy apple cinnamon pancakes topped with warm, diced cinnamon apples and drizzled with syrup, served on a white plate with a green apple in the background.

More recipes with apples that we love include this apple turnover recipe, cinnamon apple muffins and cinnamon oat baked apples!

More Pancake Recipes

apple pancakes on white plate

Apple Cinnamon Pancakes

5 from 12 votes
Recipe by: Jamielyn Nye
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 8
Fluffy apple cinnamon pancakes with tender bites of fresh apple and a cozy hint of spice.Perfect for a fall morning or anytime you’re craving a warm, comforting breakfast.
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Ingredients 

  • 2 cups (260 grams) all-purpose flour
  • 3 Tablespoons (25 grams) light brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ¾ teaspoon fine sea salt , or table salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 ½ cups milk
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup applesauce
  • 1 Granny Smith apple , cored, peeled, and grated

For serving: Butter, Syrup, Apple filling

Instructions

  • Prep. Preheat a griddle to 300°F, or a skillet over medium heat. 
  • Combine dry ingredients. In a large bowl, stir together 2 cups flour, 3 Tablespoons brown sugar, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon.
  • Add wet ingredients. Mix in 1 1/2 cups milk, 1 egg, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and 1/2 cup applesauce with a wooden spoon just until most of the lumps are gone and the batter is smooth, being careful not to overmix. Fold in 1 grated apple.
  • Cook pancakes. Coat the griddle (or skillet) with a little butter or oil and pour 1/4 cup batter onto the heated griddle. Cook the pancakes 1 to 2 minutes, or until bubbles appear. Flip the pancakes and cook the other side 1 minute, or until lightly browned. Turn down the heat if they are browning too fast.
  • Serve. Serve immediately or place pancakes on a baking sheet in the oven at 175°F to keep warm.    

Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.

Notes

Apple filling: Find my favorite apple filling in my apple crepe recipe.
Freezer tip: Let pancakes cool and place in a large zip-top bag. Store in freezer for use within 2 to 3 months. When ready to eat, reheat in the microwave or toaster oven for 30 seconds.

Nutrition

Serving: 2pancakes, Calories: 286kcal, Carbohydrates: 59g, Protein: 8g, Fat: 2g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 0.4g, Trans Fat: 0.003g, Cholesterol: 25mg, Sodium: 385mg, Potassium: 288mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 12g, Vitamin A: 138IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 121mg, Iron: 3mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.

Recipe FAQs

What is the secret ingredient to fluffy apple pancakes?

The secret to making fluffy apple cinnamon pancakes is using both baking soda and baking powder. These leavening agents create air bubbles in the batter and help tenderize the gluten in the flour, giving the pancakes their light, soft texture.

How to make apple cinnamon pancakes ahead of time?

Fluffy apple cinnamon pancakes are a great make-ahead breakfast. Cook them as directed, let them cool completely, then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 2 months. To reheat, warm in a 300°F oven for 5–7 minutes or pop in the toaster until heated through.

If you just need to hold them for an hour or two, keep cooked pancakes on a baking sheet in a 175°F oven, they’ll stay warm without drying out.

How to freeze leftover apple cinnamon pancakes?

Let cool completely, then place the pancakes in a large freezer bag. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Reheat in the microwave or toaster oven for 30 seconds, or until warm.