Fluffy apple pancakes with a hint of cinnamon and grated apples baked right into the center. These are the perfect fall breakfasts!
Table of Contents
Cinnamon Apple Pancakes
I always keep a jar of homemade pancake mix in the pantry for whenever we’re craving pancakes. With fall approaching, we decided to add a fun apple twist to our pancakes instead of making apple desserts this time. They turned out so delicious! The bold apple and cinnamon flavors gave them the perfect fall touch.
Pancakes are a family favorite! We’re always looking for ways to mix them up and oat pancakes and banana pancakes are popular requests, too!
The kids go crazy for these fall-inspired apple pancakes in season, though! They’re full of apple flavor from the applesauce and freshly grated apples, with the perfect amount of spice from the cinnamon.
These pancakes taste amazing on their own, but we love to top them with apple filling (from my apple crepe recipe) and maple syrup. They also taste amazing with our homemade buttermilk syrup.
Recipe Ingredients
Take the typical pancake mix ingredients and fold in grated apples and applesauce to kick up the flavor. All the ingredients are pantry staples that can be used often. Apple cinnamon pancakes are easy to make. It is going to be a fall favorite breakfast!
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.
- 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 Pancakes
Just three easy steps to a hearty and fall-focused breakfast! Simply mix together the ingredients and let the batter bake on a griddle. Take the apple cinnamon pancakes and top them with more apples and delicious syrup on top!
- 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.
- 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.
- Flip. Use a spatula to flip the 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
If you want to add even more deliciousness to your homemade apple pancakes, use any of the below toppings. I especially love to make a quick apple topping (or use leftover homemade apple pie filling) to add on top. Then finish them off with a drizzle of syrup. Seriously so delicious!
- Quick apple filling: My apple crepe recipe is as sweet and savory as it comes! The best way to add that extra boost of flavor.
- Syrup: Cinnamon pancake syrup, maple syrup, buttermilk syrup are all made easily and add just the right amount of sweetness.
- Powdered sugar: Sprinkle the powdered sugar overtop for a sweet sugar topping.
- Butter: Cinnamon butter and 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!
Recipe FAQs
The secret ingredient to fluffy apple pancakes is baking soda and baking powder combination. The leavening agents in the pancake batter create air bubbles. The leaven also tenderizes the gluten in the flour, which results in fluffier pancakes.
Milk makes apple cinnamon pancakes fluffier than water because it contains fat and protein, which contribute to the texture and structure of the pancakes. The fat coats the flour particles, making the pancakes more tender and giving them a richer flavor.
I like Granny Smith, but you can use any type of firm apple that is tart and sweet, such as Honeycrisp, Braeburn, or Pink Lady.
Of course! Simply swap the milk for soy milk, almond milk, oat milk, or cashew milk. Look for unsweetened, or the pancakes may be too sweet.
5 star review
“These are fantastic! So fluffy and just the right amount of apple cinnamon flavor.”
-Dawn
Keeping Warm + Freezing
These are perfect for making ahead of time or cooking for a crowd! Apple cinnamon pancakes are the perfect fall breakfast or brunch to enjoy as a family or a large gathering. Keep them warm or even freeze them to make ahead of time, these apple pancakes are going to be a family favorite!
- Keep warm: If not enjoying immediately after cooking, you can easily keep these pancakes warm in the oven until serving. Just place the cooked pancakes on a baking sheet in the oven at 175°F. At this temperature, they’ll stay warm without drying out. I especially like to use this method when I’m making multiple batches of pancakes for a large crowd.
- Freeze: 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.
More recipes with apples that we love include this apple turnover recipe, cinnamon apple muffins and cinnamon oat baked apples!
More Pancake Recipes
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Apple Cinnamon Pancakes
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
- Preheat a griddle to 300°F, or a skillet over medium heat.
- In a large bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt. and ground cinnamon.
- Mix in milk, egg, vanilla, and 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 grated apples.
- 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 immediately or place pancakes on a baking sheet in the oven at 175°F to keep warm.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: American, Breakfast, Freezer-Friendly, Kid-Friendly, Stovetop, Sweet Breakfast
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is also the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook. Here you will find easy family-friendly recipes for every occasion.
Love the addition of apples in these pancakes. Love the cinnamon and apple combo.
We make these all fall long!! The apple & cinnamon combo is so comforting & delicious!!
Tis the season for apple and cinnamon recipes which is awesome because those are two of my favorite things. These apple cinnamon pancakes are so good and easy to make!
Made these delightful pancakes! Deliciously fluffy!
We tried this recipe without the extra grated apple (honestly because I forgot!). I also doubled the recipe to freeze for next week when school starts and it’s super busy. My children loved these pancakes so much, they ate it for breakfast and dinner. Now there are no leftovers for next week, but this morning, my 5 year old asked me to make those “yummy healthy pancakes” again. Definitely going to be part of my regular meal planning. Thanks for sharing great ideas!
This comment just made my day! So happy to hear they were such a hit with your kids. Great idea to freeze for busy school mornings!
Will try later
These are fantastic! So fluffy and just the right amount of apple cinnamon flavor.
I’m so glad you enjoyed them!
These pancakes look so yummy!! Perfect for a cozy fall morning, saving!
Absolutely my type of pancakes. My kids love apple and cinnamon anything. This is perfect for fall.
My husband loves this! Thank you so much for this recipe