Apple Pie Pancakes

Amazing, fluffy buttermilk pancakes topped with warm, homemade apple pie topping. It’s a comforting breakfast for the holidays and family breakfast together. 

APPLE PIE PANCAKES

I’ve created this pancake recipe for my son and my husband many years ago and it is still our favorite breakfast during the fall months. It’s the season for comfort food, apples, pumpkins, warm and toasty ciders, and beautiful colors. 

The minute you flip that calendar and see “September,” it almost soul-warning. It’s the feeling that the fall bring with the changing of the season, changing of the colors, and of course, comfort food. We can’t get enough comforting breakfast recipes, soups, hot drinks, desserts, and so much more. After all, food can bring you as much joy and the holidays and time with family. 

That’s why these apple pie pancakes are so perfect for family breakfast on weekends and for fall holidays. So next time you go apple picking, make sure to set some apple aside to make these soft and fluffy pancakes topped with sweet apple pie topping. 

It’s truly the best topping for the pancakes because it combined warm, spiced apples and it also acts as a syrup. If I had to choose between pumpkin pancakes and these pancakes, it would be apple all the way. 

WHAT APPLES CAN I USE?

You’ll be happy to know what there isn’t just one set type of apples that you have to use in apple pie topping. Go with your favorites but keep in mind that apple do taste slightly different. Granny Smith apples are meaty, rich, but also take some tang and sourness. Golden Delicious apples are juicy, and very sweet.

Honeycrisp apples are great meaty apples that are also bright and sweet. Honesycrisp apples are actually my favorite ones to use. You can also choose Pink Lady, Braeburn, Fuji, or McIntosh apples.

If there was one type of apples that I would not recommend, that would be Red Delicious. These apples are nice to eat but I find that they are not good when cooked.

WHAT IS IN APPLE PIE SPICE?

Apple pie spice is a blend of ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice. You can buy this seasoning mixed at the store or make your own.

To make your own, simply combine 2 tablespoons of ground cinnamon with 2 teaspoons or ground nutmeg and 1 teaspoon of ground allspice. Mix it all together and store in a small glass jar with a lid. 

HOW TO MAKE APPLE PIE PANCAKES

These pancakes are great for weekends and holidays because they do take a little extra time and best to eat fresh. Although, you can easily prepare apple pie topping ahead of time and store it in an air-tight food container, in the refrigerator. It’s easy to reheat in a sauce pot over medium-low heat. 

Apple Pie Topping

Peel and core all the apples and then dice them into small pieces. 

Melt butter in a sauce pot over medium heat and add diced apples, sugar, cinnamon, and apple pie spice. Gently mix everything until apples are evenly coated and mixed. Lower the heat to medium-low, cover the pot with a lid and let apple cook for about 15 minutes. Remember to stir once in a while. (NOTE: to get a lot of nice juices out of apples, make sure to cook them covered with a lid first.)

Take off the lid and cook for another 10-15 minutes until apples are soft and tender. Make sure to stir once in a while. Take the pot off the heat until ready to serve on pancakes.

Buttermilk Pancakes

Whisk together wet pancake ingredients first and then add your dry ingredients.

TIP: let the batter stand for about 10 minutes. This will give ingredients time to activate and help make your pancakes fluffy.

TIP: it’s important to preheat the pan or the griddle first, before cooking the pancakes.

First, preheat a cooking pan or pancake griddle over medium heat and then lower it a little bit before adding pancake batter.

Then, use a 1/4 cup scoop to get the same amount of batter for each pancake. Add the batter to the hot pan and let it cook without touching it.

Wait for the bubbles to appear all over the top, that is your indication that pancakes are ready to flip. Use a spatula to slide all the way under the pancake, lift it off, and use your wrist to quickly flip. (It will take 3-5 minutes for each pancake to cook.)

Finally, divide pancakes among the plates and top them with warm apple pie topping. 

TRY THESE COMFORTING BREAKFAST RECIPES

Pancakes are always a classic comforting option for breakfast. Try our favorite Banana Pancakes or Eggnog Pancakes too. 

I also have an Apple Pie French Toast version filled with apples and topped with them. If you want to go a little more classic, try The Best French Toast or French Toast Casserole. 

Casseroles are also great for a comforting breakfast, just like this Sausage Breakfast Casserole and Broccoli Cheese Hashbrown Casserole. 

If you made any of my recipes and shared them on Instagram, make sure to tag me @willcookforsmiles and #willcookforsmiles so I can see all the things you tried!

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PIN THIS RECIPE

Apple Pie Pancakes

Amazing, fluffy buttermilk pancakes topped with warm, homemade apple pie topping.

Print Pin Rate

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: American

Keyword: apple, buttermilk pancakes, pancakes

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Servings: 4 (about 8 pancakes)

Calories: 826kcal

Author: Lyuba Brooke

Ingredients

Buttermilk Pancakes:

• 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
• 3 tbsp light brown sugar
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp apple pie spice
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 4 oz unsalted butter melted
• 2 eggs room temperature
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cups low fat buttermilk

Apple Pie Topping:

• 4 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 lb apples
• 3/4 cup light brown sugar
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp apple pie spice

Instructions

Apple Pie Pancakes:

• Peel and core all the apples and then dice them into small pieces. 
• Melt butter in a sauce pot over medium heat and add diced apples, sugar, cinnamon, and apple pie spice. Gently mix everything until apples are evenly coated and mixed.
• Lower the heat to medium-low, cover the pot with a lid and let apple cook for about 15 minutes. Remember to stir once in a while. (NOTE: to get a lot of nice juices out of apples, make sure to cook them covered with a lid first.)
• Take off the lid and cook for another 10-15 minutes until apples are soft and tender. Make sure to stir once in a while. Take the pot off the heat until ready to serve on pancakes.

Buttermilk Pancakes:

• Whisk together wet pancake ingredients first and then add your dry ingredients. Whisk just until batter is smooth.
• Let the batter sit for about 10 minutes.
• It’s important to preheat the pan or the griddle first, before cooking the pancakes. Preheat it over medium heat and then lower it a little bit before adding pancake batter.
• Lightly grease cooking pan (or a griddle) with some oil.
• Use a 1/4 cup scoop to get the same amount of batter for each pancake. Add the batter to the hot pan and let it cook without touching it.
• Wait for the bubbles to appear all over the top, that is your indication that pancakes are ready to flip. Use a spatula to slide all the way under the pancake, lift it off, and use your wrist to quickly flip. (It will take 3-5 minutes for each pancake to cook.)
• Divide pancakes among the plates and top them with warm apple pie topping. 

Nutrition

Calories: 826kcal | Carbohydrates: 113g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 38g | Saturated Fat: 23g | Cholesterol: 176mg | Sodium: 436mg | Potassium: 643mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 65g | Vitamin A: 1279IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 288mg | Iron: 4mg

Tried this recipe?Mention @willcookforsmiles and tag #willcookforsmiles

Originally published on Will Cook For Smiles on April 11, 2012. Updated September 7, 2020.