Apple Pancakes
Updated Sep 04, 2026
Fluffy apple pancakes with grated apple mixed right into the batter and cinnamon apples spooned on top. An easy breakfast that tastes like fall.
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I have a rule in my house that weekend breakfast has to feel different from the rushed weekday version, and these apple pancakes are in rotation as soon as fall hits. My favorite trick is grating the apple right into the batter so you get that apple flavor all through the pancakes, not just in the topping. And speaking of the topping, I am obsessed with the apple-cinnamon compote and genuinely had to stop myself from making the recipe a double batch. I usually make more than what’s listed below, so if you love those warm, saucy apples as much as I do, just go ahead and double it.
Recipe Testing Notes
For the past 10 years, I’ve tested every recipe before sharing it with you! These notes give you a peek into the process of developing this apple pancakes recipe.
Grating the apple instead of chopping it was the choice I settled on early when developing this apple pancake recipe. When I added diced apple to the batter, the pieces stayed firm and a little raw in the middle of the pancake, which made it awkward to flip. Grated apple “melts” right in the batter and cooks through in the same time the pancake does. If your apple is really juicy, give the gratings a quick blot first so the batter doesn’t turn watery.
The heat took the most attention. There’s brown sugar in the batter plus the natural sugar from the apple, so these brown faster than a plain pancake, and my first few scorched on the outside while the centers were still raw. Dropping to a steady medium heat and giving them the full 2 to 3 minutes before flipping, once the bubbles form and the edges look set, is what got them cooked through with an even golden color.
Happy Cooking!
– Yumna
This recipe is part of our monthly Cooking Challenge for September 2026!
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Apple Pancakes Ingredients
- Apples: Use a firm, sweet-tart apple like Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, or Fuji. Grate it using large holes of a box grater so it blends evenly into the apple pancakes without leaving large chunks.
- Dry ingredients: Flour, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Make sure your baking powder is aluminum-free to avoid any chance of a metallic aftertaste.
- Wet ingredients: Egg, whole milk, melted butter, and vanilla create a smooth pancake batter. Let the egg come to room temperature and the melted butter cool slightly before whisking it into the milk so it doesn’t clump. Whole milk gives the richest texture, but another milk works if that’s what you have.
- For the apple pancake topping: Butter, diced apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt cook together until the apples are tender and coated in a light syrup. Dice the apples into small, even pieces so they soften at the same rate.
How to Make Apple Pancakes
These step-by-step photos walk you through how to make apple pancakes. For the full ingredient list and detailed instructions, head to the recipe card below, or skip straight to the → Apple Pancakes Recipe
1. Whisk the wet ingredients
Whisk together the egg, milk, melted butter, and vanilla until smooth.
2. Add the dry ingredients
Whisk together the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Whisk it well so the baking powder gets evenly distributed, then pour it into the bowl with the wet ingredients.
3. Add the grated apple
Mix just until the flour disappears, then stir in the grated apple until evenly distributed.
4. Finish the batter
The batter should be thick with no dry streaks remaining. Be careful not to overmix.
5. Cook the apple pancakes
Scoop the batter onto a lightly greased skillet or griddle, leaving space between each pancake.
6. Flip until golden
Turn the pancakes once bubbles form across the surface and the edges look set. Continue cooking until both sides are golden brown.
7. Melt the butter
Start the topping by melting the butter in a skillet over medium heat.
8. Add the apples and seasoning
Stir in the diced apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt until everything is coated.
9. Cook until tender
Stir occasionally as the apples soften and release their juices.
10. Finish the apple topping
Keep cooking until the liquid thickens into a light syrup that coats the apples.
Full Apple Pancakes Recipe
Apple Pancakes Recipe
Video
Ingredients
Pancakes
- 1 ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large apple grated
- Nonstick cooking spray
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.
- In another larger bowl, whisk the egg until beaten. Whisk in the milk, melted butter and vanilla.
- Add the dry mixture to the wet mixture and whisk until just combined. Add the grated apples and stir until evenly distributed.
- Heat a large nonstick pan or griddle over medium heat. Spray with nonstick cooking spray.
- Scoop a level ⅓ cup of batter for each pancake and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until bubbles form on the surface and the edges look set. Flip and cook for 1-2 more minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through. Makes 8 pancakes.
- While the pancakes cook, make the apple topping. In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the diced apples, sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the apples are tender and the mixture is syrupy.
- Serve the pancakes warm with the apple topping spooned on top.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.
Recipe Variations
- Chopped nuts: Stir ½ cup pecans or walnuts into the batter or sprinkle them over the apple topping.
- Raisins: Fold ¼ cup raisins into the batter for extra sweetness.
- Oats: Replace ¼ cup of the flour with ¼ cup old-fashioned rolled oats for more texture.
Recipe Tips
- Wait for bubbles before flipping. Flip only after bubbles appear across the surface and the edges look set so the apple pancakes hold together.
- Cook over medium heat. Lower heat gives the apple pancakes time to cook through before the outside gets too dark.
- Serve right away. Apple pancakes are at their best fresh off the skillet while the topping is still warm!
Troubleshooting
You probably overmixed the batter after adding the flour. Stir only until the dry ingredients disappear, leaving a few small lumps.
The skillet is likely too hot. Reduce the heat to medium so the pancakes have time to cook through before the outside browns.
The apples may need more time to cook. Continue simmering until some of the moisture evaporates and the syrup lightly coats the apples.
Comments
This recipe is easy to make and it smells and taste like fall. Served it with some yogurt and cottage cheese for extra protein. Shared it with coworkers and it was a hit.
So happy these were a hit with your coworkers! Love that you made some to share. The yogurt and cottage cheese sound like great additions, too!
Quick and easy to make. Absolutely delicious recipe! Perfect start to the fall season!
So glad you enjoyed the pancakes! Just in time for fall!!
Our family are waffle peeps so I made waffles. Batter is perfect for waffles and made 3 large waffles (which I cut into 1/4 wedges for 12 pieces total). I had some blueberries left over from another recipe and added them into the apple topping half way through cooking. The purple color is a nice contrast to the brown apple waffles. Topping is sweet enough without adding maple syrup. Whipped cream would have put it over the top! Great way to use apples!
Love that you made these work for your waffle-loving family! The blueberries sound like such a good addition to the apple topping!
My family loves pancake breakfasts so I was excited to make these and they were delicious! They are easy to make and the apples give them perfect fall flavor and the apple topping really makes them special! I made a double batch and we have enjoyed them all week. Just a quick reheat in the microwave and they are great!
So happy your family enjoyed these all week! Love that the double batch made breakfast a little easier!
Delicious!!! The Apple topping is sooo good! Im definitely going to be doubling it next time. I served with whipped cream and yogurt, yum!
So happy you loved the apple topping enough to double it next time! Whipped cream and yogurt sound soo good with these. Thanks for giving them a try!
Made these for breakfast this morning and they’re my new favorite pancake recipe. I usually make banana pancakes since I always have ripe bananas but I’m glad I gave these a try. I’m not even a huge apple lover but these plus the topping were a pair I’m willing to repeat. Smelled delicious and tasted even better! Didn’t even need syrup since the topping was sweet enough.
So happy these earned a spot alongside your usual banana pancakes! Winning you over when you’re not a huge apple fan makes that even sweeter. Glad the topping was just enough for you without syrup!
If you like apples and pancakes this is the recipe for you! I liked how it paired together, the topping was my favorite part. I used apples from the orchard, it was so good.
So happy you enjoyed them with your orchard apples! Glad the topping was a favorite. Thanks for taking the time to leave a review, Salma!
Perfect for the fall apple season with some nice crisp glass of apple cider fresh from our local orchard. Like biting into apple with a light and fluffy pancake and a drizzle of real maple syrup. Decadently delightful weekend breakfast/brunch.
Fresh cider from the orchard sounds so good alongside these! So happy you enjoyed the pancakes. Love hearing how you made them part of your weekend breakfast!
Hey Yumna,
Could I use oat flour instead of a/p flour to make this gluten free?
Hi! I haven’t tested it, but I think oat flour should work here. I’d start with the same 1½ cups, but the pancakes may be a little more tender and less fluffy than with all-purpose flour. Let the batter sit for about 5 minutes before cooking so the oat flour can absorb the liquid, and if it seems too thick, add a splash more milk. Let me know how it turns out!
Tastes like fall! I made for brunch and served with walnuts and Greek yogurt. I didn’t peel the apples to keep the extra fiber. Delicious!
So happy you enjoyed them for brunch! Walnuts and Greek yogurt sound soo good on top. Thanks for sharing your review, Emiley!
These were AWESOME! I doubled the recipe for my family of 4 and there were no leftovers!!
A double batch and no leftovers is such a good compliment! So happy your family loved them!!
These pancakes were fluffy, super moist, and so easy to make! The shredded apple gave them a delicious texture and flavor. We made them for breakfast-for-dinner & my husband already wants me to make them again!
Love that you made these for breakfast-for-dinner! So happy you both enjoyed them. Your husband already asking for another batch is such a good compliment!
Knowing how much your other pancake recipe was enjoyed in my home I knew I’d be participating in this months challenge recipe. Made these on Sunday morning and they were a hit. I made it all in one bowl and removed some batter for the little ones before adding in the sugar. Grated the apples using a food processor and added nutmeg into the batter and the cooked apples. My eldest had his with almond butter but we enjoyed the cooked apples albeit mine didn’t turn out syrupy and seemed like they tasted a bit burnt in places. I was so surprised by the texture. They were super fluffy and couldn’t feel the grated apples at all— was worried that the boys wouldn’t be happy about pieces a fruit being inside but they couldn’t tell at all!
So happy these were a hit with your boys, and thank you for participating in the challenge! Glad the fluffy texture worked well for them, even with the grated apples. Sorry to hear they were a little burnt in places, a little less heat may help next time.
These are delicious! I had to switch to gluten-free flour, but they still cooked up perfectly! I plan to make more this fall. I had never grated apples before, and it is so satisfying!
So happy they turned out perfectly with your gluten-free flour! Love that this was your first time grating apples. It really is so satisfying. Hope you enjoy many more batches this fall!
It’s the second time I’ve made this recipe, and my kids loved it so much that I had to double the batch this time around! These pancakes are absolutely delicious! ❤️
Aww, needing a double batch is such a good compliment! So happy your kids love the pancakes. Hope they become a regular breakfast request in your home this fall!
These pancakes turned out amazing.. My kids loved them so much ❤️
Yay, I’m so happy they turned out amazing! It’s always lovely to hear the kids enjoyed them, too. Glad they were a hit!
LOVE!!!
That’s awesome! So glad you enjoyed them, Vanessa!
Went to our local farm stand to get fresh apples just for this recipe! I have 3 girls under 5 and we ALL loved it! So easy, and so delicious!
Aww, so happy you and your girls all loved them! Love that you picked up fresh apples from the farm stand just to make these. Thanks for taking the time to leave such a sweet review!
Perfect Labor Day breakfast. These flapjacks were fluffy, filling and tasty. We did a double batch because we have access to apple trees, so why not! I did make the apple mix first and turned it off while making the pancakes and that made the sauce stick nicely after it cooled a bit! Definitely a hit at our house!
A double batch sounds like a great way to use those apples! So glad the pancakes were a hit at your house. Thanks for sharing your tip about letting the apple topping cool a bit!
Made these this morning. Found them to be delicious. Thanks for the recipe.
I’m so happy to hear that, Laura! Thanks for giving it a try and sharing your review!
First time making pancakes from scratch. They came out very good. I was skeptical the apple would be heavy, but they were fluffy.
That’s awesome! So happy your first pancakes from scratch turned out well and that you enjoyed them!
Delicious! I love how you add vanilla with the shredded apple. It’s our new favorite breakfast. Thank you for sharing .🥇
Aww, so happy these are your new favorite breakfast! Thank you for giving them a try and leaving your review!
Love the different texture of the apple combined with pancake
Thank you so much! I’m so glad you enjoyed the pancakes, Carlee!
I’m amazed with this recipe. my family loved it, that apple on top gives the pancakes the perfect crunch, thank you for sharing this great recipe, it’s so good!
I’m so glad this was a hit with your family! I love that little crunch from the apples on top, too. Thank you for sharing your experience making it!
I’m going to the Apple Orchard in a few weeks and looking forward to making this recipe, yum! Apple picking season is upon us here in Michigan.
This recipe is perfect for apple-picking season in Michigan! Hope you enjoy the pancakes, Salma!