Start your day on a sweet note with these Apple Cinnamon Pancakes. They're fluffy, sweet, and easy to make!
Want a yummy, super delicious breakfast or brunch? As the weather turns and leaves fall, I crave all things apple cinnamon.
A huge stack of these fluffy Apple Cinnamon Pancakes will warm you right up!
These are fast, easy, SO fluffy, and sweet. Such a tasty way to start a cool, crisp fall day!
What you need to make these Apple Cinnamon Pancakes
You'll need two main tools to make these pancakes: a griddle or skillet, and a good flipping spatula.
For everyday cooking, I love my Daterra Cuisina ceramic non-stick skillet. I have the medium skillet and the wok, and love cooking with both. For this recipe, use the largest skillet you have, at least a 12" skillet.
You'll also need a wide spatula, one that helps you flip pancakes without the batter flopping over too much on the sides. You can usually find a good wide heat resistant egg/pancake flip spatula for around $10 or less.
The third tool that I use is optional: pancake rings. I got this set of four interlocking egg/pancake rings from Amazon for around $12. They're great! They're totally optional - you can absolutely make this recipe without them. However, these rings help the pancakes form these nice, uniform circles for big happy pancake stacks. And, it helps the batter form these fluffy pancakes!
Ingredients you need to make apple cinnamon pancake
Now that you've got your tools, it's time to gather your ingredients!
Green Apples - Granny Smith apples are my favorite apples to use in baking and cooking. They are tart, but then that tartness simmers into a sweetness with heat. They also hold their shape nicely. For this recipe, you will both grate the apples to include in the batter, and you'll dice them for the topping.
Vegetable oil - just a half cup helps keep this batter moist and fluffy.
Milk - You can use whatever milk you have on hand - whole, 2%, or 1%. Or, if you are dairy-free like me, you can use almond milk.
Eggs - Using eggs that are at room temperature are usually better for baking, and I find the same holds true for making pancakes and waffles. Room temperature eggs mix more easily and evenly with the other ingredients. That said, you don't HAVE to do this; you can use eggs straight from the refrigerator. However, if you can set the eggs out first while you gather the rest of your ingredients and begin, I find it helps.
All-purpose flour - I find that sifting the flour helps make these pancakes fluffier. But you don't have to sift the flour if you don't have time or don't want to.
Baking powder - this is the ingredient that helps give these pancakes the rise they need to be taller and fluffier.
Cinnamon sugar - You're going to use cinnamon and sugar in two separate steps. You'll make a cinnamon-sugar mixture to coat each pancake with. And you'll use some cinnamon and sugar in the batter itself. I've broken out the ingredients by step, so you will know how much to use separately in each step.
I always have a mason jar with cinnamon sugar mixed up since we use it in so many recipes.
Butter - You're going to use butter in two separate steps: melted and cooled butter to coat the pancakes so they hold the cinnamon sugar coating. Then a pat (tablespoon) of butter to sauté the diced apple topping at the end.
I use dairy-free butter, but you can use whatever butter you have in the fridge.
Exact measurements and detailed instructions can be found in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post!
Cooking tips
Make this dairy-free: use your favorite dairy-free butter alternative and milk alternative. I've found you can substitute these easily using the same measurements and the pancakes turn out delicious!
Don't skip the resting step! Setting your mixed apple cinnamon pancake batter on the countertop to rest for 5-10 minutes before cooking allows the gluten in the flour to relax and the starch grains to swell. This results in fluffier pancakes!
Make the batter ahead of time: you can mix the batter together and set it, covered, in the refrigerator overnight. Only do this if you followed the recipe and used baking powder; if you use baking soda, you cannot make this ahead of time since the active ingredients in baking soda start working right away and you'll end up with flat pancakes the next day.
More breakfast and brunch recipes
Our Best Chocolate Chip Muffins
Scrambled Eggs on Toast With Peas and Feta
Baked Cinnamon Sugar Donuts with Three Glazes
Cheesy Spinach Mini Frittatas Recipe
Delicious Paleo Donuts Recipe
Fluffy Apple Cinnamon Pancakes
Ingredients
Cinnamon Sugar + Butter Coating
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled to room temperature
Pancakes
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 cups milk
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup grated green apple, peeled and cored
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Apple Topping
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 cup diced green apple, peeled and cored
Instructions
Make the Cinnamon Sugar + Butter Coating
- Mix together the granulated sugar and cinnamon in a bowl. Set aside
- Melt ¼ butter in a microwave and set aside to let cool up to room temperature
Mix the pancake batter
- In a large bowl, whisk together the vegetable oil, milk, eggs, and grated apple.
- In a separate large bowl. whisk together the flour, baking powder, 3 tablespoons of sugar and one teaspoon of cinnamon.
- Combine the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients until all of the ingredients are well incorporated. Set aside and let this batter rest at room temperature for 5-10 minutes.
- Heat your griddle or skillet on the stovetop to medium heat. Add a bit of oil to the pan, and then slowly pour the batter to form pancake circles (or pour into pancake rings if you are using them). Watch the pancakes carefully and when bubbles start to form, carefully use a wide spatula to flip each pancake over. Place cooked pancakes on a plate while you make the rest of the batter.
- Brush each pancake with a bit of the melted & cooled butter. Sprinkle with your prepared cinnamon sugar. Set aside while you make the apple topping.
- Using the same griddle or skillet over medium heat, gently sauté the diced green apples with a pat of butter. Stir and cook for about 2 minutes, just until the apples get a nice caramelized coating but are still a little crisp.
- Top each pancake stack with some diced apples and serve with maple syrup.
Jennifer says
Apples and cinnamon are my weakness, and now that apples are in season, I can't wait to try this recipe. All your recipes are so amazing!
Jacqueline Meldrum says
Oh fabulous flavours. I am about to go to bed dreaming of these pamcakes.
Tara says
Definitely the perfect way to start the day! Such wonderful pancakes for the season. Love those diced apples stacked on top.
Alexandra says
The perfect weekend brunch, these pancakes are absolutely delicious!