Apple Pie Pancakes with Vanilla Maple Syrup

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Apple Pancakes with Vanilla Maple Syrup โ€” These apple pancakes are packed with cinnamon and other fall spices. Slather with butter and dunk them in some homemade vanilla maple syrup! 

stack of Apple Pancakes with Vanilla Maple Syrup

Easy Apple Pancakes Recipe

It’s that time of year where apples are starting to turn up everywhere. From caramel apples to apple pie to pancakes that taste like apple pie. I confess, I’m not much of a pie-maker. We really don’t need a whole pie at once, and I tend to make bars and cookies because they seem to disappear quicker than a whole pie does.

These apple pancakes are the answer to my pie-less prayers. And they’re much faster to make than making a pie. I know you won’t miss rolling out pie crust. This recipe is adapted from my friend Adrianna Adarme of A Cozy Kitchen’s cookbook, Pancakes: 72 Sweet and Savory Recipes for the Perfect Stack. Adrianna’s recipes are written in a way that leaves nothing to guess, which is so appreciated. I try to write my recipes with lots of detail, and I always appreciate it when I read blogs or cookbooks that are the same.

I am just blown away by how creative she got with the recipes. Carrot Cake Pancakes, Red Velvet, Coffee, Cinnamon Bun, and Banana Bourbon Pancakes all caught my eye. There are also Dinner Pancakes, like Jalepeno Corn Cakes and Smoked Gouda Sweet Potato Latkes.

stack of Apple Pancakes with bite missing

But since it’s approaching fall, and since I have sweet teeth, I went with Apple Pie Pancakes. It’s standard pancake-making, a bowl of dry ingredients, a bowl of wet poured over dry, and then one grated apple is stirred into the batter before griddling them.

The only changes I made to the recipe were with the spices. I added more cinnamon and nutmeg, and threw in a pinch of cloves. She also suggested peeling the apple but I didn’t bother. Fiber never hurt anyone.

I added vanilla extract to my maple syrup to bring out that apple pie flavor profile. I wanted to make something new, but vanilla maple syrup is my favorite pancake, French toast, or waffle topper.

The cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves pair so perfectly with apples. Your house definitely will smell like fall after making a batch of these. The bits of grated apple lend just a touch of texture to the otherwise soft, fluffy, and lightweight pancakes.

Although summer is my favorite season, if I have to ring in fall, pancakes that remind me of apple pie are always welcome. And so are sky-high fluffy stacks.

stack of Apple cinnamon Pancakes with Vanilla Maple Syrup

What’s in Apple Pancakes?

For these apple cinnamon pancakes, you’ll need: 

  • Light brown sugar
  • Baking powder
  • Spices
  • Salt
  • Whole milk
  • Egg
  • Unsalted butter
  • Vanilla extract
  • Grated apple
  • Pure maple syrup

homemade apple pancakes on floral plate

How to Make Apple Pancakes

To make these easy apple pancakes, simply whisk together the wet ingredients in one bowl and the dry in another. Combine the two, then fold in the grated apple. 

Preheat your skillet or griddle and brush with melted butter or oil. Scoop the batter onto the skillet using a quarter-cup measure. You’ll know the pancakes are ready to be flipped once you see tiny bubbles appear all over the top. Flip the pancakes, and continue cooking until golden on both sides. 

To make the vanilla maple syrup, all you have to do is whisk together the syrup and a little vanilla extract. Serve the apple cinnamon pancakes warm with a drizzle of vanilla maple syrup and enjoy! 

stack of Apple Pancakes with Vanilla Maple Syrup and butter

How to Keep Pancakes Warm 

If you’re making a big batch of pancakes, you can keep the cooked pancakes warm in a 200ยบF oven while you make the rest of the batch. You’ll want to use a baking tray for this and not a plate, as not all plates are oven-safe. The oven temperature needs to be set quite low, otherwise you’ll dry out the apple pancakes. 

how to make apple pancakes

What are the Best Apples for Pancakes? 

You can use any apple variety you’d like in these apple pancakes! For sweeter pancakes, use Honeycrisp or Gala apples. If you prefer something a little less sweet, opt for Granny Smith.

piece of Apple Pancake on fork

Can I Freeze Pancakes? 

Absolutely! To freeze pancakes, first let them cool to room temperature before sealing them inside a freezer bag. You can easily reheat the frozen pancakes in the toaster or microwave. 

stack of fluffy apple pancakes topped with butter

Can I Use Another Fruit Instead of Apples? 

I’m not sure. You may be able to use whole, small berries in this recipe, but I can’t say for certain. Different fruits release different amounts of juice once cookies, so use your best judgement when adapting this recipe. 

Apple Pie Pancakes with Vanilla Maple Syrup - Just as good as apple pie but healthier & way less work!

Can I Use Non-Dairy Milk? 

Maybe. Whole milk has more fat than most non-dairy milks, and it keeps these apple pancakes incredibly moist and flavorful. If you substitute a non-dairy milk, let me know how your pancakes turn out! 

Apple Pie Pancakes with Vanilla Maple Syrup - Just as good as apple pie but healthier & way less work!

Can I Use an Egg Substitute? 

Again, I’m not sure. I’ve only ever made these apple cinnamon pancakes as written so I don’t know if you can use an egg substitute in this recipe. 

Apple Pancakes with Vanilla Maple Syrup โ€” These apple pancakes are packed with cinnamon and other fall spices. Slather with butter and dunk them in some homemade vanilla maple syrup! 

Tips for Making Apple Pancakes 

Preheating your pan is really important for perfect pancakes. If the skillet isn’t warm enough when you make the first pancake, it won’t rise properly and won’t become golden brown. To test whether or not your skillet is hot enough, flick a little water onto it and see if it sizzles. 

If desired, you can adjust the amount of spices in these apple pancakes. I like my pancakes to be super flavorful, but if you’d rather use less cinnamon or cloves, go for it. 

If you have extra time on your hands, you could cook down some diced apple with a little cinnamon in a small saucepan and top these apple pancakes with that as well as the vanilla maple syrup. Extra apple pie flavor is always a good idea!  

Apple Pancakes with Vanilla Maple Syrup โ€” These apple pancakes are packed with cinnamon and other fall spices. Slather with butter and dunk them in some homemade vanilla maple syrup! 

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4.45 from 85 votes

Apple Pancakes with Vanilla Maple Syrup

By Averie Sunshine
These apple pancakes are packed with cinnamon and other fall spices. Slather with butter and dunk them in some homemade vanilla maple syrup!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 8 pancakes
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Ingredients  

Pancakes

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons light brown sugar, packed
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, original recipe calls for 1 teaspoon
  • ยฝ teaspoon ground nutmeg, original recipe calls for 1/8 teaspoon
  • ยฝ teaspoon ground clove
  • โ…› teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup grated apple, about 1 medium apple
  • Butter or vegetable oil for skillet

Vanilla Maple Syrup

  • about 1/2 cup maple syrup, warmed gently
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or the scrapings of 1 vanilla bean

Instructions 

  • Make the Pancakes
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients.
  • In a measuring cup or small bowl, measure out the milk. Add the remaining wet ingredients and beat until combined.
  • All at once, add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, and mix until just combined. The batter should have some small to medium lumps; donโ€™t overmix or try to stir them smooth.
  • Gently fold in the grated apple.
  • Preheat your skillet over medium heat and brush with 1 1/2 teaspoons of butter or 1 teaspoon vegetable oil.
  • Using a 1/4-cup measure, scoop batter onto warm skillet. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes until small bubbles form on the surface of the pancakes, and then flip.
  • Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook on the opposite side for about 1 minute, or until golden brown. (My pancakes were slightly larger than 1/4-cup of batter each, and I yielded 7 rather than 8; and they took slightly longer to cook than recipe indicates).
  • Transfer cooked pancakes to a baking sheet and place in a preheated 200F oven to keep warm.
  • Repeat the process with the remaining batter, adding more butter or oil to the skilled when needed. Serve immediately.
  • Make the Vanilla Maple Syrup
  • Stir together the syrup, vanilla, and serve over pancakes. Optionally, serve with Vanilla Maple Butter.

Notes

Recipe reprinted with permission and adapted from Pancakes: 72 Sweet and Savory Recipes for the Perfect Stack.

Nutrition

Serving: 1, Calories: 202kcal, Carbohydrates: 33g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 6g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Cholesterol: 34mg, Sodium: 131mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 18g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Cinnamon French Toast Sticks โ€” These are slightly firm on the outside, tender in the middle, and the cinnamon flavor shines through.

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Pumpkin French Toast โ€” Thick slices of French toast that are full of rich pumpkin, cinnamon and brown sugar flavor.

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Pumpkin Waffles โ€” The waffles are brimming with pumpkin flavor between the entire can of pumpkin puree and the pumpkin pie spice.

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Overnight Syrup-On-The-Bottom French Toast โ€“ Assemble it the night before and wake up to AMAZING French toast the next morning!

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4.45 from 85 votes (57 ratings without comment)

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Please note: I have only made the recipe as written, and cannot give advice or predict what will happen if you change something. If you have a question regarding changing, altering, or making substitutions to the recipe, please check out the FAQ page for more info.

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Comments

    1. I haven’t ever tried so you could do it and see what happens but I can’t say one way or the other how it will go. I am thinking the apples will be too chunky and overall it will change the consistency of the batter and you may need to make dry ingredients changes.

  1. 1 star
    These came out terrible, wouldn’t cook in the center no matter how long I fried them. Ended up throwing them in the garbage.

  2. 5 stars
    We love these pancakes! What a great recipe! We always add Soda water to our pancakes. Do you think this would work too?
    We also loved your video of this via Pinterest and have shared.
    We are wondering what program you used to make your video, as would love to try and do and are always inspired by your recipes. Thank you

  3. 5 stars
    We love these pancakes! What a great recipe! We always add Soda water to our pancakes. Do you think this would work too?
    We also loved your video of this via Pinterest and have shared.
    We are wondering what program you used to make your video, as would love to try and do and are always inspired by your recipes. Thank you

    1. I use a professional videographer.

      Soda water would probably create more air bubbles in the pancakes but really it’s hard to say unless you try it.

      Glad you love them (then I wouldn’t actually change the recipe)!

  4. 5 stars
    These pancakes were absolutely fantastic! I substitute the egg for egg replacer due to allergies and they were just too delicious to have only one! Oops! Thanks for sharing your recipe:)

  5. 5 stars
    These pancakes were absolutely fantastic! I substitute the egg for egg replacer due to allergies and they were just too delicious to have only one! Oops! Thanks for sharing your recipe:)

    1. Thanks for the 5 star review and glad these were fantastic and that egg replacer worked great too!

    2. 5 stars
      These are heavenly! I subbed the ground cloves for cardamom and added a handful of walnut pieces. I served them with homemade apple butter.

      Total keeper, thank you.

      1. Thanks for the 5 star review and I am glad this is a total keeper for you! The homemade apple butter sounds like a heavenly touch!

  6. 5 stars
    My husband asked for apple pancakes this morning … said his mom used to make them and he thought it was something she learned to make in Holland. ย I searched for something like he described and this recipe seemed to fit! ย I substituted a brown sugar alternative and used half regular and half almond flour. 2 tsp of cinnamon was perfect. I chose not to add cloves. The only apples I had were gala, and I think Iโ€™d use Granny Smith in the future for a stronger apple flavor. My husband absolutely loved them! This is a keeper!

  7. 5 stars
    My husband asked for apple pancakes this morning … said his mom used to make them and he thought it was something she learned to make in Holland. ย I searched for something like he described and this recipe seemed to fit! ย I substituted a brown sugar alternative and used half regular and half almond flour. 2 tsp of cinnamon was perfect. I chose not to add cloves. The only apples I had were gala, and I think Iโ€™d use Granny Smith in the future for a stronger apple flavor. My husband absolutely loved them! This is a keeper!

    1. Thanks for the 5 star review and I am glad you and your husband enjoyed these! Glad to hear that half regular and half almond flour worked fine, too!

  8. 4 stars
    Made this this morning. Very delicious. Used gluten free 1:1 flour, a Tbsp of baking powder and a bit more cinnamon and vanilla plus a pinch of allspice in place of the other spices. Even my husband who is a pure buttermilk pancake guy liked them.ย 

  9. 4 stars
    Made this this morning. Very delicious. Used gluten free 1:1 flour, a Tbsp of baking powder and a bit more cinnamon and vanilla plus a pinch of allspice in place of the other spices. Even my husband who is a pure buttermilk pancake guy liked them.ย 

  10. 5 stars
    Fantastic. Reminiscent of the apple pancakes my Mom used to make. I love the fall flavors, though I might go with 1.5tsp instead of 2 of cinnamon, and I was tempted to try a chai seasoning (next time).

  11. 5 stars
    Fantastic. Reminiscent of the apple pancakes my Mom used to make. I love the fall flavors, though I might go with 1.5tsp instead of 2 of cinnamon, and I was tempted to try a chai seasoning (next time).

    1. Thanks for the 5 star review and glad these remind you of the pancakes your mom used to make! Chai would be lovely here I am thinking!

  12. 2 stars
    The batter was very thin, pancakes were dense and we followed the recipe! We wonโ€™t be making again, sorry! Iโ€™m glad it worked for others though!

  13. 5 stars
    I love these! My so. Has dairy and egg white allergies so I used Soy milk and two egg yolks and sunflower oil instead of butter.
    I also made them a little smaller so I got 12 pancakes, My kids are only 2 & 3 so they donโ€™t like large pancakes.
    I think I would use less clove next time but thatโ€™s a personal taste preference. My toddlers ate these up!