It's become tradition for my nephew and I to make pancakes on Sunday mornings, and these Apple Cinnamon Pancakes are our new favorite! I whipped this one up with an old apple that was still good enough to cook, and some leftover homemade caramel I had in the fridge.
When the apples and caramel cook, they let out just enough liquid to make caramel syrup. It is all you need to top the pancakes with. It will leave you asking...maple who?
Ingredients
I whip up a quick and simple pancake batter of flour, baking soda and powder, salt, milk, butter, eggs, and a little cinnamon to complement the apple topping.
I like a fuji apple for this or a Honeycrisp, that is what I usually have around. You could use pretty much any apple, but a tart and crisp one is best. It holds up well to cooking and won't get mushy, and the tartness balances the sweet caramel really well.
Use the JUMP TO RECIPE button at the top of the post, or scroll to the bottom of the post to see the full recipe card with ingredient measurements and instructions.
Method
Combine the dry ingredients and the egg in a large bowl. Drizzle in the milk and butter and whisk until just combined. For the fluffiest pancakes, let the batter rest for 10 minutes.
While the pancake batter is resting, dice the apple and place it in a skillet with the caramel and a little cinnamon. Cook over medium heat just till the caramel melts and it comes to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes, then remove from the heat.
Cook the pancakes on a griddle, I don't use butter on my griddle because the pancakes have plenty in the batter. But if you like crispy-edged pancakes, by all means, butter your griddle. Top the cooked pancakes with a dollop of butter and some caramel apples. Drizzle over some of the liquid from the pan as your "syrup" and enjoy!
Notes & Tips
After you mix up the pancake batter, be sure to let it rest for at least 10 minutes before you start cooking pancakes. The flapjacks will get really fluffy and thick when they hit the pan if you let them rest.
This really can be whipped up all at once on a weekend morning. Just after you mix the pancake batter, set a timer for it to rest, and peel and dice the apple. Add the caramel to the pan with the cinnamon and let it cook, even if it is still going while you start cooking your pancakes. The apples should be done about halfway through cooking pancakes.
Substitutions
If you need a dairy-free recipe, this is not the one for you. I have tried to make it with veg oil and almond milk and they just don't cook the same. I wouldn't swap those things.
You can however make these gluten-free, use this King Arthur cup-for-cup and it works perfectly as a flour swap.
You can really use any apple for this. But I would suggest using Honeycrisp, granny smith, or Gala at a minimum. Red or Gold apples would be too soft and get mushy when you cook them.
A great swap for the caramel would be Dulce de Leche. You want one that is really creamy and buttery, not just caramel syrup or sauce.
Pancakes for the Whole Year
If you love pancakes, check out these banana varieties. I especially LOVE the Peanut Butter Banana Pancakes and the outrageous and over-the-top Banana Pudding Pancakes.
In the heart of summer, when stone fruits are abundant, I like to make these Peach Pancakes. They are so bright and fresh, the perfect summer hotcake.
Speaking of bright, check out my friend's Lemon Pancakes with Strawberry Sauce. They look super summery too, and I know my nephew who is a strawberry LOVER would approve of them.
My very favorite pancakes are these Pumpkin Spice Pancakes. Fall is my favorite time of year and these are just what you need to usher in the season.
When Christmas rolls around there is nothing better than these Gingerbread Pancakes, well maybe except for these Eggnog Pancakes. They are both divine.
Did you make this recipe? Let me know by leaving a review or comment! And be sure to sign up for my newsletter, and follow along on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook!
📖 Recipe
Caramel Apple Pancakes
It's become tradition for my nephew and I to make pancakes on Sunday mornings, and these Apple Cinnamon Pancakes are our new favorite!
Ingredients
- ½ cup Unsalted Butter, melted
- 1 ½ cups Milk
- 2 cups All-Purpose Flour
- ¼ cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 tablespoon Baking Powder
- 2 teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 2 teaspoons Cinnamon
- 2 lg Eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 large Fuji Apple, peeled and diced (about 2 cups)
- ½ cup Caramel Sauce
Instructions
- In a 4-cup, microwave-safe, measuring cup, melt the butter. Then add the milk to the cup till it reached 2 cups, then microwave for 30-45 seconds, just to warm the milk and ensure the butter is still melted. Let it cool for 5-10 minutes.
- In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and 1 teaspoon cinnamon.
- Whisk the cooled milk and butter into the dry ingredients until just a few streaks of flour remain. Then whisk in the eggs till a nearly smooth mixture has formed. Let the mixture rest for 10 minutes.
- While the batter is resting, peel and dice the apple, and toss it into a 10-inch sauté pan with the caramel and remaining teaspoon of cinnamon.
- Cook the apples over medium heat till the caramel melts and comes to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and reserve till needed.
- On a griddle warmed over medium heat, with or without butter on it (the pancakes have so much butter I don’t personally butter my skillet) place two ounces of batter on the pan, two at a time, and cook for 30-45 seconds, then flip for about 45 more seconds.
- Remove from the griddle, top with some butter, and drizzle over the cooked apples and the sauce that has accumulated in the pan as the “syrup”.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
Notes & Tips
After you mix up the pancake batter, be sure to let it rest for at least 10 minutes before you start cooking pancakes. The flapjacks will get really fluffy and thick when they hit the pan if you let them rest.
This really can be whipped up all at once on a weekend morning. Just after you mix the pancake batter, set a timer for it to rest, and peel and dice the apple. Add the caramel to the pan with the cinnamon and let it cook, even if it is still going while you start cooking your pancakes. The apples should be done about halfway through cooking pancakes.
Substitutions
If you need a dairy-free recipe, this is not the one for you. I have tried to make it with veg oil and almond milk and they just don't cook the same. I wouldn't swap those things.
You can however make these gluten-free, use this King Arthur cup-for-cup and it works perfectly as a flour swap.
You can really use any apple for this. But I would suggest using Honeycrisp, granny smith, or Gala at a minimum. Red or Gold apples would be too soft and get mushy when you cook them.
A great swap for the caramel would be Dulce de Leche. You want one that is really creamy and buttery, not just caramel syrup or sauce.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 346Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 81mgSodium: 767mgCarbohydrates: 50gFiber: 2gSugar: 24gProtein: 7g
This is an estimated caloric value, actual numbers may differ based on the ingredients used.
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