Healthy Cinnamon Apple Pancakes

Cinnamon Apple Pancakes cook up light and fluffy using applesauce and whole grains and then topped off with caramelized cinnamon apples for a tasty treat. These lightened up healthy pancakes make an irresistible fall breakfast!

Just letting you know this Apple Cinnamon Greek Yogurt Pancakes recipe was originally published September 2015. This recipe has been retested and re-photographed. I hope you love it!

There's something comforting about cinnamon and apple filled goodies and these pancakes definitely fit the bill! While apples with cinnamon bring about the warmth and feelings of fall, thanks to basic ingredients, you can enjoy a stack of pancakes any time the cravings hit!

The pancake recipe itself is pretty basic using gluten-free rolled oats, Greek yogurt, applesauce and egg whites. I use it a lot for the base of many of my whole grain recipes. It's my go to combination, and it never fails me!

The real show stopper of this recipe is what's on top. Caramelized apples YUM! It's the icing on the pancake. Haha I could eat those apples all by themselves with dairy free ice cream. Looking for more ways to enjoy apple breakfast recipes or apple as a snack? Try this apple crockpot oatmeal, these apple cinnamon crumb bars, or my apple cinnamon muffins next!

Why You Will Love This Apple Pancakes Recipe

• Perfect for All Occasions. They're really a treat and make this recipe ideal for a brunch or family gathering, though there's no reason you can indulge in a short stack on a weekday, just because you want them.
• Great for Meal Prep Too. Make them ahead and as long as you keep the apple topping separate they're great for reheating and even freezing.
• Healthy Pancakes. Greek yogurt and egg whites boost the protein in these pancakes while they're lightly sweetened using applesauce and a bit of maple syrup in the apple topping for pancakes.

Ingredients

• Rolled Oats: We are using gluten-free oatmeal as our grains for the pancakes. The pancake batter is blended so there's no need for messing with oat flour.
• Greek yogurt: Choose non-fat Greek yogurt for a low-fat boost to the protein in your pancakes. You can also use cottage cheese with a similar effect though the texture might be slightly more dense.
• Applesauce: Make sure using unsweetened applesauce so you aren't adding sugar to the pancakes.
• Egg whites: This gives your pancakes the structure they need but with a little less fat and cholesterol. You can also use one whole egg if you prefer.
• Milk: I am using unsweetened almond milk but you can really use any type of dairy. It thins out the pancake batter a bit.
• Almond extract: I love the unique flavor this brings these pancakes but you can also use vanilla extract as well.
• Baking powder: A bit of baking powder gives the pancakes a little lift.
• Cinnamon: Pairs perfectly with apples and is what gives these apple pancakes some extra warmth and aroma. It's also added to the apple pancake topping.
• Maple Syrup: A less processed ingredient to use for sweetening the apple topping. Use pure maple syrup for the best flavor.
• Coconut Oil: Used for cooking the apple topping you can also use another type of vegetable oil if you prefer.
• Apples: For the apple cinnamon topping. I prefer to choose a crisp apple that will hold up well when cooked. Try Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Macintosh, as well as tart Granny Smith apples.

Variations

• More Apple in Your Applesauce Pancakes. Grate up to a half cup of apples to add to the batter. I don't recommend using more than that.
• Add Nuts or Dried Fruit: Nuts, such as walnuts and pecans, raisins, and cranberries pair well with these flavors. Add some dried fruits to cook with the apples while you can add toasted chopped nuts right at the end or add them on top of your apple oatmeal pancakes separately.
• Thicker Pancakes: You can add up to a quarter cup more rolled oats to make a thicker batter for thicker pancakes.

How to Make Apple Pancakes

Step 1: Make the pancake batter. Add all the ingredients for the pancakes to a blender or food processor. Process until the batter is smooth. This makes a runny batter.

Step 2: Cook. Add a quarter of the batter at a time to form pancakes to your heated skillet or griddle.

Step 3: Flip and finish. Cook the pancakes for 3-4 minutes until the top starts to bubble. Flip each pancake and cook them for another 2-3 minutes. Transfer the cooked pancakes to a cooling rack as you cook the apples.

Step 4: Cook the apples. Heat the maple syrup and coconut oil in a skillet. Add the apples and cinnamon.

Step 5: Simmer. Cook the apples over low heat until the apples soften.

Step 6: Serve and enjoy. Plate your pancakes, top with apples, and devour!

Storage Directions

• Pancakes: Store leftover pancakes separate from the apple topping in the refrigerator up to 10 days or in the freezer up to 40 days. Make sure to wrap them well or keep them in a well-sealed container.
• Apple Topping: Transfer the apples to an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to four days or freeze it for up to one month.
• Reheat: Use a toaster oven or regular oven to reheat your pancakes. Place them on a rack or baking tray and heat at 350° F about 8-10 minutes or until heated through. For best results, thaw the pancakes out ahead of time. Heat up the apples in a skillet over medium-low heat until heated through. If they seem a bit dry you can add a tiny bit of water to the pan during heating.

Serving Suggestions

These pancakes don't really need any more toppings as they have plenty of flavor from the apple topping for pancakes. Of course, you are welcome to serve them with more maple syrup or sprinkle with nuts for some crunch.

Serve these up for a fall weekend breakfast or brunch along with an egg white frittata or this cheesy roasted tomato egg bake, and a side of turkey bacon or sausage.

Sip on a healthy smoothie like this pumpkin gingerbread smoothie or apple pie smoothie for more fall flavors.

Enjoy the apple topping on top of a bowl of ice cream, overnight oats, or bowl of Greek yogurt. You might even want to double the apple topping so you have extras to use!

Expert Tips

• Cook Pancakes on an Electric Griddle or Skillet. I use an electric skillet to make my pancakes and it's a game changer. No dealing with cooking spray, sticky batters or flipping disasters. It really is a great investment for no-fail pancake making!
• Measure the Batter. The easiest way to make sure your pancakes are all the same size are to use a measuring cup to pour the batter into the skillet.
• Cooking in Batches. Depending on the size of your pan you may need to cook your pancakes in batches.
• Keep Pancakes Warm. Place the pancakes in a baking dish or pan and hold in the oven at 200° F. Cover them loosely with foil or a vented lid to keep them from drying out.

Recipe FAQs

More Healthy Pancake Recipes

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Healthy Apple Pancakes

Megan Olson

Cinnamon Apple Pancakes cook up light and fluffy using applesauce and whole grains and then topped off with caramelized cinnamon apples for a tasty treat. These lightened up healthy pancakes make an irresistible fall breakfast! They're Gluten-Free + Low-Calorie!

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Course Breakfast

Cuisine American

Servings 9 pancakes

Calories 85 kcal

Ingredients

 

US CustomaryMetric

 

1x2x3x

For the pancakes

• ▢ 1 cup Gluten Free Rolled Oats
• ▢ ½ cup Nonfat Greek Yogurt
• ▢ ½ cup Unsweetened Applesauce
• ▢ 2 Egg Whites
• ▢ 1 tablespoon Unsweetened Almond Milk or milk of choice
• ▢ ½ teaspoon Almond Extract or vanilla extract
• ▢ 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
• ▢ 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon Salt

For the apple cinnamon topping

• ▢ 1 tablespoon Cinnamon
• ▢ 1 tablespoon Maple Syrup
• ▢ 1 teaspoon Coconut Oil or Olive Oil
• ▢ 2 medium Apples peeled and cut into quarters

Instructions

 

For the pancakes:

• Heat an electric skillet to medium-high heat. 
• Add all the ingredients for the pancakes to a blender or food processor. Process until the batter is smooth - it will be runny.
• To the skillet, add 1/4 cup of the batter to form a pancake. Repeat until you have 9 pancakes. 
• Cook 3-4 minutes until pancakes begins to bubble then flip & cook another 2-3 minutes. Transfer cooked pancakes to a cooling rack as you cook the apples. Store pancakes in the refrigerator up to 10 days or in the freezer up to 40 days.

For the apple cinnamon topping:

• Heat a small skillet to medium heat. Add maple syrup and coconut oil.
• Once the syrup and oil begin to bubble and thicken, add sliced apples and top generously with cinnamon. 
• Stir the apples in the skillet to coat evenly with the maple syrup and coconut oil mixture. Simmer 8-10 minutes until apples soften.
• Plate pancakes, top with apples and devour!

Notes

• 1 pancake with 1/9 (about 1/8 cup) of the apples equals one serving.
• I use an electric skillet to make my pancakes and it's a game changer. No dealing with cooking spray, sticky batters or flipping disasters. It really is a great investment for no-fail pancake making!
• The easiest way to make sure your pancakes are all the same size are to use a measuring cup to pour the batter into the skillet.
• Depending on the size of your pan you may need to cook your pancakes in batches.
• You can use oat flour in place of the oats.
• Place the pancakes in a baking dish or pan and hold in the oven at 200° F to. keep them warm. Cover them loosely with foil or a vented lid to keep them from drying out.
• You can swap the two egg whites for one whole egg. Just note this will increase the calories and decrease the protein content.

 

Nutrition

Serving: 1pancakeCalories: 85kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 3gFat: 1gSodium: 83mgPotassium: 173mgFiber: 2gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 20IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 59mgIron: 0.6mg

Tried this Recipe? Let me know!Let us know how it was!

About Megan

Megan is a certified nutrition practitioner, author, freelance food photographer and fitness instructor living in Phoenix, Arizona. On her blog, Skinny Fitalicious she shares EASY, gluten free recipes for weight loss. Follow Megan on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram for the latest updates.