Hot Apple Pancakes

On Columbus Day last year, the boyfriend and I spent the weekend house sitting and watching my roommates’ parents’ dogs. Romantic, I know. A few minutes away from their house is a diner famous for their greasy spoon food and massive portion sizes. Our shared love for breakfast meant we had to go.

I ordered a special, hot apple pancakes. When they say big portions, these people aren’t joking around. A stack of no less than five massive, fluffy pancakes appeared in front of me topped with caramelized apples and whipped cream. After devouring the entire plate, I spent the day food-comatose. I knew I needed to recreate them, this time slightly healthier and quite a bit smaller.

Dare I say these are better than their inspiration? I dare.

Hot Apple Pancakes

• 1/3 c flour (I used whole wheat)
• 1/2 t cinnamon
• 1/8 t cardamom*
• 1/8 nutmeg
• 1/8 t salt
• 1 t brown sugar
• 1 t baking powder
• 1/4 c almond milk (or other non-dairy milk)
• 1/4 c applesauce
• 1/4 t vanilla

• 1/4 apple, sliced thin
• sprinkle of cinnamon

*If you don’t have cardamom (I totally understand, it’s expensive!), try using ground allspice instead

1. Heat a nonstick pans over medium heat, sprayed with cooking spray.
2. Mix dry ingredients in a bowl, then add wet and mix until just combined.
3. Drop 1/4 of the mixture into the pan, spread, and cook until bubbling and fluffy.
4. Flip and cook another minute or so. Repeat with the remaining batter.
5. Spray your pan again (I actually spray between pancakes too). Apply a generous sprinkling of cinnamon to the apple slices and place in pan, cinnamon side down. Sprinkle cinnamon on the other side.
6. Cook 3-4 minutes and flip. Cook until the apples are easily pierced with a fork.
7. Pile apples on top of the pancakes, top with maple syrup and Coconut Milk Whipped Cream, and devour!

The cardamom and nutmeg give a nice zip to the pancakes, and the fragrant apples are soft and reminiscent of apple pie. They’re fluffy, fall-flavored, and delicious!

What’s your favorite diner breakfast?

Related posts:

Tagged as: apple, breakfast, pancakes