When I saw this recipe for apple cinnamon pancakes in one of the earlier posts on Smitten Kitchen, I immediately knew that I will be including them into my weekend breakfast recipe repertoire. Regular plain pancakes always seem, well, too plain. Pancakes filled with shredded apples? That’s my kind of pancake – not too plain! Not to forget about added spices: vanilla and cinnamon. And, for a touch of a wonderful sour taste, these pancakes are made using Greek yogurt instead of milk.
I’ve made several changes to the recipe. Deb used milk, and I’m using Greek yogurt because I love the slightly sour taste that pancakes acquire from Greek yogurt. Also, after reading comments on Smitten Kitchen, quite a few readers talked how the pancakes came out too thick, too dense, almost cake-like. I didn’t want this kind of density in my pancakes, and realizing that Greek yogurt is quite thick, I adjusted the recipe by adding 1/2 cup half-and-half (I used half-and-half instead of milk, so that I get the slight buttery taste in my pancakes, too).
I added cinnamon and vanilla to the batter because the comments and Deb herself said that her pancakes tasted somewhat bland and needed some flavor addition. In comments, people were suggesting to add all sorts of interesting things to the batter: from bacon to calvados liquor. I did not venture that far: in my version of this recipe, my added flavorings were Greek yogurt (adding a nice sour touch), cinnamon, and vanilla. Grated apple inside the pancake perfectly complemented all three of them.
I also halved the recipe, using only 1 cup of flour instead of 2 and using only 1 apple instead of 3. The recipe on Deb’s site makes a huge amount of pancakes. My recipe made 12 good size pancakes. If you need more, just double the recipe.
Also, my suggestion with these pancakes is to eat them the same day you make them as they are the best the first day. They might get a bit soggy the next day because of all the shredded apples inside.
Apple cinnamon pancakes
Prep time: 40 min
Adapted from Smitten Kitchen.
Makes 12 pancakes
Ingredients:
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons half-and-half
- 1 cup flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large apple Fuji
1. Add egg, Greek yogurt and half-and-half together into a large bowl. Mix until you reach even consistency.
2. To the same bowl add flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla. Whisk until well combined and creamy.
3. Peel and core an apple. Using grater or food processor, grate peeled and cored apple into thin shreds. Add shredded apples to the batter and mix together.
4. Heat a skillet suitable for pancakes over medium heat. Spray it with oil. Using 1/4 cup measuring cup, drop 1/4 cupfuls of pancake batter into the pan and cook until pancakes turn golden brown underneath and the upper side puffs up and dries around edges. Flip the pancakes to the other side and cook them for an additional two or three minutes on the other side.
5. To serve, dust with powdered sugar and serve with real maple syrup.
More breakfast recipes:
- Crepes with ricotta cheese and blueberries
- Stuffed sweet potatoes for breakfast - with sausage and eggs
- Breakfast flank steak and eggs with guacamole
- Bacon and egg tartlets with Gouda cheese and green onions
- Bacon and egg breakfast cups, baked, with spinach and cheese
- Baked egg cups with spinach, cheese, and grape tomatoes
- Breakfast tart with eggs, Gruyere cheese, leeks, thyme, and grape tomatoes
I feel the same about plain pancakes, but adding apple & using yoghurt, well that is just genius!
Yummy, Julia! They look so fluffy and delicious…
They turned out perfectly gorgeous Julia..Why do I look at your posts in the middle of my dull Fiber First and yogurt?
I must try these.
Have a great weekend.
Ha-ha! Thank you! You have a great weekend, too!
I have been on a serious pancake kick! These look incredible! I think pretty much all pancakes need some cinnamon and vanilla or they taste blah.
Ahhh, apple, cinnamon, yogurt and pancakes – four of my favourite foodstuffs! They look utterly delicious. Why, oh why, hasn’t anyone come up with a calorie-free version of these?!
These look so yummy! I enjoyed reading about your process and all the photos are stunning!
Wow! Lovely photography… looks delicious and tempting…
I never stock reg yogurt anymore because I like the greek so much. I have a hard time sometimes getting enough of the apple flavor out. It’s kind of more work, but maybe turning the apples into an apple butter and then adding it back into them would produce more flavor, or just dump some cooked apples on top. Nah, I think I like the way you did them better. Hope you are having a good weekend.
-Gina-
I’m a pancake lover from way back but I’ve never made them with apple and now I want to spank myself because these look so good!
Oh I love this idea, how did I not think of this?)))
One word..YUM! Must try. Adore all pancakes! Pictures are gorgeous as usual!
What a great recipe Julia! And I’ve been looking for more ways to incorporate greek yogurt into my cooking. Weekends just aren’t complete without pancakes.
wow these pancakes look too good to be real. Mouthwatering clicks!!
The pancakes look delightful. I will have to make them soon.
Now this is one delicious breakfast idea! I adore apples in all my baked good, but I’ve never added them to pancakes. Fantastic idea (and your photos are beautiful!).
I’ve never added apple to pancakes, but I really like the idea. Loads of extra flavor, plus a bit of added nutrition – that’s a win in my book! Really fun post – thanks so much.
Your recipes and blog is utterly fabulous my friend, I am drooling
Cheers
CCU
These sound amazing. Just pinned them for Saturday morning pancakes!!!
What lovely panckes! They must taste heavenly.
Cheers,
Rosa
The pancakes look absolutely delicious!
These look delicious! Greek yogurt is one of my very favorites – I really need to try using it in pancakes. And the apples and cinnamon. I tend to forget how much I love that combination when it’s not Fall … but that’s such a shame!
lovely recipe and great pictures as usual. ciao! Barbara
Last night I was craving pancakes, so I made them 9:00 pm-)) Yours looks just scrumptious -) Adding an apple was a very good idea!
My pancakes never look so perfect.
I love the idea of adding apple to them!
Apples in pancakes?! Sign me up! I love apples in muffins too!
Tried this today morning and it was a superhit! Thank you so much!!!
I love that first shot of the maple syrup pouring on the pancakes! Apple and cinnamon is such a perfect combination – especially in pancakes
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