Apple Fritter Pancakes (Printer-friendly)
Tender apple pieces folded into fluffy cinnamon-spiced batter, cooked until golden and drizzled with sweet vanilla glaze for a comforting breakfast.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Pancake Batter
01 - 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
03 - 2 teaspoons baking powder
04 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
05 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
06 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
07 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
08 - 1 cup whole milk
09 - 2 large eggs
10 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
11 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
→ Apples
12 - 2 medium apples, peeled, cored, and diced
13 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
14 - 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
15 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
→ Glaze
16 - 1 cup powdered sugar
17 - 2-3 tablespoons milk
18 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
→ For Cooking
19 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter or neutral oil
# How to Make It:
01 - In a medium bowl, toss diced apples with lemon juice, sugar, and cinnamon until evenly coated. Set aside to allow flavors to meld while preparing the batter.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg until thoroughly blended.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk together milk, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla extract until fully incorporated.
04 - Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Mix gently with a spatula or whisk until just combined—do not overmix. Small lumps are acceptable and will result in tender pancakes.
05 - Gently fold the prepared cinnamon-apple mixture into the batter until evenly distributed.
06 - Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium heat. Lightly grease with butter or oil, ensuring even coverage.
07 - Drop 1/4 cup portions of batter onto the hot skillet. Cook until bubbles form across the surface and edges appear set, approximately 2-3 minutes. Flip carefully and cook the second side until golden brown, about 2 additional minutes. Repeat with remaining batter, adding more butter or oil to the pan as needed.
08 - While pancakes cook, whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract in a small bowl until smooth and pourable. Adjust consistency with additional milk if necessary.
09 - Transfer warm pancakes to serving plates. Drizzle generously with prepared vanilla glaze and serve immediately.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- They capture everything wonderful about apple fritters but in pancake form, meaning you can enjoy them without heating up a big pot of oil
- The combination of tender cinnamon apples tucked inside fluffy pancakes creates these pockets of warm fruit that practically melt in your mouth
02 -
- Don't rush the preheating step—pancakes that hit a properly heated surface cook more evenly and get those gorgeous golden edges
- The batter will thicken slightly as it sits because the apples release moisture, which actually helps prevent them from spreading too much on the griddle
03 -
- If your glaze starts to harden before you finish drizzling, whisk in another teaspoon of milk to loosen it back up
- Use a cast iron skillet if you have one—it holds heat beautifully and gives you those restaurant-quality edges