Healthy apple pancakes are prepared with a mix of whole wheat flour and almond flour to make them more nutritious, and they’re packed with shredded apples to bring out the apple flavors. Add the apple topping if you’re up for it (highly recommended), and enjoy!
My banana pancakes are now a classic in your house. They’re super fluffy, generous, and yield perfect pancakes every single time. So I took up the challenge to create an apple pancake version that would be equally delicious, but using apples instead of bananas. And I also wanted them healthy and nutritious.
Challenge accepted! I’m super excited to share with you probably one of the best pancake recipe I’ve ever created. These pancakes feature shredded apples that bring out the apple flavors in the recipe. They’re also prepared with whole wheat flour and almond flour instead of all-purpose flour, making them healthier than their classic counterpart.
Healthy apple pancakes are:
- Healthy and nutritious ✔
- Easy to make ✔
- Fluffy and generous ✔
- Packed with apple flavors ✔
Ingredients for healthy apple pancakes
This apple pancake recipe features simple, yet healthy and nutritious ingredients. Stick to the basics or read carefully below to make a few swaps.
- Shredded apples. Using shredded apples bring out the apple flavor in the recipe. Make sure you use a coarse grater (a fine grater would result in a mushy texture). If you don’t have a coarse grater, slice and dice the apple thinly with a knife. It’s only ½ apple so it will not take you long.
- Whole wheat flour and almond flour. The mix of both flours result in a fiber-rich pancake recipe, that is also more nutritious, with a subtle and irresistible nutty flavor.
- Baking powder. It helps pancakes to rise, don’t skip it! If your pancakes don’t rise as much as expected, check the expiration date of your baking powder.
- Sugar. We use just a little bit of sugar in this recipe, to help interact with the baking powder and enhance the apple flavors. Natural sweeteners such as honey or maple syrup could do too.
- Cinnamon. Apple and cinnamon are the perfect match if you ask me. If you’re not a fan, replace with vanilla extract instead.
- Milk. It makes the pancakes moist and tender. Vegetable milk alternatives such as almond milk, oat milk or soy milk are possible too.
- Egg. Preferably use room temperature egg for a fluffier texture.
- Melted butter or vegetable oil. Both options work equally well. If you go for melted butter, allow it to cool slightly before using. Vegetable oil should be neutral in taste (such as canola oil)
How to make apple pancakes?
Making apple pancakes is like making your classic pancakes, with just one additional step:
- Start with mixing all the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
- Whisk the wet ingredients in a separate bowl, then add to the dry ingredients.
- Use a coarse grater to shred the apple and stir it into the batter until just combined.
- Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium heat, then pour about two to three Tablespoons of the batter for each pancake. When the surface of starts making bubbles, flip the pancakes over and cook on the other side.
What makes these apple pancakes healthy?
In this pancake recipe, all-purpose flour is replaced with a mix of whole wheat flour and almond flour. The combination of both results in a much higher content of fiber than when using all-purpose flour. These flours also have a lower glycemic, which helps regulate your blood sugar after a meal, and contains vitamins in much higher levels than all-purpose flour.
The apple topping: optional (but recommended)!
I like to top these pancakes with cooked apples with a little bit of butter, sugar and cinnamon. Not the healthiest part of the recipe, but so incredibly delicious!
More pancakes you’ll love:
- Whole Wheat Pancakes
- Fluffy Banana Pancakes
- Chocolate Pancakes
- Easy Fluffy American Pancakes
- Greek Yogurt Blueberry Pancakes
- Lemon Poppy Seed Blueberry Pancakes
- Healthy Green Pancakes
Other healthy apple recipes you should try:
Healthy Apple Pancakes
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 8-10 pancakes 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Diet: Vegetarian
Healthy apple pancakes are prepared with a mix of whole wheat flour and almond flour to make them more nutritious, and they’re packed with shredded apples to bring out the apple flavors. Add the apple topping if you’re up for it (highly recommended), and enjoy!
Ingredients
For the apple pancakes:
- ¾ cup (85g) whole wheat flour
- ½ cup (50g) almond flour
- 2 Tablespoons sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
- 1 pinch of salt
- 1 cup (240 ml) milk
- 2 Tablespoons melted butter or vegetable oil
- 1 large egg
- ⅓ cup (45g) apple, peeled, cored and shredded*
For the apple topping:
- 2 apples, peeled, cored and diced
- 1 Tablespoon butter
- 1 Tablespoon sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
- Pecans, for topping
- Maple syrup, for serving
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together whole wheat flour, almond flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon (if using) and salt. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together milk, slightly cooled melted butter (or vegetable oil), and egg.
- Pour the dry ingredients to the milk mixture, and stir (do not overmix). Add the shredded apples and stir until just combined.
- Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium heat, and coat generously with vegetable oil.
- For each pancake, spoon 2 or 3 tablespoons of batter onto skillet. Cook until the surface of pancakes have some bubbles, about 1 minute. Flip carefully with a thin spatula, and cook until brown on the underside, 1 to 2 minutes more.
- Transfer to the heatproof platter, cover with foil and keep warm until serving.
- For the apple topping, toss diced apples with sugar and cinnamon in a mixing bowl. Heat butter in a large skillet, then add the apples and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring from time to time.
- Top the pancakes with the cooked apples, add pecans, and drizzle maple syrup all over. Enjoy!
Notes
* You need approximately ½ apple to make ⅓ cup (45g) shredded apples. Use a coarse grater rather than a fine grater that would result in a mushy texture rather than shredded apples. If your grater is too thin, you can also very finely dice the apples instead.
Did you make this recipe?
Lastly, if you make this Healthy Apple Pancakes, be sure to leave a comment and give this recipe a rating, letting me know how you liked it. And of course, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Thank you and enjoy!
Try also my Fluffy Banana Pancakes!
If you loved these apple pancakes, chances are high that you will also fall in love with these incredibly fluffy banana pancakes. Make sure you try them and serve them with a generous drizzle of maple syrup!
