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These fluffy applesauce pancakes are moist and warmly spiced with cinnamon and allspice for the ultimate cozy breakfast! A few simple ingredients create the most tender, flavorful pancakes you’ll make.
These are the best pancakes you’ve ever made, Alex told me after trying these cozy applesauce pancakes. What started as a kitchen experiment with a jar of applesauce quickly became our new favorite pancake recipe – and that’s saying something, considering I’ve created dozens of pancake recipes over the years, from my popular cottage cheese pancakes to banana oatmeal pancakes!
The beauty of these applesauce pancakes lies in their moistness and fruity flavor that pairs perfectly with warm spices. The applesauce makes a tender crumb that stays soft even as the pancakes cool!
Essential ingredients for applesauce pancakes
These applesauce pancakes were inspired by a jar of applesauce in my fridge that I bought to make these iced applesauce cookies (which side note, are also very delicious).
I thought to myself, what to do with leftover applesauce? Make pancakes! This fruit puree makes the ideal soft and moist texture for flapjacks. They’re perfect for a cozy breakfast, and easy enough for anyone (especially kids!). Here’s what you’ll need:
- Applesauce: Any store-bought variety works perfectly: I like using unsweetened. You can also use homemade applesauce.
- All-purpose flour: This recipe is best with all-purpose flour, but you can use 1-to-1 gluten-free flour.
- Warm spices: The combination of cinnamon and allspice gives these pancakes their signature cozy flavor.
- Light brown sugar: It complements the apple flavor better than granulated sugar. In a pinch, you can substitute with granulated sugar or maple syrup.
- Fresh Egg: Provides structure and richness. For vegan pancakes, I recommend using a flax egg.
- Neutral Oil: I typically use either grapeseed oil or olive oil marked “mild flavor.” Avoid strongly flavored oils like olive oil, which can compete with the delicate apple flavor.
My tested method for cooking applesauce pancakes
Cooking pancakes sounds like an easy task: anyone can do that! But honestly: it’s a place where many home cooks mess up. Cook them at too high heat, and applesauce pancakes will burn on the outside and be gooey on the inside. Here are a few tips for cooking these pancakes to perfection:
- Low and slow is key! Set the heat on low, or only as high as medium low. Cook them slowly, and they’ll come out perfectly cooked on the inside and golden brown on the outside. Don’t worry if it feels like it’s taking a long time: the extra minute or two is worth it!
- Flip the pancakes when bubbles form and pop. Wait until bubbles form on the surface and start to pop. Trust us: this trick works every time!
Creative serving ideas
Once you’ve cooked those beautifully golden pancakes: it’s time to top them! In my opinion, simple maple syrup is best. But if you’ve got a little more time, here are some other ideas for topping applesauce pancakes:
- Powdered sugar: add just a dusting
- Nut butter: make them more filling with a dollop of peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter, walnut butter, pistachio butter or pecan butter
- Jam: add homemade jam like strawberry jam or cherry jam
- Fruit syrup: make a homemade fruit syrup such as raspberry syrup, blueberry syrup, or strawberry syrup
- Compote or sauce: top with a berry-based sauce like strawberry sauce, raspberry sauce, or blueberry sauce
- Snowman pancakes: if it’s the season, make three pancakes in the shape of a snowman and decorate with raisin eyes and a carrot nose
Storage and reheating information
One of the best things about these applesauce pancakes is how well they store and reheat, making them perfect for meal prep or busy mornings.
- Cooled pancakes will keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days when stored in an airtight container.
- They also freeze for up to 3 months. Place them in a single layer on a baking sheet until frozen solid, then transfer to freezer bags with the air removed.
- To reheat, you can pop in the toaster, place on a baking sheet at 350°F for 5-7 minutes, or reheat in the microwave for 10 seconds.
Dietary notes
This applesauce pancakes recipe is vegetarian. For vegan, plant-based, and dairy-free, use the substitutes listed in the recipe below. For gluten free, go to Apple Cinnamon Pancakes, which are made with oatmeal.
Easy Applesauce Pancakes
This applesauce pancakes recipe comes out moist and cozy-spiced! Using fruit puree makes for the perfect fluffy flapjacks.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 8 medium pancakes 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Pancakes
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon allspice (optional)
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar (or granulated sugar)
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 large egg (or flax egg for vegan)
- 1 tablespoon neutral oil
- ¾ cup applesauce
- 2/3 cup milk of choice (2% or non-dairy milk)
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the all purpose flour, cinnamon, allspice (if using), baking powder, sugar, and kosher salt.
- In another bowl, whisk together the egg, oil, applesauce, and milk.
- Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until a smooth, thick batter forms.
- Lightly grease a skillet with butter and wipe off extra grease with a paper towel. Heat the skillet over low heat. Pour the batter into small circles (a little less than ¼ cup each). Cook the pancakes until the bubbles pop on the top and the bottoms are golden: low and slow is the key! Then flip them and cook until golden on the other side.
- If necessary, add a tiny splash of milk to the batter. Repeat with the remaining batter, adjusting the heat as necessary (the skillet can get very hot on the second batch). Place the cooked pancakes under an inverted bowl to keep them warm. Serve immediately with maple syrup.
Other recipes with applesauce to try
Want to make more with this popular fruit puree? There are so many great recipes to use up a jar! Here are our favorite recipes with applesauce:
- Make a tasty batch of Iced Applesauce Cookies
- Fire up the oven for a sweet treat of Spiced Applesauce Bread
- Go cozy and healthy with Favorite Applesauce Muffins
- Bake up our fan favorite Easy Applesauce Cake
These turned out great. Used my own unsweetened applesauce that I freeze. I skip the oil in these and add a tab of nonfat plain greek yogurt, and they still were great. A favorite. Will make another batch soon. Thank you
Dee-licious !!!
Can I use unsweet applesauce?
yes
Looks good but Instruction #2 does not make sense to me. Do you add the milk when beating the applesauce and egg, or do you beat the applesauce and egg and then add the milk?
Or does it make any difference?
Sorry, typo! The instruction is updated: you just whisk all the wet ingredients together. Thank you!
Thanks!
Can I use this batter to make waffles?
Yes, I think it would work well!
did you try it for waffles? Did you have to adjust the recipe?