Apple Cinnamon Pancakes filled with freshly grated apple and warm cinnamon, and topped with caramelized apples and maple cream cheese glaze — the ultimate fall breakfast! They are a delicious treat that tastes like an apple-filled cinnamon roll in pancake form! (This recipe is completely gluten-free and vegan!)
If you enjoy apple cinnamon-filled recipes, you will love our Best Apple Cake Ever, Apple Cinnamon Baked Oats, or Easy Gluten-Free Apple Crisp!
Fall is peak apple season which means it’s time to bring out all your favorite apple breakfast and dessert recipes! These apple cinnamon pancakes will quickly become your favorite! They are super easy to make and ready in less than 15 minutes! Eating these pancakes feels like having dessert for breakfast, which means they are perfect for breakfast with the family or to serve on holiday mornings.
Reasons You Will Love These Apple Cinnamon Pancakes. They are:
- The Perfect Fall Breakfast. Apple picking and the visiting pumpkin patch are two quintessential fall activities. Making apple pancakes is one of the many things you can do with your freshly picked apples! (If you want to use pumpkin, try our Pumpkin Pancakes Recipe!)
- Gluten-Free, Vegan, and Easily Customizable. The pancakes are made using Gluten-Free All Purpose Flour. If you are not sensitive to gluten, you can use regular all-purpose flour. These pancakes are also egg-free and dairy-free, but with simple swaps, you can alter the ingredients to suit your taste.
- A Sweet Treat. The apple topping is made of granny smith apples that are caramelized using brown sugar. The maple cream cheese glaze is literally the icing on the {pan} cake! IT’S SO GOOD.
Ingredients You Will Need
TO MAKE THE PANCAKE BATTER:
- All-Purpose Flour (Gluten-Free or Regular): I use Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free All purpose flour 1:1.
- Non-Dairy Milk: Use your favorite non-dairy milk (or regular dairy milk).
- Cinnamon and Sugar: They wouldn’t be cinnamon apple pancakes without ground Cinnamon and sugar. You can use brown sugar or coconut sugar.
- Apple: You’ll need one large apple. Honeycrisp, Granny Smith Apple, or Pink Lady are great for making pancakes. Peel, core, and grate it to add fresh apple to the pancakes.
- Flax Egg: Flax egg is simply ground flax seeds and water mixed to create a paste. Mix 1 tablespoon of ground flax seed with 2 tbsp of water and set it aside for about 5 minutes. I like to prepare the flax eggs first and let it sit will gathering my ingredients.
- Baking Powder and Vanilla: Essentials to making the best pancakes.
CARAMELIZED APPLE TOPPING (optional)
- One Large or Two Small Sweet Apples
- Water
- Cinnamon, Ground Ginger, and Brown Sugar
MAPLE CREAM CHEESE GLAZE (optional)
- Cream Cheese (vegan or regular)
- Pure Maple Syrup
- Vanilla Extract
- Lemon Juice
How To Make Fluffy Gluten-Free Apple Cinnamon Pancakes
- Combine the ingredients for the flax egg in a small bowl. Set aside to thicken, about 5 minutes.
- In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients and whisk together, eliminating any large clumps.
- Peel and grate the apple. Then, add the shredded apple to the dry mixture.
- Pour in the non-dairy milk and vanilla extract. Stir until fully combined.
- Over medium-low heat, add ~1/2 tsp of vegan butter or cooking spray to a nonstick skillet or griddle. Pour approximately 1/4 cup of the batter onto the pan for each pancake. When bubbles begin to rise in the pancakes and the bottom is golden, flip with a spatula and cook until golden (approximately 1-2 minutes on each side).
- Serve, or place on an ovenproof plate in a 200F° oven for up to 15 minutes to keep warm.
TO MAKE THE CARAMELIZED APPLES
- Cut the apple into thin slices. (no need to peel)
- In a small pan over medium heat, add the sliced apples and 2 tablespoons of water. Then, cover the pan and allow the water to come to a boil, stirring occasionally. Leave the mixture covered with a low boil for about 3-5 minutes to soften the apples.
- Uncover the pan, and allow the water to evaporate.
- Then, add the brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, and 1 tablespoon of water. Combine the ingredients and cook over medium heat for an additional 2 minutes until the sugar begins to caramelize and the apples are crisp-tender.
TO MAKE THE MAPLE CREAM GLAZE
- In a small bowl, combine the cream cheese, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and lemon juice. Whisk the ingredients until smooth.
How To Serve Apple Cinnamon Pancakes with Maple Cream Cheese Glaze
Once the pancakes, caramelized apples, and maple cream cheese glaze are ready, you can assemble the pancakes. Start by placing the pancakes on the plate. Then, top with maple cream cheese glaze and caramelized apples. You can also layer the cream cheese glaze in between each pancake and then top with the caramelized apples. For an extra crunch, add chopped walnuts or pecans on top of your pancakes.
Tips And Common Questions
Can I use applesauce instead of eggs in pancakes?
Yes! Applesauce is a great egg replacement. One egg is equivalent to 1/4 cup of applesauce.
I use applesauce in many of my pancake recipes, like these Sheet Pan Pancakes and Buckwheat Pancakes. In this recipe, you can replace the flax egg with applesauce or with an actual egg.
What makes pancakes fluffy, water or milk?
Milk, non-dairy or regular, is definitely a much better option. The key to fluffy pancakes is making a thick batter. Thick batter results in perfectly fluffy pancakes, while thin batter creates flimsy pancakes that do not rise while cooking.
Tips To Make The Best Gluten-Free Pancakes
- To properly measure the flour, do not stick the measuring cup in the flour. Instead, use a spoon and scoop out the flour and pour it into a measuring cup until you reach the amount you need. Then, use a knife to level off the flour and remove any excess.
- If time permits, let the batter rest for about 30 minutes before cooking. This gives the flour time to absorb the liquid, which results in lighter, fluffier pancakes.
- This recipe makes about 7-8 Gluten-Free Pancakes (depending on the size). You can easily double the recipe and make more for later. These pancakes taste great warmed up, so they are perfect for meal prep or an easy, delicious breakfast during your week.
What To Eat With Your Cinnamon Apple Pancakes:
These hearty pancakes are delicious on their own but can also be served with a few side dishes if you plan to feed multiple people. Here are a few sides that pair well with these pancakes:
- Breakfast Egg Muffins | Easy, 20-minute Recipe!
- Yogurt With Granola Bowl (5 Ways!)
- JUST Egg Quiche with Asparagus
- Plant-Based Spinach Artichoke Frittata Using JUST Egg
- Veggie-Loaded JUST Egg Scramble
- Melon Salad with Honey Lime Dressing
I hope you enjoy this Apple Cinnamon Pancake Recipe! If you try the recipe, don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know what you think in the comments below! Take pictures, tag #goodfoodbaddie, and share them with me on Instagram and Pinterest! I love seeing my recipes come to life in your kitchen.
More Pancake Recipes To Try
- 7 Easy Gluten-Free Pancake Recipes!
- Sheet Pan Pancakes (Gluten-Free and Vegan)
- Easy Vegan Buckwheat Pancakes
- Vegan Gluten-Free Pancakes
- Delicious Gluten-Free Carrot Cake Pancakes
- Homemade Pumpkin Pancakes (V + GF)
The BEST Apple Cinnamon Pancakes
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup Non-Dairy Milk of choice (or regular dairy milk of choice)
- 1 1/2 cup Gluten-Free All Purpose Flour (I use Bob's Red Mill GF 1:1 Flour) (or use regular all purpose flour if not sensitive to gluten)
- 1 Flax Egg (1 tbsp ground flax seed + 2 tbsp water)
- 1 tsp Cinnamon
- 1 1/2 tbsp Brown Sugar (or coconut sugar)
- 1 Large apple, peeled and grated
- 1 tsp Baking Powder
- 1 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
- 1/4 tsp Sea Salt
Caramelized Apples
- 1 Large Honeycrisp or Granny Smith Apple (or 2 small apples)
- 3 tbsp Water, divided
- 2 tbsp Brown Sugar (or coconut sugar)
- 1/2 tsp Ground Cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp Ground Ginger
Maple Cream Cheese Glaze
- 4 oz Cream Cheese, at room temperature (Vegan or Regular)
- 3 tbsp Pure Maple Syrup
- 1 tsp Lemon Juice
- 1/4 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
Instructions
- Combine the ingredients for the flax egg in a small bowl. Set aside to thicken, about 5 minutes.
- In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients and whisk together, eliminating any large clumps.
- Peel and grate the apple. Then, add the shredded apple to the dry mixture. Pour in the non-dairy milk and vanilla extract. Stir until fully combined.
- Over medium-low heat, add ~1/2 tsp of vegan butter or cooking spray to a nonstick skillet or griddle. Pour approximately 1/4 cup of the batter onto the pan for each pancake. When bubbles begin to rise in the pancakes and the bottom is golden, flip with a spatula and cook until golden (approximately 1-2 minutes on each side).
- Serve, or place on an ovenproof plate in a 200F° oven for up to 15 minutes to keep warm.
TO MAKE THE CARAMELIZED APPLES
- Cut the apple into thin slices. (no need to peel)
- In a small pan over medium heat, add the sliced apples and 2 tablespoons of water. Then, cover the pan and allow the water to come to a boil, stirring occasionally. Leave the mixture covered with a low boil for about 3-5 minutes to soften the apples.
- Uncover the pan, and allow the water to evaporate. Then, add the brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, and 1 tablespoon of water.
- Combine the ingredients and cook over medium heat for an additional 2 minutes until the sugar begins to caramelize and the apples are crisp-tender.
TO MAKE THE MAPLE CREAM CHEESE GLAZE
- In a small bowl, combine the cream cheese, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and lemon juice. Whisk the ingredients until smooth.
Video
Notes
- The best Gluten-Free flour for this recipe is Bob’s Red Mills All Purpose Gluten Free Flour 1:1
- Store any leftover pancakes without any toppings in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
7 Comments