Honey Apple Pancakes

Tender buttermilk pancakes are folded with grated apple and warmed with cinnamon, then finished with a glossy honey-apple topping. This breakfast is cozy, lightly sweet, and easy enough for a weekend morning.
Prep: 15 min · Cook: 25 min · Total: 40 min · Serves: 4
Ingredients
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter (melted and divided)
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1.25 cups buttermilk
- 1 large apple (peeled, cored, and grated)
- 2 tsp neutral oil (for the skillet)
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1.5 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp lemon juice (fresh)
- 0.5 tsp baking soda
- 1 large apple (cored and thinly sliced)
- 0.25 cup honey
- 2 large large eggs
- 0.5 tsp fine salt
Instructions
- Place a rimmed baking sheet in the oven and heat the oven to 200°F (95°C) so the finished pancakes can stay warm without drying out.
- Whisk the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, fine salt, and ground cinnamon together in a large mixing bowl for 30 seconds, until the leavening is evenly distributed and no cinnamon streaks remain.
- Whisk the buttermilk, large eggs, 2 tbsp of the melted unsalted butter, and vanilla extract together in a medium mixing bowl for 45 seconds, until the eggs are fully blended and the mixture looks smooth.
- Pour the wet mixture into the flour mixture and fold with a flexible spatula for about 30 seconds, stopping when a few small flour streaks remain so the pancakes stay tender.
- Fold the grated apple into the batter with the spatula for 15 seconds, then let the batter rest at room temperature for 8 minutes, until slightly thickened and bubbly around the edges.
- While the batter rests, combine the sliced apple, honey, lemon juice, and the remaining 2 tbsp melted unsalted butter in a 10-inch skillet over medium heat and cook for 5-6 minutes, stirring often, until the apple slices are glossy, flexible, and lightly syrupy; reduce the heat to low to keep warm.
- Heat a 12-inch nonstick skillet or griddle over medium heat for 2 minutes, then brush the surface with about 0.5 tsp neutral oil; the pan is ready when a drop of batter sizzles gently but does not brown immediately.
- Scoop 0.25 cup batter per pancake into the skillet, leaving at least 1 inch between pancakes, and cook over medium heat for 2-3 minutes, until bubbles form across the surface, the edges look matte, and the bottoms are golden brown.
- Flip each pancake with a thin spatula and cook the second side for 1-2 minutes, until golden brown and the centers spring back lightly when pressed; because the batter contains eggs, the interior should be fully set with no wet batter visible.
- Transfer the cooked pancakes to the warm baking sheet in the 200°F (95°C) oven and repeat with the remaining batter, brushing the skillet with additional neutral oil as needed and adjusting the heat to medium-low if the pancakes brown too quickly.
- Stir the honey-apple topping in the 10-inch skillet over low heat for 1 minute, until pourable and warm, adding 1 tsp water only if the syrup has thickened too much.
- Stack the warm pancakes on plates and spoon the honey-apple topping evenly over each serving, making sure each portion gets both apple slices and syrup.
Nutrition (per serving)
- Calories: 451
- Protein: 10 g
- Fat: 18 g
- Carbohydrates: 65 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Sugar: 30 g
- Sodium: 665 mg
More Recipes
- Almond Bear Claw French Toast
- Almond Puff Pastry Loaf
- American Creamed Spinach
- Anise-scented Yeast Bread
- Apple Cider Braised Pork Chops with Onions
- Apple Cranberry Galette
- Apple Cream Scones
- Apple Crisp with Macadamia Oat Topping
- Apple Waldorf Salad with Walnuts and Grapes
- Arugula, Caramelized Onion, and Goat Cheese Pizza
- Avocado Cups with Crunchy Lime Slaw
- Avocado, Shrimp, and Hearts of Palm Salad