Caramel Apple Pancakes Recipe

These caramel apple pancakes are the absolute perfect fall breakfast. Fluffy pancakes packed with apples and caramel flavor and then topped with MORE apple topping and warm caramel sauce! These pancakes are so fancy and delicious, you won’t believe how easy they are to make! 

Why I Love This Apple Pancake Recipe

Yes, for some fall brings the joy of pumpkin spice. For me, it’s all things apple. Especially caramel apples. And these caramel apple pancakes are the most perfect fall breakfast.

Classic pancake batter filled with warm, tender apples and packed with caramel flavor. It's like apple pie filling in a pancake. It's the perfect breakfast for everything from a weekday morning to Christmas morning.

I’ve also mentioned before that I can measure how good a new pancake recipe is by how fast my boys eat them. Well this caramel apple pancake recipe must be a good one, because they DEVOURED the entire batch in under 5 minutes.

I had to make a second batch just so I could try some myself. And the boys weren’t disappointed that there were more either.

Here’s why I think you're going to love these too:

• They are such an easy and enjoyable hot breakfast to start the day.
• It’s an indulgent breakfast sure to put a smile on kids’ faces.
• The recipe just screams fall flavors.
• Caramelized apples in the morning? Yes, please, and thank you!
• Super easy to make with minimal cleanup.
• Also a great delicious indulgent breakfast-for-dinner (brinner).

Ingredients

Make these delicious pancakes with simple ingredients and a minimal amount of time.  

All-purpose flour - Use a gluten-free flour blend like Bob’s Red Mill or oat flour for delicious gluten-free pancakes

Granulated sugar - you can replace a portion with raw sugar or light brown sugar if desired

Baking powder - Make sure your baking powder is fresh/in date for best results

Salt - feel free to omit this if using salted butter.

Egg - When possible, allow the egg to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before using. This will keep the mixture from forming lumps.

Milk - Whole milk works best but can be replaced with a non-dairy variety for dairy free pancakes when butter is also replaced with a dairy free alternative. 

Butter - Melt butter on the stove or in the microwave. Salted or unsalted butter will both work for this recipe. If you are using salted butter, you might opt to skip adding the extra salt from the recipe. Non-dairy butter can also be used.

Caramel extract  - Butterscotch or rum extract would be a delectable replacement.

Large Apple - Use peeled, cored and grated apples. If they begin to brown, squirt with fresh lemon juice or soak them in a bowl of lemon water. Pat dry with a paper towel before adding them to the batter to avoid excess moisture.

See the list below for best apple options for cooking and baking.

Apple Topping - This easy apple topping is such a quick and delicious recipe, requiring just a handful of basic ingredients and a few minutes of your time.

It's the perfect way to use up those fall apples during apple season and turn that stack of homemade pancakes into something truly special.

Caramel sauce - Consider making your own homemade caramel syrup with this easy recipe from Pip & Ebby! Definitely heat it up a little before drizzling alllll over the top of the pancakes.

Best Apples For Pancakes

Honestly, any type of apple will work in these pancakes, but some apples will definitely work better than others. 

Here are some good varieties to choose from: 

• Honeycrisp 
• Golden Delicious
• Granny Smith
• Crispin
• Fuji
• Pink Lady 
• Braeburn

NOTE: Gala, Macintosh, and Red Delicious will work for this recipe. But be advised the softer textures of these apples don’t stand up to heat as well and the result could be a mushier apple pancake.

How to Make Delicious Caramel Apple Pancakes

Step 1

In a medium bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Mix these dry ingredients well.

Step 2

In a large bowl, combine milk, eggs, melted butter and caramel extract. Stir until smooth. 

Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring until the batter is free of lumps. Fold in the grated apple.

Step 3

Place a non-stick skillet over medium-low heat and spray generously with cooking spray. Add the batter to the hot skillet in 1/3-cup increments. 

Use the back of a spoon to flatten the batter if needed to shape it into a circle. 

Cook for about 1 minute per side or until the batter has cooked all the way through and the cakes are golden brown.

Finish Them Up

Repeat until the batter is gone, spraying the skillet with cooking spray before each new batch.

Spoon apple topping over the top and drizzle with caramel sauce. Serve immediately!

Recipe Notes

• Cook your pancakes on low-medium heat on the stovetop to avoid burning the cakes.
• The pancake batter will be very thick. This is normal and ensures you’ll be producing fluffy pancakes.
• Flatten/round out the batter with the back of a spoon or rubber spatula once it’s been dropped into the hot pan.

Tips & Tricks for Great Pancakes

• Room temperature eggs and milk are best as they won't cause the melted butter to reharden when mixed together.
• You’ll know the first side of the pancake is done and ready to be flipped when little air bubbles start to form and break on the surface of the exposed side.
• Pancakes are usually finished cooking and the second side is done when you can start to see a little steam coming from under the pancake.

How to Serve Apple Pancakes 

Serve these pancakes hot, topped with butter and maple syrup. Or get a little extra fancy and top them with this apple topping and warmed caramel sauce. 

How to Store Leftover Pancakes

First, all "remaining batter" should be made into pancakes. Pancakes store longer and better than pancake batter.

Allow the pancakes to cool fully before attempting to refrigerate or freeze them. Condensation will ruin a good pancake.

Stored properly in an airtight container or sealed freezer bag, these will be at their best in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. If frozen, they’ll be good for two months.

Tip for freezing: Cut some parchment or wax paper into squares and place a square between pancakes so they don’t freeze together.

How to Reheat Leftover Apple Pancakes

You can reheat pancakes in the microwave or in your regular old toaster! 

To reheat in the microwave, place 2 to 3 pancakes in a single layer on a plate with a paper towel under and over them. Heat for 30-60 seconds, checking every thirty seconds. 

If you reheat them in the toaster, just watch so that they don’t get too crisp. Also, do not attempt to reheat in the toaster if you’ve already covered them in caramel sauce.

Hotcakes, Pancakes, or Flapjacks. Oh my!

People are always asking “what’s the difference between hotcakes, pancakes, and flapjacks?” Honestly, there’s really no difference at all. Or is there?

In the US and Canada, these three terms are mostly colloquial and interchangeable words for the same thing. And while many people will reserve the term “griddle cake” for a pancake specifically made on a griddle.

However, I found it very interesting that in the UK, “flapjack” refers to a food we in the United States would recognize more as a granola bar!

Do Pancakes Need to Be Refrigerated?

Even though they are made with the same ingredients as cakes and muffins, and the like, it is best to refrigerate leftover pancakes rather than leave them out.

And if I’m not certain I’ll get to the leftovers within a day or two, I’ll opt to immediately freeze any leftovers so they retain their moisture. That way I can also reheat them in the toaster or toaster oven when I want them.

More Easy Breakfast Recipes

Check out some of these other delicious recipes for great breakfast ideas

• Banana Applesauce Pancakes - (a dairy free and vegan recipe)
• Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes with Chocolate Chips
• Grandma’s Swedish Pancakes 
• 3 Ingredient Apple Muffins
• Blueberry Muffins without Milk
• Cake Mix Chocolate Muffins