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One of my favorite parts of fall and the holiday season is the fall produce: apples, squash, root vegetables, bring ‘em all on. And if we can incorporate those flavors into a healthier, holiday-themed breakfast that won’t leave me in a sugar coma afterwards but is still totally delicious? I’m so down. Which is exactly where the idea for these Fluffy Apple Pie Spiced Pancakes were born.
Growing up, whenever we were pinched for time with dinner (which was a lot) my mom used to make us breakfast for dinner – but because my brother and I were super picky eaters and didn’t like eggs yet (I know, shocking given how many eggs I eat every week now, ha!), she made us German Apple pancakes – that had both applesauce *and* sliced apples in them. 
Now, since my brother and I live on our own and we rarely ever have weekend breakfast together as a whole family, we reserve pancakes for more of a holiday brunch treat. Our whole family’s palettes have grown up as well (finally, right?) where we all eat more paleo-ish when we’re together – which is also a big change, because that means no more cinnamon rolls from the can on Christmas morning. Yes, we seriously used to eat those every. Single. Christmas. Morning. It was a thing. But hey, I’d say these pancakes are a preeetty good upgrade.
Funnily enough, when I was researching for some inspiration for this recipe, apparently the pancakes my mom used to make weren’t even German Apple Pancakes – which are made like a dutch baby in a large cast iron skillet. The ones we made were…regular pancakes, but made with applesauce and some apples folded inside, and my mom just called them German Apple Pancakes. Hah! Definitely didn’t take away from the delicious factor, but pretty funny that all those years I thought we were eating something totally different.
Another big change that’s happened in my life in the past few years is my focus on clean, quality ingredients. I went to school in Vermont and we went apple picking all the time as a swim team bonding activity with the new recruits on the team (yeah, it’s a Vermont thing) – so I guess you could say I’m a bit of an apple snob. The quality of the apples and applesauce in this recipe are extremely important to me, both for taste, and because I want to make sure I’m not putting junk in my body by using non-organic apples or applesauce made with GMO’s, added sugar, or preservatives (yuck) – which is why I’m choosing to use North Coast Organic Applesauce. Apples are almost always on the Environmental Working Group’s “Dirty Dozen” list, meaning they are one of the 12 fruits and vegetables with the highest content of pesticide residue found by the US Department of Agriculture. Meaning it’s even more important to buy organic apples, or apples from your farmer’s market/a local farm, and to buy a clean, 100% organic, GMO and pesticide-free applesauce like the one from North Coast.
Back to the recipe though – these Fluffy Apple Pie Pancakes are designed to taste like apple pie in pancake form. Which is exactly why they’re perfect for Christmas morning – because who doesn’t want to eat pie for breakfast every once in a while?! The recipe is easily customizable as well, feel free to substitute different spices, use honey instead of maple syrup, try different kinds of apples to vary the sweetness, or try out a different flavor of applesauce, like the tangy apple apricot or pumpkin spice version from North Coast!
North Coast is offering a GIVEAWAY on Facebook! Enter here for a chance to win a year’s supply of North Coast products!
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Apple Pie-Spiced Pancakes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: Serves 4
- Diet: Gluten-Free
Description
Fluffy pancakes with warm apple pie spice and a delicious apple topping. Perfect for a cozy weekend brunch!
Ingredients
- 1 cups (237 ml) blanched almond flour
- 1 cups (237 ml) tapioca flour
- 2 apple pie spice
- 1 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1 cups (237 ml) North Coast Organic (Unsweetened Applesauce)
- 4 eggs
- 1/4 cups (59 ml) coconut sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 medium honeycrisp apple
- ghee or avocado oil
- 1 large apple
- 1 Tbsp ghee
- Small pinch cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp sea salt
- Sliced nuts
- Maple syrup or honey
Instructions
- Combine blanched almond flour, tapioca flour, baking soda, sea salt, and spices in a small bowl, breaking up any chunks of almond flour with a fork.
- Stir in vanilla, applesauce, eggs, and sugar until all ingredients are combined, but be careful not to over-mix.
- Allow the batter to sit for a few minutes while you prepare the apple topping.
- For the apple topping:
- Melt 1 Tbsp ghee in a small skillet.
- Add apple chunks, a pinch of cinnamon and sea salt.
- Cook for about 10 minutes over medium-low heat, until the apples are soft, stirring often.
- In a large skillet, heat 1 Tbsp of ghee or avocado oil.
- Once hot, add the pancakes using a ¼ – ½ cup scoop.
- Cook for about 3 minutes per side, until tiny bubbles appear on the first side and the pancakes are golden brown.
- Serve immediately with the apple topping, sliced nuts, and maple syrup (optional).
Notes
- For a sweeter pancake, increase the coconut sugar to ? cup.
- If you don’t have honeycrisp apples, any firm, tart apple will work well in the topping.
- To make ahead, prepare the pancake batter and apple topping separately and store them in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat gently before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Pan-Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 pancakes
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 15
- Sodium: 150
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Unsaturated Fat: 5
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 6
- Cholesterol: 100
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I substitute tapioca flour with another starch?
Arrowroot flour or potato starch can replace tapioca flour in a 1:1 ratio. Both produce a similar soft, slightly chewy texture in gluten-free pancakes.
What apple variety works best in this recipe?
The recipe specifies Honeycrisp, which holds its shape well when cooked and has a balanced sweet-tart flavor. Fuji or Braeburn are good alternatives.
What is in apple pie spice?
Apple pie spice is typically a blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice, sometimes with a small amount of cardamom or ginger. You can make your own by mixing 4 parts cinnamon to 1 part each of nutmeg and allspice.
Can I make the batter ahead of time?
The batter can rest in the refrigerator for up to 1 hour before cooking. Stir briefly before using, as the almond flour may settle.
What is the difference between ghee and avocado oil for cooking these pancakes?
Ghee adds a mild buttery flavor, while avocado oil is neutral. Both have high smoke points and work equally well on the griddle.
