These Caramel Apple Pancakes are fluffy, sweet, and packed with the flavors of fall! Plus, they're drizzled with a rich and creamy homemade caramel syrup that takes them to the next level!
If you love pancakes you MUST try my other favorite pancake recipes like Sweet Cream Pancakes which are rich and indulgent, perfect for a celebratory brunch, or other favorites like Old Fashioned Buttermilk Pancakes, Mini Pancakes, or Sheet Pan Pancakes!
I can never wait for an excuse to make these Caramel Apple Pancakes because I love Caramel! My whole family knows it's fall when Saturday mornings are filled with the smell of cinnamon and other fall spices and these delicious pancakes are stacked on the table with a glorious bowl of apple caramel sauce just waiting to be slathered and drizzled! We love pure maple syrup with all our pancake recipes but these apple cinnamon pancakes are made for our homemade caramel apple sauce!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Perfect for Fall: The fall flavors and spices in the pancakes and homemade caramel syrup reminiscent of caramel apples make this recipe the perfect fall breakfast. They're the best pancakes to start a cozy weekend morning with the family!
- Easy to Make: With just a few simple ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions, these pancakes are a breeze to make. Plus, the caramel sauce comes together in just a few minutes.
- Crowd-Pleasing: Whether you're serving a brunch crowd or just making breakfast for your family, everyone will love them! No one can resist the combination of fluffy cinnamon apple pancakes and decadent caramel sauce!
Ingredient Notes
Pancakes:
- All-purpose flour: This is the base of the pancake batter and provides structure.
- Sugar: Adds sweetness to the pancakes.
- Cinnamon: Adds a delicious warming spice and delicious aroma.
- Baking powder and baking soda: These leavening agents help the pancakes rise and become fluffy.
- Salt: Balances out the sweetness and enhances the flavors.
- Buttermilk: Provides a tangy flavor and helps tenderize the pancakes.
- Egg: Helps bind the ingredients together and adds moisture.
- Unsalted butter: Adds richness and flavor to the pancakes and helps prevent sticking.
- Apple: Adds texture and a subtle tartness that complements the sweetness of the pancakes.
Caramel Sauce:
- Brown sugar: Gives the caramel sauce its signature flavor and color. You can use light or dark brown sugar, depending on your preference.
- Unsalted butter: Adds richness and flavor to the caramel sauce.
- Heavy cream: Makes the caramel sauce creamy and smooth. You can use half-and-half or milk for a lighter sauce, but the texture won't be as thick.
- Vanilla extract: Adds a hint of sweetness and flavor to the caramel sauce.
- Salt: Balances out the sweetness and enhances the flavors. Just a pinch is all you need.
- Chopped Apples : Adds texture to the sauce and provides more apple flavour.
- Cinnamon: Flavors the apples and deepens the flavor of the caramel.
How to Make Caramel Apple Pancakes
1: Whisk together the wet ingredients for the pancakes in a large bowl.
2: Add finely diced apples to pancake batter.
3: Add dry ingredients to pancake batter and mix to combine. Do not over-mix for fluffy pancakes. Allow to rest for at least 5 minutes.
4: Saute apples with butter and cinnamon until slightly softened.
5: Add Brown sugar and cream and simmer.
6: Cook until desired caramel consistency remove from heat and add vanilla extract. Transfer to a small bowl for serving.
7: Melt butter on medium-low heat in a large skillet or hot griddle. Cook apple pancakes until little air bubbles form.
8: Flip pancakes and cook until batter is cooked through.
Frequently Asked Questions
Fluffy pancakes are easy to achieve at home if you remember the following:
1) Don't overmix the batter a few lumps are ok! 2) Make sure your leavening agents (Baking powder/ Baking soda) are fresh or the batter will not rise and make your pancakes light and airy. 3) Allow your batter to rest so the flour can soak up the liquids and the leavening agents can activate. 4) Make sure your skillet or griddle is preheated and ready for your activated batter to rise as it heats!
Milk definitely adds more richness and flavor than water does in pancake batter. If you need a dairy-free alternative try a plant based milk.
Butter adds a beautiful golden color to pancakes as well as crispy edges and of course incredible flavor. If you are worried about burning pancakes you can use oil as it has a higher smoke point than butter and will still add some color.
Expert Tips
- To prevent the apples from sinking to the bottom of the pancake batter, toss them in a bit of flour before folding them in. I find that dicing them really small is good enough and you can skip this step. You can also grate the apples to make them lighter.
- If you don't have buttermilk, you can make a substitute by adding 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar to 1 cup of milk and letting it sit for 5-10 minutes.
- To keep the pancakes warm while you're cooking the rest of the batch, place them on a baking sheet in a 200°F oven.
- If you want to make the caramel sauce ahead of time, you can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Just reheat it in the microwave or on the stove before serving.
recipe variations
- Try using different types of apples for different flavor profiles. Honeycrisp and Pink Lady apples would be a good substitute for Granny Smith. I prefer tart apples for this recipe but feel free to try sweet apples. This recipe is perfect to make during apple season, you can experiment with different varieties after apple picking either within the pancakes or in the apple topping.
- Add a pinch of nutmeg to the pancake batter for extra warmth and spice.
- Skip the apples in the caramel sauce for a richer thicker sauce if desired.
recipe substitutions
- You can use whole wheat flour instead of all-purpose flour for a healthier option.
- If you don't have brown sugar, substitute it with white sugar and a tablespoon of molasses.
- Instead of heavy cream, you can use half-and-half or milk to make the caramel sauce but it will not be as rich and thick. You can use storebought caramel sauce and reserved apple pie filling as a topping or dulce de leche in a pinch, but homemade is best and so easy!
storage tips
- For best results enjoy these pancakes warm and fresh but you may store any leftover pancakes and sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheat the pancakes in the microwave or on a skillet before serving.
More Fall Brunch Recipe Ideas
Try this Apple French Toast Casserole, this Caramel Apple Smoothie, this Salted Caramel White Russian, these Apple Cinnamon Muffins, or these Pecan Pancakes or these Yeast-Raised Apple Fritters for more fall flavor during brunch!
Recipe
Caramel Apple Pancakes
Equipment
- large mixing bowl
- whisk
- Cutting Board
- Knife
- apple peeler
- small stock pot
- Ladle
- large frying pan
- Spatula
Ingredients
For the Pancakes:
- ¾ cup buttermilk
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 1 apple peeled, cored, and finely chopped (I recommend a tart variety like Granny Smith)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
For the Apple Caramel Sauce:
- 1 granny smith apple peeled and chopped
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- ½ cup brown sugar
- A pinch of salt
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Prepare the Pancake Batter:
- In a large bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, egg, melted butter and finely diced apples, until well combined.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.
- Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined, being careful not to over-mix.
- Let the batter sit for about 5 minutes.
Make the Apple Caramel Sauce:
- In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter.
- Saute the apples with the melted butter and cinnamon.
- Add the brown sugar and stir until dissolved.
- Slowly stir in the heavy cream and bring to a slight boil.
- Reduce the heat and let it simmer until the sauce thickens (about 2-3 minutes).
- Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract and a pinch of salt. Set aside.
Cook the Pancakes:
- Preheat a non-stick skillet or griddle over medium heat.
- Pour ¼ cup of batter for each pancake onto the skillet.
- Cook until bubbles form on the surface and the edges look set (about 2-3 minutes).
- Flip the pancakes and cook for another 1-2 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through.
Serve:
- Serve the pancakes warm, drizzled with the caramel sauce. Garnish with whipped cream or chopped nuts if desired and enjoy!
Notes
- To prevent the apples from sinking to the bottom of the pancake batter, toss them in a bit of flour before folding them in. I find that dicing them really small is good enough and you can skip this step. You can also grate the apples to make them lighter.
- If you don't have buttermilk, you can make a substitute by adding 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar to 1 cup of milk and letting it sit for 5-10 minutes.
- To keep the pancakes warm while you're cooking the rest of the batch, place them on a baking sheet in a 200°F oven.
- If you want to make the caramel sauce ahead of time, you can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Just reheat it in the microwave or on the stove before serving.
laura sirkovsky says
Oh my word these were so good! The perfect sweet treat for breakfast.
Charlotte Singh-Dhanraj says
Thanks so much Laura! The Caramel sauce is my favorite part!
Deepti Singhal says
These caramel apple pancakes look heavenly! Can't wait to try them! Perfect fall recipe. Thanks!
Charlotte Singh-Dhanraj says
Thank you so much Deepti! Enjoy!
Han says
So easy to make and just addictive! I also added a dollop of vanilla ice cream and OH MY DAYS ... I ate 8.
Charlotte Singh-Dhanraj says
Yesss! Great idea to add ice cream! So happy you enjoyed Han!
Tressa says
You combined two of my favorite things, caramel and apples! Your caramel apple pancakes were divine. Thanks for another great brunch recipe!
Charlotte Singh-Dhanraj says
Thanks so much Tressa! I love the caramel and apple combo too!