Apple Fritter Pancakes (Printable version)

Fluffy pancakes studded with tender spiced apples, finished with sweet vanilla glaze for a cozy morning treat.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pancake Batter

01 - 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
03 - 2 teaspoons baking powder
04 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
05 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
06 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
07 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
08 - 1 cup whole milk
09 - 2 large eggs
10 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
11 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Apples

12 - 2 medium apples, peeled, cored, and diced
13 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
14 - 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
15 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

→ Glaze

16 - 1 cup powdered sugar
17 - 2-3 tablespoons milk
18 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ For Cooking

19 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter or neutral oil

# Directions:

01 - Toss diced apples with lemon juice, sugar, and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Set aside to allow flavors to meld while preparing the batter.
02 - Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a large bowl until well blended.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk together milk, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla extract until fully combined.
04 - Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix gently until just combined. Do not overmix; a few small lumps are acceptable for fluffy pancakes.
05 - Gently fold the prepared apples into the batter until evenly distributed.
06 - Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium heat and lightly grease with butter or oil.
07 - Drop 1/4 cup portions of batter onto the hot skillet. Cook until bubbles form on the surface and edges appear set, about 2-3 minutes. Flip and cook the other side until golden brown, approximately 2 more minutes. Repeat with remaining batter, greasing the pan as needed.
08 - Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla in a small bowl until smooth and pourable, adjusting milk consistency as needed.
09 - Drizzle warm pancakes generously with glaze before serving.

# Expert advice:

01 -
  • These pancakes capture everything you love about apple fritters but without the deep-frying mess or guilt
  • The warm spice blend of cinnamon and nutmeg makes your whole house feel cozy
  • That sweet vanilla glaze transforms an ordinary breakfast into something that feels like dessert
02 -
  • Let the batter rest for 5 minutes before cooking to fluff up beautifully
  • Don't press down on pancakes while they cook or you'll lose all the air you worked to create
  • Keep finished pancakes warm in a 200°F oven while you finish the batch
03 -
  • Use an ice cream scoop to portion batter for perfectly uniform pancakes every time
  • Let your griddle heat up fully between batches for consistent cooking

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