Gingerbread Apple Pancakes
Whole-grain Gingerbread Apple Pancakes for the holiday season. Perfect for when you have house guests or any leisurely Saturday or Sunday morning. They are plate-licking good.
Table of contents
Why We Love This Recipe For Healthy Gingerbread Pancakes
I have really been looking forward to making these Healthy Gingerbread Pancakes with Apple for everyone during the holidays.
This fall I have been making my Whole-Wheat Pumpkin Pancakes on repeat, but now that we are into the holiday season, these Gingerbread pancakes are my number one fave!
They’re like a gingerbread cookie in fluffy pancake form with tiny bits of apple in them. This is definitely my favorite pancake recipe at the moment along with Healthy Oatmeal Pancakes.
Ingredients for this Recipe
Apple
Shredding the apple before adding it to the batter makes it easy to evenly combine. I’ve found it makes the pancakes extra moist and of course, super flavorful. The end result are deliciously fluffy, fruity and very seasonal pancakes.
Molasses
Molasses is a popular baking ingredient which I for one, love. It adds both color, moisture and sweetness.
Buttermilk
It’s not a coincidence that buttermilk is so widely used in pancake recipes. Buttermilks acidity helps kickstart the baking soda which can make the pancake even fluffier. It also helps balance out the flavor in the pancakes, adding a tad bit of tang. Don’t worry! If you don’t have buttermilk at home, an easy DIY substitute is milk with a little bit of lemon juice.
Whole-Wheat Flour
We love whole-wheat flour in baking recipes and to make pancakes and crepes for it’s nutritious health benefits. In this recipe, we used whole-wheat pastry flour because it is finely milled and makes the pancakes light and fluffy. You can sub in regular whole-wheat flour or white whole-wheat flour instead.
Spices
To give these pancakes gingerbread flavor we used a combination of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and clove.
Other Ingredients
- 1 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs
- 3 tablespoons plus 3 teaspoons avocado oil or organic canola oil, divided
Step-By-Step Instructions To Make This Recipe
Step 1: Combine Dry Ingredients
Whisk whole-wheat pastry flour, all-purpose flour, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, baking soda, salt and cloves in a medium bowl.
Step 2: Combine Wet Ingredients
Beat eggs together in a large bowl. Whisk in the buttermilk, molasses and 3 tablespoons oil.
Step 3: Finish the Batter
Stir the flour mixture into the buttermilk mixture. Once the batter is smooth and fully combined, stir in the shredded apple.
Step 4: Make Pancakes
Heat a griddle or large skillet over medium-high heat. Brush 2 teaspoons oil over the griddle or 1 teaspoon oil over skillet. Ladle ¼ cup-fulls of the batter onto the hot griddle or skillet spacing to account for spread. Cook, adjusting heat as necessary to prevent burning, until the pancakes are set and browned on the bottom, 2 to 4 minutes. Carefully flip over and continue cooking until cooked through. Repeat with the remaining 1 teaspoons oil and remaining batter, in batches, if necessary.
Step 5: Serve
Stack the apple pancakes and serve with any desired topping. My favorite is the classic–maple syrup, and a thick pat of butter of course.
FAQs and Expert Tips For These Pancakes
Pancakes are a great make-ahead food. You can either store the pancakes in an airtight plastic bag in the freezer until ready to serve, or you can whisk together the wet ingredients and store it in the fridge the day before. Just make sure you add the leavening agent (aka baking soda/powder) the day of.
If your pancakes aren’t turning out as fluffy as you’d like, your batter may be too wet. Try adding a bit more flour to thicken it up if you think that might be the issue. Otherwise, your baking powder might be expired.
Just like the apples, you could really add anything you’d like. If you prefer a bit of crunch, try adding a few chopped up nuts, such as walnuts, to the pancakes while they’re cooking.
You’ll know when to flip a pancake when the edges look set, and little bubbles appear on the top. Once you’ve flipped, you’ll only have to wait another 2 or so minutes.
Additional Gingerbread Flavored Recipes to Try
- If you have yet to make my Gingerbread Cake, do not delay. It is earth-shatteringly good.
- I’m dying for one of this Gluten-Free Date Bread with Coffee and Ginger!
- Chewy Chocolate Molasses Cookies- these are gluten-free and vegan too!
- These Hermit Bars are molasses and spice and everything nice, and so easy! Also these Apricot Hermits are another one I love.
Additional Healthy and Yummy Breakfast Recipes To Try
- My classic Oatmeal Pancakes are perfect in every way.
- If you doubt that Paleo Pancakes can be any good, think again!
- We have been loving protein pancakes lately. These Tangerine Protein Pancakes have been our wintertime go-to, and these Apple Protein Pancakes are great in the fall too.
- These Almond Waffles are so moist and fluffy!
Thanks so much for reading! If you are new here, you may want to sign up for my email newsletter to get a free weekly menu plan and the latest recipes right to your inbox. If you make this recipe, please come back and leave a star rating and review. I would love to hear what you thought!
Happy Cooking! ~Katie
PrintGingerbread Apple Pancakes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 10 pancakes 1x
Description
Whole-wheat gingerbread pancakes with shredded apples. A healthy seasonal breakfast for house guests over the holidays, or for any relaxed Saturday or Sunday morning.
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground clove
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1/4 cup molasses
- 3 tablespoons plus 3 teaspoons avocado oil or organic canola oil, divided
- 1 large apple, peeled and shredded on a box grater
Instructions
- Whisk whole-wheat pastry flour, all-purpose flour, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, baking soda, salt and cloves in a medium bowl.
- Beat eggs in a large bowl. Beat in buttermilk, molasses and 3 tablespoons oil. Stir the flour mixture into the buttermilk mixture. Stir in apple.
- Heat griddle or large skillet over medium-high heat. Brush 2 teaspoons oil over the griddle or 1 teaspoon oil over skillet. Ladle ¼ cup-fulls of the batter onto the hot griddle or skillet spacing to account for spread. Cook, adjusting heat as necessary to prevent scorching, until the pancakes are set up and browned on the bottom, 2 to 4 minutes. Carefully flip over and continue cooking until cooked through. Repeat with the remaining 1 teaspoons oil in one more batch for the griddle or two more batches for the skillet.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Stove Top
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 pancakes
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 19 g
- Sodium: 467 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Carbohydrates: 48 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 8 g
Gingerbread apple pancakes are such a delicious breakfast that’s perfect especially for Christmas time.
This is a stunning breakfast Katie! So perfect for Christmas breakfast!!
Hi, I found this on FoodGawker and was hoping I could get your permission to post the recipe on my instagram recipe page (@foodie_recipes) as it looks delicious! I will tag you in the photo and put your website address on the post! Hope this is okay, thanks 🙂 x
These. Sound. Incredible!! Love the addition of molasses, I bet that adds a whole depth of flavor. Beautiful pictures! I have like 3 packages of pancake mix (whole grain!) that I’m trying to use up, and when I do these will be on my list to make!
Thank you so much Leigha.
Gosh I guess I’m a pancake scrooge too! But this recipe looks good enough to make me change my ways. Love the shredded apple with all those holiday spices!
Hey Allie. How are you lady? I am thinking I need to be less of one myself. Hope you’re well!
I definitely have decided that these gingerbread apple pancakes are my Christmas morning breakfast this year. They look so delicious and I love how surprisingly healthy they are…
So honored! Thank you Thalia.
Gingerbread apple pancakes. Delicious. I could eat these every day. If only I could reach through my screen and grab that plate…
You and my girls would get along just great then!
I love that you called yourself the ‘Pancake Scrooge’! These pancakes sound absolutely delicious, Katie…that flavor combo is perfect for the holidays!
I totally am, though these may change me.
….did you hear that? I just bumped my head trying to eat the screen.
You are too funny Arman! lol! I can see it now.
Love gingerbread flavour! These pancakes look superb and I love how soft and fluffy they look.
Have a delightful weekend!
Angie
Thank you Angie. Same to you!
This has got to be the most beautiful stack of pancakes I’ve ever seen. Just gorgeous!
But I hear you- I’d rather take a Body Attack or Pump class than spend an hour in the kitchen making pancakes. But I would love to come home to a stack waiting for me though! Maybe we just need to convince someone else to do the cooking for us. 😉
Ha ha! So glad to know I am not alone, and YES totally. I need to train my girls on this asap.
gaah… i love gingerbread. why must it only be a holiday thing?!
I think it should be a year round thing too, though my house smelled very holiday-ish when these babies were griddling up.
This will be my year to make gingerbread pancakes… and with apples? Yum!
So glad to know this sounds good to you Cassie. Yes don’t wait, they are so good.
If I could, I’d make pancakes every morning too 😉
You and my girls would get along great then!
These pancakes sound amazing!! What a perfect breakfast for house guests/holidays. I may have to make these for the family when I’m home for Christmas 🙂
Thanks so much Alanna. Hope you like them.