These Fluffy Applesauce Pancakes are a favorite weekend breakfast recipe because they are easy to mix up, they taste sweet and comforting, and the leftovers store nicely in the fridge or freezer. They are a healthy and easy toddler breakfast that the entire family will enjoy. Oh: They are really yummy topped with maple syrup—or served plain!
Every weekend, we have pancakes or waffles. We have a little more time to cook and it’s a lot easier to enjoy this sort of breakfast at home with all of us in our pjs, than trekking out to a restaurant. And making pancakes at home lets me use whole grains and lots of produce to ensure that the kids get a healthy start to the day. This healthy pancake recipe is the sort of yummy family food that I make again and again.
One of the secret reasons that I love making these pancakes is that it’s so easy to tuck a serving of fruits or vegetables inside without anyone really noticing. So perfect for picky eaters! The applesauce here adds moisture, flavor, and a really nice undertone of natural sweetness. The batter simply needs to be stirred together and it spreads nicely on the skillet. You definitely can be a beginner cook and have success with this pancake recipe.
This pancake recipe is really easy. Here’s a look at the process.
Gather your ingredients including applesauce, milk (dairy or nondairy), flour (whole wheat or buckwheat), cinnamon, baking powder, vanilla, and eggs.
Warm a nonstick or cast iron pan with a little butter or neutral oil and pour out pancakes of 1/4 cup batter. Spread and let cook until you see bubbles around the edges.
Flip and cook for a few more minutes, then eat!
The applesauce helps the batter cook up into fluffy and tender pancakes, so they are perfect for babies who are newer eaters or those starting out with baby led weaning. Cut the applesauce pancakes into very small pieces and offer water between bites to ensure that baby can move them around in her mouth well. And if they do seem dry, smear a little extra applesauce on top before slicing.
The flour that I use in this recipe is buckwheat, which is one of my favorite gluten-free flours. It has a nutty flavor and is high in both protein and fiber. And it’s not terribly expensive compared with some other specialty flours. That said, if you don’t need or want to eat gluten-free, simply use whole wheat flour instead and you’ll still have great results.
You can make these pancakes vegan by omitting the eggs and adding 2 tablespoons chia seeds or flaxseeds. Just let the batter sit for about 5 minutes before you start cooking and add a touch more milk if needed to create a normal pancake batter consistency. They will hold together best if you use whole-wheat flour, but as long as you flip them gently after they set and start to firm on top, you can make them with buckwheat flour too.
WHAT KIND OF APPLESAUCE IS BEST IN THESE PANCAKES?
You can use homemade or store-bought applesauce, depending on what you have on hand and prefer. Plain unsweetened is great, as is unsweetened with cinnamon. I tend to not buy sweetened applesauce (just check the ingredients label and look to see that it doesn’t include things like cane sugar, honey, or maple syrup) since I like to control and limit the amount of added sugar in toddler food.
We like these pancakes topped with a little maple syrup, peanut butter, or additional applesauce. Leftovers make really yummy sandwiches with nut butter or cream cheese in between!
Stir together all ingredients in a medium bowl. Heat a cast iron or nonstick skillet or griddle over medium heat. Coat with neutral oil, butter, or nonstick spray.
Spoon out 1/4 cup of the batter at a time—or less to make smaller pancakes—and spread to an even thickness about 1/4-1/2-inch thick. Let cook about 3-4 minutes or until the edges are totally set and bubbles start to appear.
Carefully flip and cook for another 2-3 minutes.
You can store cooled pancakes in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat for about 30 seconds in the microwave. You can also store cooled pancakes in a zip top freezer bag in the freezer for up to 3 months. Reheat for 60 seconds, flipping over halfway through for even heating.