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!
Healthy Applesauce Pancakes
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.
Easy Applesauce Pancakes Recipe
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.
Ingredients in Applesauce Pancakes
Here’s a look at the ingredients in this healthy pancakes recipe:
- Applesauce
- Milk (dairy or nondairy)
- Flour (I use buckwheat)
- Cinnamon
- Baking powder
- Vanilla extract
- Eggs
How to Make Applesauce Pancakes Step-by-Step
This pancake recipe is really easy. Here’s a look at the process.
- Gather your ingredients. (photo 1)
- Stir ingredients together. (photo 2)
- Warm a nonstick or cast iron pan with a little butter or neutral oil and pour out pancakes of 1/4 cup batter. Spread very thin and let cook until you see bubbles around the edges. (photo 3)
- Flip and cook for a few more minutes, then eat! (photo 4)
TIP: To ensure that these cook all the way through, spread your batter to about 1/4 inch thick or very thin. The batter is wet.
Applesauce Pancakes for Baby
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.
Gluten-Free Applesauce Pancakes
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.
Can I use whole-wheat flour?
Using whole-wheat flour in this recipe is an option, though the pancakes will take longer to cook through and the texture will be very moist. So spread them thin and be patient. And know that buckwheat flour works better.
Vegan Applesauce Pancakes (Egg-Free Pancakes)
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. Flip them gently after they set and start to firm on top.
TIP: You may also like my Vegan Banana Pancakes.
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.
Tips for Making the Best Applesauce Pancakes
- Spread the batter thinly when you add it to the pan. Like 1/4-inch thick. This IS KEY for ensuring that the batter cooks through.
- Let the edges set on each pancake–look for bubbles and firmness around the edges—before you flip each to ensure the middle is cooked through. Again, this is key to ensuring that the centers will be cooked through.
- Top with maple syrup, nut butter, yogurt, or other favorite topping.
- Using buckwheat flour will ensure that you have the best results in this recipe.
I’d love to hear what your family thinks of this recipe so please comment below!
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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!
Ingredients
- 1 cup buckwheat flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- 1/2 cup milk (dairy or nondairy)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- 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-inch thick. Let cook about 3-4 minutes OR until the edges are totally set and bubbles start to appear. You wan the pancakes to be mostly cooked before you flip them. (The first batch may take longer to cook as the pan heats up.)
- Carefully flip and cook for another 2-3 minutes.
- Serve immediately and repeat with the rest of the batter, or keep warm on a baking sheet in a 200 degree F oven.
Notes
To store leftovers, let cool and place into 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.
To make these egg-free. omit the eggs and adding 2 tablespoons chia seeds or flaxseeds. 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. Flip them gently after they set and start to firm on top.
TIPS
Spread the batter thinly when you add it to the pan.
Let the edges set on each pancake–look for bubbles and firmness around the edges—before you flip each to ensure the middle is cooked through.
Top with maple syrup, nut butter, yogurt, or other favorite topping.
This looks amazing! Would baby cereal work in place of the flour? 🙂
I haven’t tried it so I can’t say for sure!
Did you make any other changes?
My littles like “orange applesauce”, which is actually half applesauce and half pureed butternut squash (don’t tell them!). I used some in this recipe (with what flour) and it was fabulous. The 1-year-old and 3-year-old could not get enough!
★★★★★
That sounds delish!
Your recipe is missing salt. I made them according to your recipe. They were very wet and extremely bland.
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If you spread the batter thinly and wait to flip them until the edges are set and you see bubbles, they should cook through. I’m sorry you didn’t like the results!
My son allergic to eggs. What can I put to replace that in your recipes?
The info for this recipe is at the bottom of the recipe in the Notes section!
TODDLER FOOD!
I used whole wheat flour since I ran out of buckwheat flour and the pancakes turned out a bit wet. Cooked through, just looked a bit moist. Next time I’ll used buckwheat flour but if not, maybe the amount of applesauce should be reduced? They’re really tasty though & my kiddos gobbled them up! Thanks for sharing!
★★★★
They are definitely moist and need to be spread fairly thin. You could totally reduce the applesauce by 1/4 cup the next time if you prefer drier pancakes! Thanks for sharing!
We love this recipe! I always make a double batch and freeze the extras. My kiddo who’s 18 months loves these for a snack or breakfast. I’ve never had any trouble making them. I use a quarter cup to add the batter to the pan and then use the back of the cup to make the battered the required thickness. That way it Cooks through. We also like to use apple cinnamon sauce or on brand called North Coast makes a pumpkin spice applesauce for fall! You could probably make your own by substituting 1/4 cup pumpkin puree and use only three quarter cup applesauce. Then just substitute pumpkin pie spice it’s super yummy!
★★★★★
I can’t wait to try it with some pumpkin in the mix! Thanks for sharing!
Great flavor and my baby loved them, but I struggled to get them cooked through without burning them! Maybe I just need to try again on a lower heat setting!
★★★
Hi Sarah! Lowering the heat a bit could help and be sure to spread them thinly so that they have a chance to cook through almost all the way before you flip them over. I’m glad that your baby enjoyed them!
Hello, tasty but a bit wet, are they supposed to be fluffy yet the texture feel slightly undercooked because the mixuture is so wet?
It sounds like they either needed to be spread a little thinner or cooked a little longer. If you used buckwheat, the texture is a little spongier than wheat flour, but they should be cooked through if you let bubbles form around the edges and wait to flip them until they’re mostly set!
I used this recipe to use up baby purees… I did a jar of carrot and a jar of pear and they were amazing!
Awesome and that sounds delicious!!
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Hello! I want to try this recipe, but do you know if they would freeze well?
Absolutely! Let cool completely, then stack with parchment or wax paper between and freeze in a zip top bag.
Hi there- I wondered if I could sub pureed strawberries for apple sauce in this recipe? Since strawberries are not a high pectin fruit I assume it might not turn out so well? Thanks!
I’ve made them with pureed pears and mashed bananas, but never strawberries—I’m not sure that it would be thick enough. A mixture of banana and strawberry might work (or applesauce and strawberries). Let me know if you try it out!