Warm Vegan Apple Cinnamon Pancakes
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Warm Vegan Apple Cinnamon Pancakes
Get ready to elevate your weekend brunch at home with these mouthwatering Warm Vegan Apple Cinnamon Pancakes! Bursting with freshly chopped apples and a blend of cozy spices, these fluffy pancakes are an absolute delight. Topped off with sweet caramelized apples, they're the perfect blend of comforting flavors, making them a must-have treat for a cozy, family-friendly brunch experience. Completely Vegan, Dairy-free, Egg-free + Gluten-free Option.
Starting your day with pancakes always feels like a special occasion. If you've followed Orchids + Sweet Tea for a while, you will know how I LOVE a good ol' pancake recipe. And don't even get me started on brunch. I love brunch! It's an excuse to sleep in and have a late hearty breakfast. The weekends that my family and I have a nice brunch at home are my favorites! Especially when we whip up a batch of these delightful Warm Vegan Apple Cinnamon Pancakes—they're the star of our cozy mornings.
I just love playing around with pancake flavors! Check out a few of my top picks: Gluten-Free Blueberry Chia Pancakes, the super fluffy One-Bowl Vegan Oreo Pancakes, and for all you banana bread fans out there, the Easy Healthy Banana Bread Pancakes—they're just for you!
These Warm Vegan Apple Cinnamon Pancakes are the real deal, ya'll. If you're a lover of pancakes + apples, then these are PERFECT! They're like little pillows of joy on your plate. They are such a fun + cozy way to make breakfast + brunch so special and truly they are so easy + quick to make.
Jump to:
- How to Make Warm Vegan Apple Cinnamon Pancakes
- Ingredients
- How To Make Caramelized Apple Topping
- Looking For Natural Sugar Alternatives?
- Here Are A *Few* Reasons You Will Love These Vegan Apple Flapjacks
- Tips for Making the PERFECT Vegan Apple Pancakes Every Time
- Can I Use Another Plant-Based Milk for Vegan Apple Pancakes?
- How to Know If Your Baking Powder + Baking Soda Are Fresh
- Best Toppings For Vegan Cinnamon Apple Pancakes
- How To Serve Fluffy Vegan Pancakes
- Vegan Apple Cinnamon Pancakes Q + A's
- More Delicious Breakfast + Brunch Recipes
- MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?
- Warm Vegan Apple Cinnamon Pancakes
How to Make Warm Vegan Apple Cinnamon Pancakes
It's as simple as whipping up your vegan buttermilk (check below for how-to), mixing all the ingredients, pouring it onto a pan, and cooking up those delicious pancakes! And of course, making that mouthwatering caramelized apple topping!
Ingredients
For the Pancakes:
- Flour: I use organic all-purpose flour from Bob's Red Mill. It's certified vegan.
- Baking Powder: This helps your vegan pancakes become light and airy.
- Warming Spices: Ground cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ginger + cardamon
- Almond Milk: You can easily substitute this with soy milk, rice milk, coconut milk (my NEW Fave!), oat milk or even dairy milk if you're not vegan.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: This adds a bit of tang and acidity to turn your almond milk into vegan buttermilk. Baking powder needs some acid to activate.
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- Vegan Butter: You can also use regular butter or coconut or avocado oil to cook the pancakes.
- Vanilla extract. Warm + cozy flavor.
- A pinch of sea salt
- Apple chunks. The star if the show!
For the Caramelized Apple Topping:
- Gala apples. Sliced with skin on
- Vegan butter. I like using the brand Earth Balance.
- Organic brown sugar. For sweetness!
- Ground cinnamon
- A pinch of finely ground sea salt
How To Make Caramelized Apple Topping
- In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, add the butter and heat until melted. Add the brown sugar, cinnamon and sea salt and stir until combined and everything begins to bubble a bit, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add the sliced apples and toss until well coated and cook for 8-10 minutes, until tender and the sauce has thickened. Remove from heat.
- To serve, stack pancakes onto one another and top with caramelized apples, your favorite nuts (optional), and lightly drizzle with maple syrup, if desired.
Looking For Natural Sugar Alternatives?
The Best Healthy Sugar Alternatives + Substitutes list is all about finding better ways to enjoy your favorite sweets without compromising your healthy lifestyle. For those who follow a vegetarian and/or vegan lifestyle, this lists offers a few great ideas to incorporate healthy sweeteners into your diet.
Here Are A *Few* Reasons You Will Love These Vegan Apple Flapjacks
- They are SUPER fluffy + light.
- So easy to whip together.
- Only requires ONE bowl! No mixer required!
- Perfectly sweet + loaded with apples.
- Entirely dairy-free + vegan. Gluten-free option available!
- Fun for the entire family to make.
Tips for Making the PERFECT Vegan Apple Pancakes Every Time
Ensuring that you make the perfect vegan pancakes each time can sometimes feel like a science, but it’s fairly easy with these simple tips + hacks:
TIP #1: LOW + SLOW IS BEST.
When it comes to cooking your pancakes, keeping the heat on low is the key. This ensures that your pancakes are fully cooked through without making the outsides dark before their time.
TIP #2: DOUBLE CHECK THAT LEAVENERS AREN’T EXPIRED.
Ensuring that the leaveners that are used (baking powder, baking soda, etc) aren’t expired and are completely fresh. This ensures that your pancakes rise at their best and are super fluffy as intended.
TIP #3: ABSOLUTELY NO OVER-MIXING!!
Once all ingredients are combined after stirring with a spatula (or whisk), stop mixing. Remember, you want airy, fluffy pancakes—not chewy pancakes due to the gluten formulating from over-mixing.
TIP #4: LET THE BATTER SIT TO REST.
Yes, this is an important step also. I suggest letting the batter sit for 10 minutes or so to allow the ingredients to “activate” which helps to create a fluffy pancake in the end!
TIP #5: EVENNESS IS KEY.
While we often try to measure with our eye for the most even pancakes, sometimes we can just miss the mark. That’s why I love using a measuring cup (about ½ cup) to measure out the batter evenly and create a nice sequence for my stack.
TIP #6: YES, THE CORRECT PAN MATTERS.
I find that using a flat cast-iron griddle works the best when making pancakes. However, I’ve also found great results with larger cast-iron skillets (10-12 inches), which give more room for the flipping despite their slopped sides.
TIP #7: FLIP WHEN IT’S TIME, OK?!
Yes, you read that right. We can sometimes flip beforehand which creates that mess and ruined flip that we desperately try to avoid once mid air. That’s why you should wait until the edges are formed AND bubbles have formed and begin “popping” + opening up into holes, which means you’re in the safe zone.
TIP #8: FLIP ONLY ONCE!
I’ve definitely been tempted to flip and then flip again, but once is best. This ensures that you don’t ruin the edges or the entire pancake on your final flip. Besides, cooking them low + slow ensures that the centers are well done.
TIP #9: BUTTER IN BETWEEN.
I use to only butter the pan during the initial first pancake, however, I’ve learned that lightly greasing or buttering in between every pancake helps to keep them consistently golden and perfectly done.
Tip For Warm Pancakes!!!
Since you have to cook the Warm Vegan Apple Cinnamon Pancakes in batches, I like to keep the completed pancakes in the oven. This keeps them warm before serving. I hate having pancakes of varying temperatures, but unfortunately, that is how it works sometimes! By using the oven trick, your pancakes will all be done at the same time.
Can I Use Another Plant-Based Milk for Vegan Apple Pancakes?
Yes, you can use any dairy-free milk you like to make these delicious dairy-free vegan cinnamon pancakes. Here are some easy recipes to make your own milk that’s cheaper and so easy!
- Quinoa Milk
- Coconut Milk
- Easy Homemade Creamy Cashew Milk
- How to Make Potato Milk
- Ultra Creamy Homemade Oat Milk
- Cauliflower Milk
How to Know If Your Baking Powder + Baking Soda Are Fresh
Baking is such a science, but more importantly because certain ingredients like your leaveners (aka baking powder + baking soda) are completely fresh so that your banana cake (and other baked goods) fully rise and bake through nicely.
Incase you weren't aware, there's an easy to double check both the baking powder and baking soda. Here's what you need:
BAKING SODA HACK:
-Add 1 teaspoon baking soda with ¼ cup vinegar or lemon juice in a bowl and if it's fresh, the mixture should "bubble/fizz". If no bubble/fizz is present, then your baking soda needs to be replaced.
BAKING POWDER:
-Add 1 teaspoon baking powder with ¼ cup Hot tap water in a bowl and if it's fresh, the mixture should "bubble/fizz". If no bubble/fizz is present, then your baking powder needs to be replaced.
Best Toppings For Vegan Cinnamon Apple Pancakes
You can either keep it simple with the toppings and just use the caramelized apple topping, or you can add a variety of toppings for extra pizazz! Here are some options:
- Freshly sliced bananas
- Maple syrup
- Dairy-Free Yogurt or CocoWhip
- Extra cinnamon sprinkle
- Almond or cashew butter
- Granola
How To Serve Fluffy Vegan Pancakes
Warm + fresh: Enjoy your apple pancake recipe while it's still warm. You can savor it as is or add a pat of vegan butter or a drizzle of maple syrup for extra indulgence.
Pair with a beverage: Apple pancakes pair beautifully with a hot or iced coffee like this Apple Crisp Oatmilk Latte or a breakfast smoothie like this Immune-Boosting Strawberry Banana Poppyseed Smoothie or this Cashew Date Morning Smoothie
With Ice Cream: Feeling extra indulgent? Scoop your favorite ice cream like this Caramel Ice Cream or Butter Pecan Ice Cream on top and enjoy the extra sweetness!
Breakfast or brunch spread: Serve your pumpkin pancake recipe as part of a breakfast or brunch spread. Pair it with fresh fruits, yogurt, or a variety of spreads like vegan cream cheese, nut butter, or jam.
Vegan Apple Cinnamon Pancakes Q + A's
Yes! You can make this recipe gluten-free with a simple swap. Simply replace the flour with a gluten-free flour blend (I recommend Bob's Red Mill brand). If the batter is thinner than you'd like, add more flour, ¼ cup at a time until it is thick but pourable.
Yes, you can! Prepare the batter the night before and store it in the refrigerator. In the morning, give it a quick stir before cooking the pancakes.
Definitely! Instead of melted vegan butter, you can use vegetable oil or coconut oil, if preferred.
Yes! you can freeze them for up to six months. Simply cool the pancakes to room temperature, then arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet. Freeze for an hour, then place in a zip-top bag and keep in the freezer. You’ll have a healthy vegan breakfast to grab anytime.
More Delicious Breakfast + Brunch Recipes
If you love this Vegan Apple Cinnamon Pancakes recipe then try these delicious breakfast recipes next!
- Mind-blowing Avocado Toast
- Vegan Peach Crisp Oatmeal Porridge
- Perfect Strawberry Oatmeal Scones
- Blueberry French Toast Casserole
- Strawberry French Toast Trifle
- Vegan Chia Seed Maple Banana Bread
MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?
If you tried this Warm Vegan Apple Cinnamon Pancakes recipe or any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. And don't forget to tag @orchidsnsweettea_ on Instagram and hashtag it #orchidsandsweettea! I love hearing from you!
Warm Vegan Apple Cinnamon Pancakes
Ingredients
PANCAKES:
- 2 cups organic all-purpose flour
- 2 tsps baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon allspice
- ⅛ teaspoon ground ginger
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cardamom
- ¼ teaspoon finely ground sea salt
- 1 ¼ cups Almond milk (You can use your fave plant-based milk!)
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 Tbsps pure maple syrup (See Notes!)
- 2 Tbsps vegan butter, melted + 1 tablespoon for cooking
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup Chopped apple chunks (That's about 1 medium peeled apple; See Notes!)
CARAMELIZED APPLE TOPPING:
- 2 medium Gala apples, sliced with skin on
- 2 Tbsps vegan butter
- ½ cup organic brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- pinch of finely ground sea salt
OPTIONAL TOPPING:
- Your favorite nuts, toasted
- Pure maple syrup
Instructions
PANCAKES:
- Add the Almond milk and apple cider vinegar together in a small bowl, stirring together until combined and letting it sit for 5 minutes until it becomes "activated" and slightly foamy.
- In a large bowl, add the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ginger, cardamom, and salt together and whisk until well combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk-ACV, maple syrup, melted butter, and vanilla, until combined.
- Make a small well in the middle of the dry ingredients and pour in the wet ingredients, stirring gently (using a spatula) until just combined. NOTE: DO NOT OVERMIX. Fold in chopped apple chunks.
- Add 1 tablespoon vegan butter to a heated skillet over medium-high heat and wait until fully melted. Pour ⅓ cup of pancake batter unto the surface of the skillet and cook for about 1-2 minutes (until batter begins to bubble) and gently flip pancake to it’s opposite side, cooking another 1-2 minutes. NOTE: Be sure to gently press down on pancake to ensure that center cooks through.
- Once cooked and lightly brown on both sides, remove pancake from heat and repeat steps until all batter is used.
- Make your Caramelized Apple topping and keep your pancakes warm by adding them to the oven on a baking sheet on the lowest setting.
CARAMELIZED APPLE TOPPING:
- In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, add the butter and heat until melted. Add the brown sugar, cinnamon and sea salt and stir until combined and everything begins to bubble a bit, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add the sliced apples and toss until well coated and cook for 8-10 minutes, until tender and the sauce has thickened. Remove from heat.
- To serve, stack pancakes onto one another and top with caramelized apples, your favorite nuts (optional), and lightly drizzle with maple syrup, if desired.
- Bon Appetit!
Tips & Tricks
- SWEETENER: If you choose to opt out of pure maple syrup, you can always substitute with Agave, organic cane sugar, or coconut sugar as well.
- GLUTEN-FREE VERSION: To make these pancakes GF, I recommend using a GF Flour Blend (Bob’s Red Mills has a great version!). **NOTE: If the batter is too ‘thin + runny’, simply add additional GF flour, ¼ cup at a time.**
- OIL: Instead of melted vegan butter, you can use vegetable oil or coconut oil, if preferred.
Nutrition
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I made these a few days ago, and yum! I love the apple sauce on top, it really made the pancakes special with very little extra effort!
Hi Robin! I'm so glad to hear that you enjoyed these pancakes! Definitely a favorite in our house! 🙂
Blended some rolled oats to make oat flour and used it to sub half of the all-purpose flour. Baked some apple slices with lemon juice, maple syrup, and cinnamon for 20 minutes on 350 and layered then with the pancakes. Threw some banana slices on top as well and it was delicious!
Hi Alexa! Wow, that sounds absolutely delicious! So glad that you enjoyed these pancakes! 🙂
These look fantastic! I love pancakes. We eat them every Saturday for breakfast. I have never tried vegan pancakes before, so I am excited to give these a try.
Hi Sarah! Thanks so much! We definitely enjoy pancakes or waffles in my house on the weekends also! Vegan pancakes are my go-to! Be sure to let me know how these turn out! 🙂
Is it wrong I want this for breakfast, dinner and lunch and oh yeah, a midnight snack?
Mollie
Haha! Nothing wrong at all! I'm sure it'll satisfy all four mealtimes well! ?
This looks delicious Shanika!!
Thanks so much Angela! It was great! ?
These pancakes look and sound delicious. I am so going to share this with my friend who is vegan.
Thanks so much Kelly! Aww, that's awesome! I hope that your friend enjoys it! ?
is it wrong that I now want to make this for dinner.....? Yummm!
Haha! Not at all Emma! Some breakfast dishes make the best dinner dishes! I do hope that you try this and enjoy! 🙂