Gammy's Apple Pancakes Recipe

Combine dry ingredients

In a large mixing bowl whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, salt, and ground cinnamon until evenly combined.

Mix wet ingredients

In a separate bowl or large measuring cup, whisk the milk, egg, melted cooled butter, and vanilla extract until smooth.

Combine wet and dry

Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the wet mixture. Gently fold with a spatula until just combined; a few small lumps are fine. Do not overmix or pancakes will be tough.

Prepare apple

If using sliced apples: toss the thin slices with the lemon juice and optional brown sugar to prevent browning and add sweetness. If using grated apple: grate directly into a bowl and mix with the lemon juice and brown sugar. Squeeze gently to remove any excess juice, leaving some moisture to keep pancakes tender.

Fold apples into batter

Gently fold the prepared apple pieces into the pancake batter until evenly distributed. Use about half the apples for batter and reserve the rest (if you prefer some apple on top of pancakes or for garnish).

Preheat pan

Heat a large nonstick skillet or griddle over medium heat until hot (about 3–5 minutes). Brush or swirl with the unsalted butter and a little neutral oil to prevent burning.

Cook pancakes

For each pancake, pour about 1/3 cup of batter onto the skillet (this recipe yields roughly 3 large pancakes). Spread slightly if needed. Cook until bubbles form on the surface and edges look set, about 2–3 minutes. Carefully flip and cook until the reverse side is golden and the pancake is cooked through, about 1.5–2 minutes more. Adjust heat as necessary to prevent overbrowning. Repeat with remaining batter, adding more butter/oil between batches.

Keep warm

Place cooked pancakes on a baking sheet in a single layer and keep warm in a 200°F (95°C) oven while you finish the rest.

Stack three pancakes on each plate. Add a pat of butter on top of the stack and spoon or drizzle maple syrup over them. Serve with the reserved fresh fruit on the side. If desired, garnish with a few extra apple slices or a dusting of powdered sugar.