I can't believe that back to school season is just around the corner! Is it just me, or is summertime getting shorter every year? Don't worry though, this easy recipe for my Cinnamon Apple Pancake Dippers will get you and your family out the door and on your way in no time.
I don't know about you but, every year I seem to set the same goal for the school year–healthy breakfast, on the table, in plenty of time for peaceful, fun conversation before everyone heads their separate ways for the day. Well, that never lasts very long. Every year, shortly after the school bell rings, I wind up throwing a packet of pop tarts or a bowl of cold cereal on the table while I am frantically hunting for my car keys or the missing sock to the baseball uniform. Every year until I wised up, that is. Instead of fighting my nature, I decided to embrace the chaos and own it. I am not going to change the morning madness, it's just part of me. I learned to work around it and plan for it, even schedule it. Making breakfast ahead of time is one of the ways to get a head start before the alarm clock ever goes off.
Cinnamon Apple Pancake Dippers are perfect for “make ahead” breakfast. They are mini-pancakesthat you bake in a madeleine pan or muffin tin. I came up with the idea years ago when I was trying to think of a“breakfast in bed” menu for Mother's Day that was “kid finger friendly” BUT—without all the crumbs in your sheets and sticky maple syrup on your fingers. You can pick the pancake dippers up with your fingers and dip in the syrup if you wish or just dust them with a little powdered sugar while they are hot and skip the syrup all together. My first batch was such a hit that I make them in several different varieties now. These Cinnamon Apple Pancake Dippers' flavor is perfect for back to school time. Make them ahead of time and toast them in the toaster oven. Then, throw them in little lunch sacks to eat while walking to school or running to catch the bus. You can even double the batch of pancake dippers and freeze some for days that are even crazier than usual!
Be sure to make extras, my sons can't resist sneaking a few every time they walk by the kitchen!
I hope you love this recipe as much as my family does but, if you are not ready to face the school year just yet, be sure to save the recipe or pin it on Pinterest for later.
If you have any questions or comment, be sure to get in touch with us by leaving a comment on this post or on Facebook. Don't forget to follow Kristina on Facebook for more Back to School tips!
—See you soon! Sandy
Cinnamon Apple Pancake Dippers Recipe
Recipe Type: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Author: Sandy Hoopes
Prep time: 15 mins
Cook time: 10 mins
Total time: 25 mins
Serves: 4 to 6
Pancake Dippers are a great breakfast for families on the go! Fill a lunch sack with mini pancakes that can be eaten with your fingers while walking to school or running to catch the bus. Dust them with powdered sugar just for fun.
Ingredients
- 1 large Granny Smith apple
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup buttermilk
- Powdered sugar for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees.
- Peel and core the apple, then dice it into small, 1/4 inch chunks. Melt the butter in a small sauté pan and add the apple. Saute the apple until it softens. Stir in the cinnamon and brown sugar. Continue cooking until the brown sugar thickens into caramel and the apples begin to breakdown. Set aside to cool.
- Whisk the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt together in a large mixing bowl.
- Lightly beat the milk and egg together and pour into the well of the flour mixture. Gradually, mix the flour into the milk mixture until just blended.
- Fold the apples into the batter.
- Prepare a madeleine pan or mini-muffin tin with cooking spray or softened butter. Spoon batter into the molds and bake until the edges of the pancakes are golden brown, about 8 minutes.
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FAQs
Spice It Up
If you're looking for how to make pancake mix better, the easiest option is to sprinkle in your favorite baking spices. Once you've mixed the batter, add in cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger or pumpkin pie spice mix. Before serving, top your pancakes with a bit of whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon.
What can you add to pancake mix reddit? ›
So I added ground flax and chia seeds (both relatively inexpensive, nutrient dense and versatile so I keep them around), plus some unsweetened shredded coconut, and rolled oats. They turned out so good and felt a lot more filling than a traditional pancake.
What happens if you add an egg to just add water pancake mix? ›
If you're loath to waste the yolk, you can certainly add it to your pancake batter along with the water. This will give your pancakes a slightly richer flavor, but it will also hinder the rise and give your pancakes a denser texture.
Can I use milk instead of water in just add water pancakes? ›
Can you use milk instead of water for pancakes? You sure can! Instead of water, you can use any kind of milk, including almond milk and coconut milk, to mix up the pancake batter.
How do you jazz up pancake mix? ›
Ground cinnamon and vanilla extract are good options, but you can also add cozy flavors with pumpkin pie spice, almond extract, or chai powder, or spices such as allspice or cardamom. For a little zing, try adding a citrus extract or finely grated lemon zest.
Is it better to add milk or water to pancake mix? ›
Pancake lovers' biggest complaint when adding water instead of milk is that the flavor seems to change. Pancakes aren't as richly flavored with water. There are a few ways to improve your batter when you've used water, including: Add extra butter.
What does adding milk to pancake mix do? ›
If you want your pancakes to be thicker, you can add more milk. If you want your pancakes to be thinner, you can add less milk. You can also add buttermilk or yogurt to your pancake mix for a richer flavor.
How to make homemade pancakes Paula Deen? ›
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and baking powder. Stir in the buttermilk, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla. Pour ¼ cup of pancake batter for each pancake onto the griddle. Cook until the edges start to set and the pancakes are golden-brown underneath.
Can I just add fruit to pancake mix? ›
Whisk together the pancake mix and water in a bowl. Place the still-frozen strawberries into a blender, and pulse several times to break the berries up into small pieces. Mix the chopped strawberries and the frozen blueberries into the batter until the fruit is well distributed.
Why do you put coins in pancakes? ›
However, it's not as tasty as you think, as they add small objects (after they've been thoroughly cleaned of course) such as buttons, rings, and coins. Each object has a special meaning, for example, if you find a shiny coin in your pancake, you're deemed very lucky and will end up rich!
Don't let the lumps fool you into overmixing!
- You ignore the heat during cooking. If you are not using an electric skillet, you must pay attention to the heat when you start cooking the pancakes. ...
- You've been using the wrong pan. ...
- You flip your pancakes too soon. ...
- You don't fully preheat your pan.
What are the best pairings for pancakes?
- Simple sugar and lemon pancakes. ...
- Pancakes with fresh berries like strawberries, raspberries or blueberries. ...
- Pancakes with golden or maple syrup. ...
- Pancakes with chocolate sauce. ...
- Pancakes with a cherry, apricot or other fruit compote. ...
- Savoury pancakes with cheese and ham or spinach.
Top 10 ways to use up pancake batter
- Pancake cannelloni.
- Quesadilla pancakes.
- Crispy pancakes with creamy chicken & bacon.
- German-style cheese & bacon pancakes.
- Apple & pear fritters.
- Blood orange crêpe cake.
- Cheesy stuffed pancakes.
- Blueberry & orange traybake pancake.
For every 1 cup of pancake mix, whisk with 3/4 cup water. 1 cup of mix makes 4 to 5 pancakes. Scoop 1/4 cup of pancake batter onto griddle. Let pancakes cook until bubbles form before flipping.
How do you fix watery pancake mix without flour? ›
There are several ways to thicken pancake batter without flour, most of which include using an alternative like tapioca, corn, or potato starch, or coconut flour. Add 1 tablespoon of tapioca, corn, or potato starch to the bowl. Mix it well to combine and wait 5 minutes.
How do I substitute milk for water in pancake mix? ›
In most cases, you can swap milk for water and vice versa using a 1:1 ratio. For example, if your mix or recipe calls for ½ cup of milk but you don't have it, add ½ cup of water. To err on the side of caution, try using half of the liquid in your recipe and go from there.
How do you fix watery pancake mix without pancake mix? ›
How do you fix a pancake batter that is too thin? Slowly add small amounts of flour to get desired thickness. You may need too add a pinch of baking soda and baking powder depending on the amount of flour added. Let it rest a couple of minutes before making pancakes.
