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Applesauce Pancakes

Applesauce adds moisture and natural sweetness to pancakes, so you need less sugar and no milk. Use pancake mix for easy prep or make them from scratch.

VegetarianNut-FreeDairy-Free Breakfast
Prep: 5 min Cook: 10 min Total: 15 min Servings: 3–4 (makes about 10 pancakes) Difficulty: Easy

Allergens: Contains Eggs, Gluten (pancake mix or flour).

Ingredients

  • 2 cups pancake mix (or 1½ cups flour + 2 tsp baking powder)
  • ½ cup applesauce
  • 1 egg
  • ¾ cup water
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil (plus more for the pan)

Optional Extras

  • Cinnamon (strongly recommended)
  • Syrup or honey
  • Butter on top
  • Sliced banana

Equipment

  • Mixing bowl
  • Skillet or griddle
  • Spatula
  • Whisk or fork

Instructions

  1. In a mixing bowl, combine the pancake mix, applesauce, egg, water, and oil. Add cinnamon if you have it. Stir until just combined — lumps are okay.
  2. Heat a skillet over medium heat with a small amount of oil.
  3. Pour about ¼ cup of batter per pancake. Cook until bubbles form on the surface and the edges look set, about 2–3 minutes.
  4. Flip and cook another 1–2 minutes until golden.
  5. Serve warm with syrup, honey, or butter.

Notes

  • The applesauce replaces most of the liquid. These are moister and slightly denser than regular pancakes — in a good way.
  • No pancake mix? Use 1½ cups flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, and a pinch of salt as the dry base.
  • Dairy-free by default. Uses water instead of milk.
  • Make extras and freeze them. Reheat in the toaster or microwave for quick weekday breakfasts.
  • Syrup or honey? Either works great on these.