Happy Friday! Got an awesome, applicious recipe to celebrate fall’s bounty, and the weekend of course! Apple Cider Pancakes with Maple Cider Syrup. Because what fall weekend is complete without a cozy homemade pancake breakfast?
This recipe comes from my brother who, apparently, is the king of pancakes. Hey, we all have our specialties! Earlier this week Ben and I were FaceTiming with him and his wife Kerry when we all started laughing at how beat down each other looked. Newborns, toddlers, and crazy travel schedules will do that to you.
The conversation turned to how we could all use a drink, which turned to talks of whiskey and our favorite ways to enjoy it. Nobody is more surprised than me to say that sentence out loud, by the way. Ben converted me several years ago and I have never looked back. Anyway, my very favorite whiskey cocktail is a Ginger & Apple & Bourbon. Ginger beer (which I usually sub out for ginger ale), apple cider, and bourbon (which is a type of whiskey) combine to make the most delicious drink in all the land.
There. I said it!
Anyway, I was describing the drink to my brother and suggested he use some of the apple cider I had given them a couple weeks ago to make it, but he said he’d used all of it to make Apple Cider Pancakes with Maple-Cider Syrup. Um, YUM! Recipe please?!
He sent it to me the following day then I made the pancakes and homemade syrup uh, three times over the next two days. Twice to tailor the recipe to my tastes (lowered the sugar,) and another for good measure. They are so good! Light and fluffy, yet luscious and chewy, with a punch of spiced-apple flavor. Very cake-like, too, which makes ’em that much more decadent-tasting. They will make any weekend morning that much sweeter, I promise you that.
Start by whisking together the apple-y pancake batter which combines the usual suspects – flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and sugar, with an egg, milk, apple butter and apple cider. The apple butter and cider are what really set these pancakes apart!
Whisk the batter until there are no lumps, then heat a griddle to 375 degrees, or a skillet over medium-high heat.
Scoop the pancake batter onto the hot griddle then cook until you begin to see bubbles forming on top, then flip and cook until the other side is golden brown.
Tip: Use a 1/4 cup measuring cup to ensure all the pancakes come out the exact same size!
While the pancakes are cooking, get the Maple Cider Syrup ready, which might be my favorite part of the entire recipe. Start by sauteing 1 chopped apple in 1 Tablespoon butter with a dash of cinnamon and salt until tender, about 5 minutes. Next add 1/4 cup each apple cider and real maple syrup, then let the mixture reduce for another 5 minutes.
Let the syrup cool slightly. Your kitchen, by the way, will be smelling insane right about now!
Stack the pancakes high then drizzle ’em with the slightly cooled Maple Cider Syrup and dive in. Fall on a fork, I tell ya’!
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Apple Cider Pancakes with Maple Cider Syrup
Description
Apple Cider Pancakes with Maple Cider Syrup are light and fluffy with a warming spiced-apple flavor.
Ingredients
- 1 cup flour
- 1 Tablespoon sugar
- 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 egg, beaten
- 2 Tablespoons butter, melted and cooled
- 2 Tablespoons apple butter
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1/3 cup apple cider
- For the Maple Cider Syrup:
- 1 apple, peeled and chopped
- 1 Tablespoon butter
- dash cinnamon
- pinch salt
- 1/4 cup apple cider
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
Directions
- Preheat a griddle to 375 degrees, or a skillet on the stove top over medium-high heat. In a large bowl combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt then make a well into the center. Add egg, butter, apple butter, milk, and apple cider into the center then whisk everything to combine until there are no lumps.
- Spray the griddle with nonstick spray then pour pancake batter with 1/4 cup measuring cup. Cook until bubbles appear on the surface then flip and cook until golden brown on the other side.
- Meanwhile, in a small saucepan over medium heat, melt butter then add apple, cinnamon, and salt, and saute until apple is barely tender, 4-5 minutes. Add apple cider and maple syrup then turn heat up to bring mixture to a boil. Once boiling, turn heat back down to medium then simmer until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Let cool slightly then drizzle over pancakes.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
I freely admit to dunking entire forkfuls of pancakes into the extra syrup. It is mind melting! Hope you enjoy!
This sounds delicious and perfect for this weekend! Thank you!!
high five to YOU, girl, for STILL making these awesome meals with a newborn at home!! this sounds GO good right now…
Umm…this is like a sign. I JUST got my first jar of Apple Butter for the season! THIS is goin’ down!! :D Thanks Kristin!!
Pancakes are my weakness and I still have a ton of apples left over from apple picking that I need to use.
Now I want to try the drink AND the pancakes recipe! Together! Nom!
I don’t know if it’s the combination of ingredients or how beautiful these pictures are, but I want this! All of it!
I just picked up cider and apples last night so perfect timing for this recipe. I know what I’m making for Sunday morning breakfast!
These look cozy and delicious – using apple cider in syrup is genius!
We served the ginger apple bourbon as our signature wedding cocktail! We used apple cider from my family’s orchards and ginger ale that is made and only available for purchase in Virginia. We called it the Apple-achain since we were married in the Blue Ridge Mtns. It was a HUGE hit! Definitely one of our all-time favorite drinks. So yummy!
that cocktail sounds so good, i have to admit i mostly focused on that instead of the pancake recipe! (although that looks fab too).
These look incredible!! Your brother is a genius. Yep, Ima have to make me one, or two…or fifteen.
FYI- it looks like you accidentally hit Y after syrup in the title. ;)
Welp, you read my mind. I like pumpkin things, but I *love* all things apple cider. This would be perfect for a leisurely weekend morning…thanks!
Your favorite drink sounds like a spin on a Montreal Mule!
Oh my, if I hadn’t just stuffed myself with Fruity Pebble Krispie Treats for breakfast, I might just whip these up right now!
Your food photography is amazing. Have you ever posted tips? If not, I’d love to read them. I try hard but I can never get it right!
Wait a second!!??? My Griddler opens all the way like that??? HOW??? P.S. I bought it because of your recommendation. ;)
Yeah! There’a little red lever on the handle on the right side. Just push it down and voila! :)
Thanks IGE! First thing I’m going to do when I get home!
Um, yum!! I am planning on getting a big bag of apples tomorrow to make dried apple rings. I might have to save a couple to make a big pancake breakfast on Sunday too.
Oh my goodness! I need to make these stat. Apple cider is one of my most favorite things, as is pretty much apple anything. Cannot wait to try these…YUM!
These look perfect! I just got home from grocery shopping and have everything needed to make these tomorrow morning, cannot wait! I think the hubs will be very pleased as well
Where are Friday Favorites?! :(
Oh wow, that apple topping looks heavenly! This is like my ideal Fall Saturday breakfast.
These sound absolutely wonderful, can’t wait to try but need more people to share with. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
What if we don’t have apple butter? Is there a good substitute you can suggest?
You can just leave it out. Might need to add an extra splash of apple cider and/or milk though.
I substituted applesauce. Worked great!
Where can I find apple butter in Des Moines? I have an apple butter cupcake recipe I want to try again.
I got mine at Dahls.
I was just up in Portland last weekend and picked up some pumpkin butter. I thought it looked good for pancakes too, but this is off the hook!
Saw these on fb when I woke up and decided to make them. They were AWESOME! I used homemade apple butter. Loved every bite!
So glad to hear! :)
I never thought I’d be a whiskey lover either, but I’m totally with ya. It’s soooo good when paired correctly. Pancakes, however, have always been a favorite of mine and these look like they might make a pretty fantastic breakfast tomorrow!
Oooo these look amazing! I feel like I never get time to actually make a great breakfast but I’ll have to tuck these away for when I do! :)
I know what I’m having for breakfast tomorrow morning!
This recipe is a total swoon! Tried this morning and am definitely planning on making again. Found the batter to be a little thick (I only got 7 pancakes, instead of 9). Also didn’t have cider so just used apple juice (I know, I know). It still tasted AMAZING. Thank you for sharing!
Looks awesome!!!! Can you add the macros to your recipes?
Thanks to this I’m the best mommy ever this morning!
I’m ecstatic that you’ve posted this recipe. I’m saving it for the week of Thanksgiving when I’m with my family. It sounds like the perfect Fall breakfast!
[…] 2. Apple Cider Pancakes with Maple Cider Syrup via Iowa Girl Eats. […]
THE HEIGHT…the sheer LOFT of these stuns!!!…Cannot wait to try these out for the weekend Brunch!!!…You have seriously achieved perfection pancakes (texture/color/uniformity)…I hope I can hope to get near replicating the beauty here!
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Can you make this a waffle?
I’m excited to try these! My family doesn’t care for maple though-do you think I could swap in honey instead? Thanks!
It was probably user error, but My batter was very thick and (on my gas stove) went from golden to burned quite quickly. Will make again, but might add an extra splash of milk and try cooking at a lower temperature.
[…] Apple Cider Pancakes with Maple Cider Syrup from Iowa Girl Eats […]
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