Pancakes can be made a thousand different ways, but today I am making Apple Brown Sugar Pancakes. I love adding fruit into my pancakes, it gives them that little something extra. Brown sugar and apples are a match made in heaven! Put a little cinnamon on top for that warming element.
This would make a delightful breakfast the day after Christmas. Imagine having warm apple pie for breakfast. The special thing about these pancakes is how the brown sugar caramelizes when they are cooking. You can see the sugar ooze out of the pancake. The sweet smell of the sugar and the apple makes your mouth water.
INGREDIENTS
- 3 medium to large apples, diced (empire or gala)
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup gluten free dairy free pancake mix (King Arthur pancake mix)
- cinnamon (optional)
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup sugar
The King Arthur pancake mix yields a light fluffy pancake. Visit https://www.kingarthurbaking.com to see other products and where they can be purchased.
The Science Behind Batter
Pancakes are considered a batter food because they are more fluid than dough. The reason is they contain two to four times more water than doughs. In the book “On Food and Cooking” by Harold McGee, he explains what happens when we cook batter on page 551. “When we cook batter, the starch granules absorb much of the water, swell, gelate, leak, amylose, stick to each other, and thus turn the fluid into a solid but tender, moist structure.” Basically, the batter starts as a fluid and when cooked becomes a solid tender cake.
Time to Make the Pancakes
It’s time to make some apple brown sugar pancakes. I hope you’re ready because they are a real treat. It’s like having dessert for breakfast! Yum
Before making the pancakes, I cut the apples and put them in a pot with equal parts of sugar and water. Cook them on medium high heat for about 10 minutes to soften them. This will keep them at a low boil.
You can make pancake mix from scratch or use the premade mix. I am usually in a hurry so I am using the boxed mix. Follow the directions on the box, it will require an egg, oil and milk.
Once you get your pancake mix ready fold in 1/3 of the apple mixture and let it stand for at least 10 minutes. This allows the leavening agent to create gas bubbles in the batter and that will make your pancakes tender. You will notice a difference in the look of your batter after it sits.
Heat a griddle or frying pan with a small amount of oil. Once the pan is hot add the apple brown sugar pancake mix. When you see the edges bubble and brown it is time to flip the pancakes. Cook for another 2-3 minutes, take them out of the pan and spoon the remaining apples and syrup over the top. You can sprinkle a little turbinado sugar over the top for some added sweet texture.
I use the apples in the simple syrup in place of maple syrup and the batter has brown sugar incorporated into it also.
Other pancake recipes: Gluten Free Dairy Free Blueberry Lemon Pancakes