Go-To Applesauce Pancakes

This applesauce pancakes recipe comes out moist and cozy-spiced! Using fruit puree makes for the perfect fluffy flapjacks.

“These are the best pancakes you’ve made.” That was Alex’s feedback on this Cozy Applesauce Pancakes recipe, to my pleasant surprise! I’m the pancakes recipe writer around here: from vegan pancakes to Greek yogurt pancakes to lemon blueberry pancakes. This time, it was a jar of applesauce that inspired me. What to do with leftover applesauce? Make pancakes, of course! This fruit puree makes the ideal soft and moist texture for flapjacks. They’re perfect for a cozy breakfast…and easy enough for anyone (especially kids!).

Ingredients in applesauce pancakes

These applesauce pancakes were inspired by a jar of applesauce in our fridge we bought to make these iced applesauce cookies. (Side note: they’re a total must try!) The pancake version of these cookies has a similar set of ingredients: the normal cast of characters you’d expect for applesauce pancakes.

Applesauce: store-bought or homemade!
All-purpose flour
Cinnamon & allspice (optional)
Baking powder
Light brown sugar (or granulated sugar)
Kosher salt
Egg
Neutral oil: like grapeseed oil, organic canola oil, or organic vegetable oil
Milk of choice

Tip: You can make homemade applesauce on the stovetop or in an Instant Pot!

Can I use applesauce as an oil substitute? Or an egg substitute?

Applesauce is often used as an oil substitute in quick breads, pancakes, and cookies. Why? It can replace the moisture without the fat, yielding lower calorie and super moist baked goods. It’s also often used as an egg substitute for vegan baked goods and pancakes.

This applesauce pancakes recipe we designed as a normal pancakes recipe that also includes applesauce to add moisture and flavor. But want to use it as a substitute? Here’s what to do:

Substitute 1 tablespoon applesauce for the 1 tablespoon oil. Keep in mind this affects the texture: the pancakes will be less smooth and a little more cakey.
Substitute 1/4 cup applesauce for the 1 egg, with these caveats. Again, this affects the texture: the pancake will be more delicate and fragile. Keep this in mind when flipping them! In all honesty, we prefer our Eggless Pancakes if you don’t want egg, or using a flax egg to act as a binder.

How to cook applesauce pancakes…perfectly!

Cooking pancakes sounds like an easy task: anyone can do that! But honestly: it’s a place where many home cooks mess up. Cook them at too high heat, and applesauce pancakes will burn on the outside and be gooey on the inside. Here are a few tips for cooking these pancakes to perfection:

Low and slow is key! Set the heat on low, or only as high as medium low. Cook them slowly, and they’ll come out perfectly cooked on the inside and golden brown on the outside. Don’t worry if it feels like it’s taking a long time: the extra minute or two is worth it!
When to flip? When bubbles form and pop. Wait until bubbles form on the surface and start to pop. Trust us: this trick works every time!

Holiday variation: snowman pancakes!

Here’s a cute holiday variation you can make with these applesauce pancakes: turn them into snowman pancakes! We made these with our son Larson and he loved decorating them. Here’s how to make them:

Make 3 small pancakes for the snowman’s body.
Place powdered sugar in a fine mesh strainer and gently tap it to make snow.
Use raisins or blueberries for eyes and buttons, a carrot for the nose, and apple slices or pretzels for arms.

Toppings for applesauce pancakes

Once you’ve cooked those beautifully golden pancakes: it’s time to top them! For us, we love simple toppings best. A drizzle of maple is all they need! But we’ve got lots of fancy ideas. Here are a few of our best toppings for these applesauce pancakes:

Powdered sugar: just a dusting
Nut butter: like peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter, or pecan butter
Jam: like Strawberry Jam or Tart Cherry Jam
Syrup: like Raspberry Syrup
Compote or sauce: like Strawberry Sauce, Blueberry Sauce, Blueberry Compote or Raspberry Compote

More recipes with applesauce

Want to make more with this popular fruit puree? There are so many great recipes to use up a jar! Here are our favorite recipes with applesauce:

Make a tasty batch of Iced Applesauce Cookies
Go cozy and healthy with Favorite Applesauce Muffins
Bake up our fan favorite Easy Applesauce Cake

This applesauce pancakes recipe is…

Vegetarian. For vegan, plant-based, and dairy-free, use the substitutes listed in the recipe below. For gluten free, go to Apple Cinnamon Pancakes.