Name: Oatmeal Applesauce Pancakes
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 1 cup unsweetened applesauce; 1/2 cup Greek yogurt; 1/3 cup milk, plus more as needed; 1 egg; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 tablespoon maple syrup; 2 cups rolled oats; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg; 1/2 teaspoon salt; Butter, for cooking

Made with rolled oats, applesauce, and cinnamon, these fluffy applesauce pancakes are full of fiber and flavors. Serve them with a drizzle of maple syrup and diced apple for a hearty and healthy fall-inspired breakfast.

Stack of oatmeal applesauce pancakes on a white plate with sautéed apples, pecans, and maple syrup on top with a whole apple and jar of milk in the background.

Whether you’ve got a jar of leftover applesauce in the fridge and you’re not sure what to do with it or you’re looking for a kid-friendly breakfast idea, this oatmeal applesauce pancake recipe is for you!

The combination of rolled oats, applesauce, yogurt, and warming spices ensures that these pancakes are moist, fluffy, and filled with fall flavors. Plus, they are made with minimal ingredients and prepared in a blender to ensure that prep time and clean-up are a breeze.

And the best part is, that they freeze very well so you can make a double or triple batch, freeze them, and enjoy quick and easy family-friendly breakfasts for days and weeks to come.

Close up of cinnamon applesauce pancakes on a white plate on a white background with maple syrup, pecans, and apples on top.

Why You’ll Love Them

Quick and Easy – Made in a blender and ready in under 30 minutes, these pancakes are perfect for a quick, easy, and healthy breakfast.
Full of Fiber – The combination of rolled oats and applesauce ensures that these fluffy pancakes contain 6 grams of fiber per serving.
Kid Friendly – The combination of applesauce, yogurt, and common ensures these pancakes are filled with flavors and textures the whole family can enjoy.
Great for Meal Prep – These cinnamon applesauce pancakes keep well in the fridge and freezer, making them a great make-ahead breakfast idea.

Ingredients for the best applesauce pancakes; rolled oats, applesauce, Greek yogurt, milk, egg, vanilla extract, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon ,and nutmeg.

Ingredients + Substitutions

Rolled Oats – To add fiber and create pancake batter. The recipe calls for rolled oats, however, you can use quick oats or oat flour if needed, steel-cut oats and instant oats are not recommended. If you don’t have oats, you can use whole wheat flour instead.
Applesauce – To add fiber, and some apple flavor, and ensure the pancakes are moist and fluffy. The recipe calls for unsweetened store-bought applesauce to keep the added sugar to a minimum, however, you can use homemade applesauce or sweetened applesauce if preferred.
Greek Yogurt – To add some protein. The recipe calls for unflavored or vanilla Greek yogurt or regular yogurt.
Milk – To thin the batter and add some more protein.
Egg – To add some more protein and bind the pancakes.
Spices – A combination of ground cinnamon and nutmeg to add some warming spices and flavor to the applesauce pancakes.
Maple Syrup – To add a hint of natural sweetness and flavor to the pancakes. I recommend pure maple syrup, however, brown sugar will also work.
Vanilla Extract – To add flavor and fragrance.
Leavening Agents – A combination of baking powder, baking soda, and salt to ensure to pancakes are light and fluffy.

Blender filled with wet ingredients and dry ingredients.

Dietary Adaptions

To Make them Gluten-Free: Use certified gluten-free rolled oats or swap the oats for almond flour.

To Make them Dairy-Free: Swap the Greek yogurt for coconut yogurt, the milk for coconut milk, and use coconut oil instead of butter to cook the pancakes.

To Make them Vegan: You can make these vegan applesauce pancakes but swapping the egg for a “flax egg”, the Greek yogurt for coconut yogurt, and cooking the pancakes in coconut oil instead of butter.

Griddle with cooked golden brown pancakes.

Red’s Nutrition Tip

While these cinnamon applesauce pancakes contain 11 grams of sugar per serving, the vast majority of the sugar is naturally occurring from the applesauce, Greek yogurt, and milk. When it comes to sugar, it’s important to understand there is a big difference between natural sugar and added sugar, as natural sugars typically contain fiber, vitamins, and minerals, which add essential nutrients and help to blunt spikes in blood sugar.

Plate with three cinnamon applesauce pancakes with diced apples on top on a white plate with a gold fork with a side of maple syrup, a side of Greek yogurt, and sautéed apples.

Serving Suggestions

These applesauce pancakes are a good source of complex carbohydrates, fat, and fiber. To create a balanced meal, I recommend serving them with an additional source of protein or adapting them to suit your macro or calorie needs. For example:

To add more protein, serve the applesauce pancakes with Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, pork or turkey bacon, and pork or chicken sausage.
To add more fiber, serve the pancakes with diced apples or fresh berries on top.
To add more healthy fats, serve the pancakes with a drizzle of nut butter on top.

Stack of cinnamon oatmeal applesauce pancakes with maple syrup drizzling on top and running down the pancakes.

Storage + Reheating

To Refrigerate: Once cooled, transfer the applesauce pancakes to a plate, allow them to cool completely, then place them in an airtight container and store them in the fridge for up to 7 days.

To Freeze: Layer cooled pancakes between sheets of waxed paper, this will help to prevent them from sticking once frozen, then transfer them to an airtight container or bag in the freezer for up to 3 months.

To Reheat: The pancakes can be reheated on a baking sheet in the oven at 350°F for 3-5 minutes or in the microwave for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Frozen applesauce pancakes can be reheated in an oven at 350°F for 5-10 minutes, or in the microwave for 2-3 minutes.

Stack of fluffy applesauce pancakes on a white with apples a wedge missing and apples and pecans on top.

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