Apple cinnamon pancakes!

One of my favorite comfort foods in the world is a hearty stack of pancakes. This week could really do with one of these, so I decided what better than to share one of my favorite recipes for pancakes? It has been a long couple weeks of apartment hunting, still to no avail! I am getting rather frustrated and some days seem rather bleak...Yet, I have to remind myself that I am on the adventure of a lifetime, experiencing living in a new country and that we will look back on this and think how silly it was that we stressed so much over it...

So onward and upwards!

When I make them, I try to make my pancakes a bit healthier by substituting some ingredients out for others, such as replacing butter with olive oil. I try to see pancakes as a treat, but I also like them to be somewhat good for me all the same. I always top mine with 100% maple syrup, there really is no comparison between high fructose corn syrup and the real, pure stuff.  Maple syrup, of course, is the superior taste and once you have eaten truly delicious home made pancakes topped with real maple syrup, well I promise you won't want to go back to boxed, just add water pancakes topped with high fructose corn syrup.  :)

 

Apple Cinnamon Pancakes

(makes approx. 5-4" pancakes)

1 egg

2 tbsp. olive oil

1 cup vanilla almond milk

2 tbsp. sugar

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 apple, grated on a cheese grater

dash of cinnamon (to taste!)

Preheat a cast iron pan, or whatever your preferred pancake pan is, on medium-low heat.  Beat an egg into a large mixing bowl, with a whisk mix the olive oil, sugar, milk, baking powder and flour into the egg. Take the apple and grate it (skin and all) with a cheese grater. Be careful of the pit of the apple, you don't want to get the seeds in there! Sprinkle with cinnamon and blend together without over mixing it!

 

The fresh apple gives a gentle apple flavor, not overpowering in the slightest, which compliments the sweetness of the syrup. These pancakes were fluffy, nearly melt in your mouth good. 

Grating the apples makes a difference, believe me. Chopping them into little bits isn't the same, as it doesn't spread that apple flavour throughout every last bite. I have also tried using apple sauce, which can double as a replacement for the oil and some of the sugar, but the texture wasn't right either. Grating the apples make the texture a bit heartier and the flavour more pronounced (I.M.O.)  

Now oil your heated pan slightly and scoop the pancake mixture onto the griddle.  Cook until the edges begin to turn solid and small air bubbles start to pop up on the pancake.  Flip the pancakes and cook another minute, check if it is done by poking the bottom of the pancake with the spatula. 

  

Plate up your delicious pancakes, butter them up if you like, top with some maple syrup and voila! A delicious, comfort-food-inspired recipe that is sure to put a smile on your face!