Fall pancakes, but make them easy. These apple butter pancakes are made with oat flour and just 6 ingredients: apple butter, oat flour, one egg, milk, baking powder, and apple pie spice. The apple butter does double duty as the sweetener AND the reason the middles stay soft and tender, so there’s no extra sugar or butter in the batter. One bowl, about 15 minutes, and you’ve got a cozy stack for two.

As a busy mom of two boys, I’m all about breakfasts that taste like a lazy weekend but don’t leave my kitchen looking like a crime scene. These are thick, fluffy-ish, and warm with apple pie spice. Basically fall in pancake form! They’re gluten free if you use certified gluten-free oat flour, and dairy free with your favorite non-dairy milk.

Stack of apple butter pancakes topped with chopped pecans and syrup

A Quick Look At The Recipe

  • Recipe Name: Apple Butter Pancakes with Oat Flour
  • Ready In: 15 minutes
  • Serves: 2 servings
  • Main Ingredients: oat flour, apple butter, egg, milk of choice (*), baking powder, apple pie spice
  • Why You'll Love It: Soft, thick apple butter pancakes made with oat flour and 6 ingredients. The apple butter sweetens the batter, so there is no extra sugar or butter, and they are ready in about 15 minutes.

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Why Apple Butter Works in Pancake Batter

Apple butter goes right into the batter, and it does a lot of the work. It’s thick and concentrated, so 1/2 cup brings the apple flavor, the sweetness, and the moisture all at once. That’s why this recipe doesn’t need any sugar or oil.

Oat flour is the other half. It gives these pancakes a soft, slightly hearty bite and a toasty oat flavor that tastes so good with apple. It has no gluten, so the batter is thicker and the pancakes come out more tender than a classic flour pancake.

Any apple butter works. Store-bought is the easy route. If you have a batch of my Instant Pot apple butter in the fridge, this is a great way to use it up.

Tips Before You Start

  • Start with 1/3 cup of milk, then add more 2 tablespoons at a time until the batter is thick and gooey but still scoopable.
  • Making your own oat flour? Sprouted oats absorb less moisture than old-fashioned oats, so you may need less milk. My 1-ingredient oat flour post explains which oats to use.
  • Keep the heat at medium-low. The natural sugar in apple butter browns fast, and lower heat gives the middle time to cook through.
  • The batter is thick, so it won’t spread much on its own. Use the back of a spoon to shape it into rounds.
  • Grease the pan between batches so the pancakes release easily.
Ingredients for apple butter pancakes: oat flour, apple butter, an egg, milk, baking powder, and apple pie spice

Easy Swaps

Milk: Any milk works. Use a non-dairy milk to make these dairy free.

Apple pie spice: No apple pie spice in the cabinet? Use 2 teaspoons of cinnamon, or cinnamon with a pinch of nutmeg.

Gluten free: Oats are naturally gluten free, but use certified gluten-free oat flour if you need these to be.

How to Make Apple Butter Pancakes

Scroll down to the full recipe card for exact amounts and instructions! ⬇️

Apple butter, an egg, and milk in a glass mixing bowl
Whisk the milk, apple butter, and egg until smooth.
Oat flour, baking powder, and apple pie spice added to the wet ingredients
Add the oat flour, baking powder, and apple pie spice.
Thick apple butter pancake batter in a glass bowl
Stir gently until the batter is thick, smooth, and has no dry spots.
Apple butter pancake batter scooped into a greased cast iron skillet
Scoop the batter into a greased pan over medium-low heat and spread it into rounds.
Golden brown apple butter pancakes in a cast iron skillet
Flip after 2 to 3 minutes and cook until both sides are golden brown.

How I Top Them

Maple syrup and a handful of chopped pecans, like in the photos. An extra spoonful of apple butter on top is great too, and so is a dollop of Greek yogurt.

Feeding a crowd? My apple butter oatmeal bake is the make-ahead version of this cozy breakfast. For a fall brunch, put these next to my apple butter coffee cake. And if you’re already a fan of oat flour pancakes, my blender pumpkin oat pancakes are the next ones to try.

Get the recipe:Apple Butter Pancakes with Oat Flour

Yield: 2 servings
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Soft, thick apple butter pancakes made with oat flour and 6 ingredients. The apple butter sweetens the batter, so there is no extra sugar or butter, and they are ready in about 15 minutes.
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Ingredients

Instructions 

  • In a mixing bowl, add in milk, apple butter, and egg. Whisk together until smooth.
  • Add in oat flour, baking powder, and apple pie spice.
  • Gently combine. If the batter appears to be too thick, add more milk (2 tbsp at a time) *.
  • Scoop the pancake batter into a greased pan and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side over medium to low, or until golden brown.
  • Top with butter, whipped cream, greek yogurt, syrup, or whatever you like best, and enjoy!

Notes

*Start with 1/3 cup of milk and add more if the batter appears to be too thick. Mix in 2 tbsp at a time until a gooey consistency. 
If you make your own flour: sprouted oats don’t absorb moisture as much as old-fashioned oats. So you may need less milk. I explain a bit more about the different oats to use for making your own oat flour in this post.
 

The Nutrition Facts above are specific to the ingredients I chose to use for this recipe, which may vary.

Author: Shuang Shuang Liang
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American