Apple Pancake Rings

A staple fruit in our home is apples since one of the only fruits my husband willingly eats is good ol’ red delicious apples. So I have been experimenting with apples in order to get him to eat more of the fruits he needs. Through my tests, I found pairing apples with pancake batter was a tasty combination. By dipping apple rings into homemade crêpe batter and frying them I was able to make this quick and easy breakfast food featuring apples.

Any apple variety can be used in this recipe but some fare better than others. Since the apple is being fried, you want to pick something with a harder flesh like granny smith and red delicious. While the pictures show red delicious apple pancake rings, I have made a great rendition of the recipe with farmer’s market crispin apples. The ability to use all kinds of apples allows for lots of experimentation.

Use the recipe I have provided as a guide. Change the measurements of the basic batter to suit your tastes. The easiest and most flavourful change you can make is adding more or less of the vanilla and cinnamon. Or switch to other flavours altogether like all spice or a bit of lemon. Personally, I add either a lot of vanilla OR a lot of cinnamon. My husband and I like the strong flavours and want that flavour to carry through to the finished product.

I am very glad this experiment worked out. In our home, breakfast seems to be a rotation of bacon and eggs, hashes, pancakes, and cereal, so a fruit filled addition helps lighten our morning meal. This recipe does not stop there though, there are many alterations that can be made which extend the utility of the apple pancake rings. See below the recipe for my suggested alterations.

Recipe: Apple Pancake Rings

4-6 apples (any variety)
1 ½ cups of flour
1 tbsp of sugar
½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
2 cups milk
2 tbsp butter, melted
½ tsp vanilla extract (optional)
¼ tsp cinnamon (optional)
1 egg (large)
½ cup oil for frying

1. In a large bowl combine the dry ingredients (flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon). Stir in the milk, melted butter, eggs and vanilla. Beat with a whisk until smooth.
2. Slice the apples into approximately ¼ inch thick slices and cut out the center core of each slice. You could also core the apple first but seeing as I do not own a corer it is easier to cut it out after the slices are made. Depending on the variety of apple you choose, you may need to pat dry the apple slices with a paper towel. If the apple is too wet from its juices the batter will not stick.
3. Heat a frying pan with the oil on medium-high heat. Dip the apple slices into the batter being sure to coat both sides. Let any excess batter come off the apple as if there is too much the batter will fall off after cooking. Once battered, added several rings to the pan so they lay flat. Turn often to ensure the batter browns equally.
4. Once the apple slices are golden brown and slightly crispy (or whatever texture you prefer), move them to a plate lined with paper towel so the excess oil can drip off. Serve warm and enjoy!

Alterations and Notes:

You can toss the still warm apple pancake rings in a cinnamon sugar mixture for a sweeter treat. Just mix 3 tablespoons of sugar for every one teaspoon of cinnamon. I always have some of this cinnamon sugar mix in the cupboard since it is great for adding to fresh or cooked fruits when they need an extra kick!

Add these pancake rings to vanilla ice cream for an apple pie alternative. With or without the cinnamon sugar.

The rings could also be dipped in dessert toppings such as chocolate or caramel sauces. You will need to make sure the crust is extra crispy at this point though.

Be sure to keep the heat at a high frying temperature. If there is insufficient heat the batter may not cover the sides of the apples, even in my photos you can see gaps because I had too low a temperature. Just be sure not to overheat your oil!

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Have you experimented with this recipe? Have an alteration to suggest?
Comment below with your alteration and I will try as many suggestions as possible and add my favorites to this list!