I’m not sure why I have never made caramel appleĀ pancakes before. It is absolutely delicious. It reminded me of eating a big caramel apple. Except in pancake form of course. Ever since I found caramel extract at the store, I have been using it all the time. It gives such an awesome caramel flavor, without any of the sugar or calories of caramel sauce.
The caramel flavor wasn’t just in the caramel apple topping.Ā I used the caramel extract in the batter for the pancakes as well.Ā The caramel apples were really easy to make. I just sauteed an apple in coconut oil. Then when it started to get soft, I added the sugar free maple syrup, cinnamon, and a little bit of caramel extract. Mix it around a let it cook a little bit. The syrup will turn into a caramel color and taste almost exactly like caramel. Yum!
I even decided to take the apple flavor a little farther by adding pieces of apple pie Krush protein bar on top. It was the first time I have ever had an apple flavored protein bar, and it surely did not disappoint. There were actually moist chunks of apple inside the bar. It seriously tasted like apple pie.Ā One of my favorite parts about this bar is that it has 18 grams of fiber, 20 grams of protein and only 2 grams of sugar. You really can’t beat that.
I opted to use cinnamon bun protein powder in this recipe. There is just something about cinnamon and apples that just goes so well together that I couldn’t pass up. Vanilla protein would also work great. You can just add a little cinnamon if you are like me and really love cinnamon flavor.
The caramel apples are basically the same thing that I topped my apple pieĀ french toast with a little while ago. I just added caramel extract this time. If I am going to have apples, there isn’t any other way that I would rather eat them.
PrintCaramel Apple Protein Pancakes
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 6 mins
- Total Time: 11 mins
- Yield: 1 serving 1x
Description
Fluffy caramel protein pancakes topped with a healthy warm caramel apple topping. These pancakes are healthy and delicious all in one.
Ingredients
Pancakes
- 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp. (45g) whole wheat flour
- 1 scoop (34g) Musclepharm cinnamon bun combat protein powder
- 1/2 tbsp. stevia or granulated erythritol (optional)
- 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- cinnamon to taste
- 1/4 cup (60g) canned pumpkin*
- 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk (or any other milk)
- 1 large whole egg
- 1/4 tsp. caramel extract
Caramel Apple Topping
- 1/2 medium apple (80g)
- 1/2 tbsp. (7g) coconut oil
- 3 tbsp. sugar free maple syrup (honey, agave, etc.)
- cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp. caramel extract
Instructions
- Preheat pan or griddle to medium/high heat. Mix flour, protein powder, stevia, baking powder and cinnamon in a bowl. Mix pumpkin, egg, almond milk, and vanilla extract in a separate bowl. Add wet ingredients to dry and gently mix until combined.
- Spray griddle with nonstick spray. Spoon batter onto griddle to make 3-4 even sized pancakes about 4 inches in diameter. Cook for 2-3 minutes per side or until golden brown.
- Once pancakes are cooked, leave pan on. Slice apple into 1/2 inch cubes. Add coconut oil to pan and let melt. Add apples and saute for a few minutes. Add maple syrup and cinnamon and continue to cook for another 2-3 minutes or until apples are soft.
- Top pancakes with cinnamon apples, remaining syrup from the pan, and pieces of apple pie Krush protein bar.
Notes
* Pumpkin can be substituted for Greek yogurt, applesauce, or mashed banana. Applesauce would probably be the best if I would have had it on hand.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 pancakes (without toppings)
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 5
- Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 40
- Fiber: 9
- Protein: 38
Andrew says
Can i make it without the canned pumpkin? thanks
Spencer Miller says
Andrew,
Sorry it took me so long to see this. Like it says in the notes, you can sub the pumpkin for an equal amount of greek yogurt, mashed banana or applesauce. I hope this helps! Enjoy!