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    Home » Breakfast

    Puffed Pancake with Apples

    Published: Feb 18, 2022 · Modified: Feb 14, 2023 by Jessica Fisher

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    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more details, please see our disclosure policy.
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Looking for the easiest breakfast ever? Bake Apple Compote alongside a Puffed Pancake in the oven for a hands-free, comforting meal.

    This Puffed Pancake with Apples is so incredibly easy to make. It is one those Easy Breakfast Recipes you’ll want to have on repeat. Or for fun, serve bacon or Homemade Spicy Turkey Sausage Patties with pancakes for dinner.

    plate of puffed pancake with apples near a cup of espresso on a flowered saucer, all on a black table. this …

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    Jump to:
    • Why Make This
    • Ingredients
    • Step-by-Step Instructions
    • FAQs & Recipe Costs
    • More Easy Breakfasts
    • Tell us what you think!
    • Puffed Pancake with Apples

    Puffed Pancake is a wonder. It’s basically the world’s largest popover.

    First time I made it, my 9-year old son was extremely skeptical when I poured the batter into the pie plate. He was even moreso when we turned on the oven light to see the batter clinging to the sides of the pan like pie crust.

    What neither of us expected was it to puff so high that it nearly touched the ceiling of the oven!

    Nor did we expect it to be so gosh darn tasty. The kids devoured the first pan and then proceeded to make a second pan. And devour that, too.

    Puffed Pancake is where it’s at for pleasing kids (and adults!) with a fun and tasty breakfast.

    Why Make This

    It’s delicious! Topped with spiced apple compote, Puffed Pancake tastes very much like an apple pie kind of breakfast. But even without the apple topping, it’s an incredibly delicious, rich and buttery pancake concoction you will want on repeat.

    It’s an easy, hands-free breakfast. The batter, much like a popover batter, mixes up quickly. Get the apples going in the oven and then slide in the pancake. Go about your business and return in 20 minutes for a fantabulous meal.

    It’s super cheap! Puffed Pancake with Apples is a pretty hearty breakfast, but at less than a dollar per person, it’s also a great bargain.

    Ingredients

    Here’s what you need to make Puffed Pancake with Apples:

    ingredients for puffed pancake with apples laid out on a black table top.

    butter – You’ll need butter for baking the Puffed Pancake as well as the Apple Compote. Testers debate how buttery they like the puffed pancake, so after you’ve made it the first time, you can adjust how much you use to your preferences. Remember you can freeze butter if you find a good sale.

    eggs – Eggs combined with the milk are what give this oven pancake its lift. You cannot omit the eggs in this recipe. Out of eggs? Try our Eggless Pancakes.

    milk – Milk is necessary for this Puffed Pancake to puff, but you can use dairy milk or a plant-based milk if you need to go dairy-free.

    flour – Unbleached, all-purpose flour is great for this recipe, but you can also use whole wheat pastry flour for a more whole grain option.

    sugar – I typically use white sugar for the pancake and brown sugar for the apples, but you can use one or the other in both meal components.

    apples – While you can certainly omit the apples, they really take this breakfast to another level. Use a good baking apple, such as Granny Smith or Braeburn.

    spices – Cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves really bring great flavor to the baked apples.

    lemon juice – The lemon juice adds tang to the apples and keeps them from turning brown.

    Step-by-Step Instructions

    Here’s how easy it is to make Puffed Pancake with Apples:

    apples and spices piled in mixing bowl.
    gray spatula submerged in mixing bowl of spiced apples.
    apple mixture in a brown pie plate dotted with small cubes of butter.
    silver spoon submerged in the baked apple compote in the pie plate.
    • Preheat the oven to 425 ° and get the apples started first.
    • In a medium bowl combine the apples, lemon juice, sugar, and spices. Stir well to combine.
    • Transfer the mixture to a pie plate or small baking dish. Dot with butter.
    • Bake for 25 minutes or until the apples are soft and the juices bubble.

    Once you’ve got the apples started, proceed to prep the Puffed Pancake and add it to the oven alongside the apple compote.

    melted butter in pie plate.
    pancake ingredients in mixing bowl.
    batter poured into pie plate with butter rising to the surface.
    batter prepped in bowl.
    puffed pancake in pie plate.
    • Place the 3 tablespoons butter in a 9-inch metal pie plate and place it in the oven for the butter to melt. Watch so that the butter does not brown.
    • Meanwhile, mix up the eggs, milk, flour, sugar, and salt until well-blended.
    • Pour this into the hot pan and bake for 20 minutes alongside the apple compote until the pancake is puffed and lightly browned.
    • Cut the pancake into wedges and serve the apple compote with the pancake.

    FAQs & Recipe Costs

    What is the difference between a Dutch baby, German pancake, and a puffed pancake?

    Their names are the only real difference. All are different names for a crepe-like batter baked in a pan until puffed and golden. Popovers are single-serve versions of the same.

    What about Yorkshire pudding? How is that different?

    Yorkshire pudding is very similar batter, but savory, baked in individual servings with beef drippings rather than in a pan with butter.

    What makes an oven pancake puff up?

    There is no chemical leavening added to the batter. It is the milk and eggs in the batter, when baked at a high heat that cause the pancake to puff.

    Recipe Costs

    Knowing how much it costs you to prepare a recipe can help you decide if it’s the type of recipe to make regularly or one you might want to save for special occasions. Let’s crunch some numbers and see how this recipe pencils out.

    • butter – $0.50
    • eggs – $0.60
    • milk – $0.09
    • flour – $0.08
    • sugar – $0.15
    • apples – $1.50
    • spices – $0.10
    • lemon juice – $0.10

    While your costs may vary depending on where and how you shop, you can expect to pay about $3.12 for a Puffed Pancake with Apples, about $0.78/serving.

    Since the Apple Compote on its own costs $2.02, the Puffed Pancake costs just $1.10 – what a bargain!

    overhead shot of wedge of puffed pancake on white plate with apple compote, an espresso is nearby on a flowered saucer.

    More Easy Breakfasts

    • flatly of ham and cheese croissants on a white platter with dipping sauce.
      Ham and Cheese Croissants (Starbucks Foldovers Copycat)
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      Easy Cottage Cheese Quiche Recipe
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      Easy BLT Egg Sandwich Recipe (Meal Prep Lunch)
    • close up of rolled oats in a white bowl on a white counter.
      What to Make with Oats: Breakfast Recipes & More
    white spoon and fork on a teal plate logo.

    Tell us what you think!

    We love to hear your experiences with Good Cheap Eats. Click the STARS on the recipe card or leave a STARRED comment to let us know what you think of the recipe.

    wedge of puffed pancake on plate topped with apples, a fork is nearby.

    Puffed Pancake with Apples

    This Puffed Pancake bakes in the oven for the easiest breakfast ever. Bake apple compote in a dish alongside for the ultimate comfort breakfast.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Breakfast
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Vegetarian
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 407kcal
    Author: Jessica Fisher
    Cost: $3.12

    Equipment

    • pie pan

    Ingredients

    For apples:

    • 1.5 pounds apples peeled, cored, and chopped
    • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
    • 3 tablespoon brown sugar
    • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
    • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
    • ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
    • 2 tbs butter cut into cubes

    For pancake:

    • 3 tablespoon butter
    • 3 egg beaten
    • ½ cup milk
    • ½ cup unbleached, all-purpose flour
    • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    US Customary – Metric

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 425°.

    Prep the apple compote

    • In a medium bowl, combine the apples, lemon juice, sugar, and spices. Stir well to combine.
      1.5 pounds apples, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 3 tablespoon brown sugar, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon ground ginger, ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg, ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
    • Transfer the mixture to a pie plate or small baking dish. Dot with butter.
      2 tbs butter
    • Bake for 25 minutes or until the apples are soft and the juices bubble.

    Prep the puffed pancake

    • Place the 3 tablespoons butter in a 9-inch metal pie plate and place it in the oven for the butter to melt. Watch so that the butter does not brown.
      3 tablespoon butter
    • Meanwhile, mix up the eggs, milk, flour, sugar, and salt until well-blended.
      3 egg, ½ cup milk, ½ cup unbleached, all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, ¼ teaspoon salt
    • Pour this into the hot pan and bake for 20 minutes alongside the apple compote until the pancake is puffed and lightly browned.
    • Cut the pancake into wedges and serve the apple compote with the pancake.

    Notes

    Nutritional values are approximate and are based on ¼ of the recipe. Refrigerate leftovers promptly and use within 4 days.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 407kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 179mg | Sodium: 383mg | Potassium: 249mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 25g | Vitamin A: 918IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 72mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Tell us what you think! Your reviews help us develop better recipes and give newcomers the confidence to try your favorites. Scroll down to leave a starred comment.

    This post was originally published on December 19, 2013. It has been updated for content and clarity.

    « Baked Apple Compote Recipe
    Cilantro Lime Dressing »
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Barbara

      April 24, 2021 at 4:24 pm

      5 stars
      Thank you for another great recipe! I make this for some of the grandchildren and they were happy! Grandma still likes to try new things too! I’ve been reading your blog for years and I miss southern California. Keep talking about it from time to time as it is music to my ears… 🙂

      Reply
    2. Lee

      October 10, 2014 at 5:30 am

      Somehow, my pie plate has disappeared….do you think I could do the same thing in an iron skillet??

      Reply
    3. Laura

      January 07, 2014 at 6:21 am

      Here in the UK it’s a giant yorkshire pudding (without the sugar). They are often served with mash and sausages inside them. In the olden days people would eat them with gravy before their Sunday dinner to fill up when they didn’t have much meat.

      Reply
      • Jessica Fisher

        January 07, 2014 at 11:04 am

        Sounds yummy! If we order that in a restaurant when we visit the UK, will it be good? Or is that the type of fare that varies greatly depending on where you go?

        Reply
    4. Kjane

      December 20, 2013 at 4:32 pm

      Fond memories. Those are called Grandma Dottie pancakes at our house as it was one of the favorite things our grandma made fifty years ago. I want to try your recipe-much less butter than mine.

      Reply
    5. Mary G

      December 20, 2013 at 8:57 am

      Thank you for sharing this! The orchard/farm stand in my small town (I’m in CT) closes for the season after this weekend, so I’m planning to get a last batch of apples. This will provide yet another great way to enjoy local apples. 🙂

      Reply
    6. Crystal

      December 20, 2013 at 8:27 am

      Mmm! I love Oven pancakes, and the fried cinnamon apples is a great idea I never would have thought of! We call those German Pancakes, though my nephews call them Star Wars pancakes because of the way they puff up!

      Reply
    7. TwoDiffSocks

      December 20, 2013 at 6:11 am

      Hi Ya’ll,

      quick question–does the pie pan need to be glass or will metal work?

      Thanks

      Reply
      • Jessica Fisher

        December 20, 2013 at 6:41 am

        I don’t think it should matter.

        Reply
    8. Veronica

      December 20, 2013 at 5:15 am

      That’s cute. They’re called “Dutch Babies”, and they are delicious, aren’t they?

      Reply

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    jessica from good cheap eats

    Hi, I'm Jessica! I'm a 4x cookbook author and 6x mom. I know what it is to be in a hurry and on a budget. I believe anyone can prepare delicious meals -- no matter what's on their plate. I've been featured on Good Morning America, PBS News Hour, and NBC.

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