This German Apple Pancake recipe makes a delicious breakfast on a fall morning. This easy recipe is also very versatile. It can be gluten free and dairy free, depending on the ingredients you use. And I love that it’s baked in a cast iron skillet. Enjoy this healthy German apple pancake recipe anytime!

I crave this delicious apple pancake. It’s a perfect fall treat, and it’s made of healthy ingredients, so you don’t have to feel bad about eating it. It makes a wonderful breakfast or snack, especially when accompanied by a glass of cold raw milk.

You can also turn it into a lightly-sweetened dessert by serving with whipped cream or ice cream. It’s very versatile!

One day recently, I got out a cast iron skillet and started making this recipe. The house filled with the heavenly aroma of apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. It drew the whole family to the kitchen!

We had an abundance of apples from a recent trip to the apple orchard. It was a great way to use them up and also make my family happy.

We all ate a thick wedge of apple pancake right before heading out to take a hike in the woods. So good!

I love this pancake with maple syrup, but you can also sprinkle confectioner’s sugar on the top.

How to Make a German Apple Pancake from Scratch

Another thing to love about this recipe is how simple it is. Fry the apples, mix up the batter, and pour it over the apples.

Then pop the whole thing into the oven to bake. It’s that easy!

You could also try leaving the skins on if you have organic apples. I usually end up peeling mine, but you could save a step (and save more of the apple) by leaving the skins on.

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I usually use a 10 inch cast iron skillet (like this one) for this recipe, although you could try a slightly smaller size, and your apple pancake might puff up more.

This is a classic recipe that is also known as a Dutch Baby Apple pancake. As it cooks, the pancake will usually rise a bit and then fall.

Tools for This Recipe

Ingredients for This Recipe

3-4 medium apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
1/4 cup coconut sugar or maple syrup
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
2 tbsp butter or coconut oil
5 eggs
1/2 cup milk or almond milk
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup spelt flour or almond flour

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Peel, core, and slice apples and set aside.
In a small bowl, mix together the coconut sugar and the spices. (If you’re using maple syrup, skip this step and add the maple syrup and spices to the skillet in the next step.)
Melt the butter in a large cast iron skillet. Once the butter is melting, add the apples and sprinkle with coconut sugar, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg mixture. Stir and cook gently.
While the apples are cooking, whisk together the eggs, milk, salt, vanilla, and flour in a medium bowl.
Once the apples are beginning to soften, remove them from the heat and allow the pan to cool down slightly. Pour the batter over the apples.
Put the skillet in the preheated oven and bake for 20-30 minutes, until the pancake is puffed and golden.
Serve with maple syrup or powdered sugar.