Apple Oatmeal Pancakes & News!!!
Fluffy apple pancakes that you can make in your blender! These healthy apple cinnamon pancakes are gluten free, too (no flour required, just oats!).
Updated by Kathryne Taylor on August 30, 2024
I have never enjoyed keeping secrets, even the good kind. I just might burst from anticipation so here it goes: I’m making a cookbook! It has been in the works for ages, and by ages I mean years, which is a long time in the blog world.
My cookbook is called Love Real Food, as in Cookie and Kate Love Real Food. It’s a title that makes a statement, one that I hope will appeal to you, my most wonderful readers, and a broader audience that hasn’t yet stumbled on this blog or this way of cooking. It’s a statement that conveys my bursting-at-the-seams enthusiasm for real, wholesome food, the kind that both delights the senses and nourishes the body. I hope you like it!
Love Real Food will be an extension of what you have come to expect on this blog, plus some fun special features. It will include 100 recipes that are all vegetarian, fresh and full of flavor. I’m being very careful to use accessible ingredients and have been testing the recipes over and over again to make sure they’re perfect.
I’ve finalized about a quarter of the recipes so far and I CAN’T WAIT to share them with you all. The blueberry muffins alone! They took me nine tries to get just right but they were worth it. The book won’t be complete without a few favorite recipes from the blog (even those will be reworked and tweaked), but the vast majority will be brand new. My stomach is so full right now, you guys.
I’m busy in the best of ways, stretched to maximum capacity with both the blog and the book. Maintaining my presence here and my recipe quality is very important to me, so I’m just moving a little slower than usual. Please keep visiting and letting me know how the recipes turn out for you and sharing my blog with your friends and family! I can’t tell you how much that means to me.
In all sincerity, this blog would never have turned into a recipe website or now, a cookbook, if it weren’t for your presence and your kind words. I took an awfully long time to gather the courage to write this cookbook proposal (my second proposal, long story). Every time you asked me when I was going to publish a cookbook, you gave me a welcome push in the right direction. Thank you. I can’t wait to show you what I’ve been working on!
The book will be coming to you in spring 2017, which might seem like a long time from now. It’ll be here before we know it! I’ve grown accustomed to doing everything myself on this blog, so learning to lean on others in order to make a book has been an adjustment. Big thank you to my awesome agent, Steve Troha, for believing in me and helping me land a deal with Rodale. Rodale has been promoting healthy lifestyles since 1942 (they’re the publisher behind Yummy Supper, Thug Kitchen and The Year of Cozy), and they seem like the perfect fit.
My editor, Dervla Kelly, has been reading this blog for four years, which is pretty special. I’m really excited to be working with her. We’re going to make sure Love Real Food is beautifully designed and full of big, colorful photographs of the recipes (and of Cookie, of course).
I’m so glad the secret’s out now so I can start sharing the creation of Love Real Food with you. Be sure to follow us on Instagram (I’ll be using #loverealfoodbook) and Snapchat (we’re @cookieandkate) for updates! I’ll be putting out a call for recipe testers, too, if you’d like to get involved!
Oh and these pancakes! I thought we could celebrate with pancakes. They’re light, fluffy and infused with apple flavor times two (applesauce and grated apple). They’re also 100 percent whole grain, gluten free and, I kid you not, you can make them in your blender. Just throw everything but the grated apple in there and you’ll have pancakes in no time flat!
Apple Oatmeal Pancakes
Fluffy apple pancakes that you can make in your blender! These healthy pancakes are gluten free, too (no flour required, just oats!). Recipe yields 6 medium pancakes about 4 inches in diameter.
FAIR WARNING: For reasons that I have not been able to deduce, these pancakes haven’t turned out well for everyone like they did for me (I’ve made them six times and they always turned out well!). Oat flour is always a little finicky but I don’t know why these pancakes have been particularly problematic. These pancakes are the reason why my cookbook’s pancakes aren’t oat flour based.
Ingredients
- 1 cup apple sauce
- 1 cup old-fashioned oats (gluten free if necessary)
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil or butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup or honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup grated tart apple (1 large honeycrisp apple was more than plenty for me)
Instructions
- Place all the ingredients except for the grated apple in your blender. Blend until the batter is completely smooth (as in, you shouldn’t see any remaining bits of oats or hear oats hitting the blades), pausing to scrape down the sides as necessary. Stir in the grated apple but do NOT blend again.
- Heat a heavy cast iron skillet/non-stick pan over medium-low heat, or heat an electric griddle to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly oil the surface of your pan with coconut oil, butter or cooking spray. If you’re using a non-stick electric griddle like mine, you might not need any oil at all.
- Once the surface of the pan is hot enough that a drop of water sizzles on it, pour about ⅓ cup of batter onto the pan. This batter is thick, but your pancakes won’t cook through if they’re thicker than ½-inch, so you might need to help spread the batter out with a spatula. Let the pancake cook for about 3 minutes, until bubbles are popping up and the edges are more matte than shiny. (Be patient, these pancakes need to cook a little lower and slower than most.)
- Once the underside is lightly golden, flip it with a spatula and cook for another 90 seconds or so, until golden brown on both sides. You may need to adjust the heat up or down at this point to avoid burning the outsides before the insides are cooked. Repeat with remaining pancakes.
- Serve the pancakes immediately or keep warm in a 200 degree Fahrenheit oven.
Notes
Recipe adapted from my gluten-free peach pancakes and vegan pancakes, with reference to Kelly’s banana blender pancakes and Deb’s apple pancakes.
Applesauce substitutions: If you can’t find applesauce, use plain yogurt instead (I know this works with regular plain yogurt, but suspect that Greek yogurt will be too thick). For the yogurt version, increase the amount of maple syrup or honey to at least 1 tablespoon. Milk will not work.
Storage suggestions: These will keep well, covered and refrigerated, for several days. I bet they will freeze well, too!
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice. See our full nutrition disclosure here.
Congratulations!!!! I am so happy for you!!! I could not wait to hear you say that you have been working on a cookbook, you are so talented, all of your recipes are amazing and the pictures are always gorgeous! It will be a best seller for sure!!!! Can’t wait and the meantime those pancakes look delicious, I will be making them this week end! Thanks Kate and Hooraaa again!!!!
You are so sweet. Thank you, Cecilia!
Congrats! That is awesome news.
Thanks, Marjorie!
CONGRATULATIONS! I know your book will be filled with delicious and healthy and beautiful food. And speaking of beauties- these pancakes are officially on my to-make list.
Thank you, Allyson! Hope you love these. :)
How exciting! Congratulations! :)
Thanks, Alice!
YES! My sister and I have been wishing for a long time that you would write a cookbook, so I’m super excited that you are! It’s going to be a long wait, but it’ll be worth it! :)
Yay! Thank you, Abbie!!!
Best. News. Ever….. I have been waiting for this announcement for what seems like forever! Your recipes are works of art and truly deserve to be in print form. Congratulations to you and Cookie! My little household cannot wait – most of our suppers come from this darling blog as it is, and time and time again, the dishes are always scraped clean and our bellies are so happy and full of love! Keep us posted with the pre-order! You go girl!
Wow, thank you, Emily! I really appreciate your kind words. I will keep you posted, for sure! :)
This is such wonderful news, Kathryne! I’m thrilled for you and cannot wait to see what kind of good stuff you’re cooking up. Congratulations!!!!! (P.S. Fluffy GF pancakes? Amazing.)
Thank you so much, Elizabeth!!!
Congrats, Kate! I know your book will be amazing! And I love these pancakes.
Congratulations – how exciting! I’d love to be a recipe tester, I’ll definitely be on the look out for that!
Thank you, Renae! Just put you on my recipe tester contact list! :)
AHHH that’s so exciting, Kate! Can’t wait to get a copy of your cookbook – it’s going to be lovely. And these pancakes are a gorgeous fall breakfast.
Thanks, Alexa!!!
How exciting!!!! Congrats on the cookbook!
Thank you, Allyson! :)
congratulations!!!! this is awesome :)
Thank you, Dixya!
YESSSSSSS! And that title is perfect. xoxoxoxox
Thanks, Laura!!! Can’t wait to see your book. Hurry up spring 2017!
Just made these. The flavor is great, but I have to work on the texture. The blender (Cuisinart) wouldn’t turn unless I added a few glugs of milk product. I cooked them low and slow (even put my clean laundry away in the middle of cooking them), but the insides were still a bit too mushy (like applesauce). I did cheat the baking powder as 1 Tablespoon seemed like a lot, so maybe that was part of the problem. The other complaints from the family: recipe doesn’t make enough (says husband as he’s reaching for the cereal), and our dog, Leo, was all lined up to lick the usual “batter bowl”, so he was sorely disappointed that this was made in an unlickable blender jar. He relished the spatula though, without further comment. Best wishes on your cookbook process!
Hi Janet! I’m sorry your pancakes weren’t perfect. They really do need one tablespoon baking powder. I have other recipes that also call for that much (with no ill effects), but it’s especially important here since the blender blends out some of the bubbles. I revised the instructions to suggest stirring the mixture so the apple sauce can get to the blades, so I hope that does the trick next time. Cookie says hi, Leo!
Congratulations!! I can’t wait to read about the cookbook as you can reveal more, and to pick it up when it comes out! Oh and these pancakes look amazing too — the perfect way to start my weekend.
Thank you very much, Lauren!
Congratulations!!! That’s exciting news!!
…can we talk about these pancakes too?? I love light/healthy pancakes…sometimes you just don’t want to start the day with something heavy in your stomach — these sound positively delicious!! Making for my kids tomorrow. xox
Thank you, Rebecca! I hope they turned out great!
Yay! I was hoping this was your news. Your recipes are always yummy and meticulously tested- a rare combination. I’m sure your book will be excellent!
Thank you so much, Grey! :)
Congratulations!! I can’t wait for the book and know it will be beautiful and chock full of wonderful recipes! And these pancakes have my name written alllll over them, can’t wait to give them a try. :)
Thank you, Jordan!
Yay, congrats! I can’t wait to see it (and your adorable photos of cookie of course :)
Thanks, Jeanine!!! Looking forward to hanging out again next month!
Congratulations Kate! I absolutely adore your recipes, I get so many compliments on them when I create them. I truly enjoy your blog and can’t wait to buy your cookbook!
That’s so nice to hear. Thank you, Stephanie!!!
Yay!!!!! Congratulations Kate, this is incredible news! So so so excited about your cookbook, I hope it will ship to India! I love your blog and each recipe on it and I know the book will be just as amazing. Good luck and happy cooking!
Thank you, Gayatri! I appreciate your kind words. I hope we can ship it to India, too!
Congrats Kate, you have earned this with your years of hard work providing consistent, quality recipes!! I’m so happy for you :)
Thank you very much, Emma! :)
Congrats to you! Something solid and lasting; how fitting! I’ve been an editor and writer for years, with a lot of food magazine experience, and it’s abundantly clear to me how great your recipes — and your writing — are. Winning combo. All best!
Woohoo! Thank you, Anna. That means a lot. :)
Grats on the cookbook! I am so excited! I love your recipes and can’t wait to get your cookbook.
Yay! Thank you, Krista!
Congratulations on your cookbook! I’m loving your recipes and photo’s on the other side of Atlantic, these pancakes look amazing :)
Thank you, Michelle!
Congrats Kate!!! You were one of the first blogs I started reading, and I can’t wait to have so many of your delicious recipes in book form!! Ik know taste tasting must be tough but, hey, someone’s gotta do it, right?
Yay, glad to hear that! Thanks, Emilie! I swear, sometimes my taste buds just get tired and nothing tastes good. Life is hard. ;)
Huge congrats! That is truly exciting and such an accomplishment. Love the title too!
Thank you very much, Erin!
Fantastic news about the book! And pancakes look fantastic also :)
Thank you, Medeja!
Yum! These pancakes sound wonderful. And congratulations on doing a cookbook. If I don’t end up getting it for myself, I will get it for my vegetarian sister, who I’m sure would enjoy it. (I’m no longer a vegetarian, but I enjoy having vegetarian meals – as many as I think I can get my husband to eat…)
Thank you, Susan!!! If you enjoy the recipes on the blog, I think/hope you will appreciate the book, too! :)
Yeah, an entire cookbook full of your recipes! Your recipes and fresh summer produce go hand in hand. We plan to put in raised garden beds next summer, so I will definitely be frequenting your site for recipes to use up extra produce.
Awesome!!! Thanks, Kristin!
I have been a quite reader but I love your site and every recipe of your turns out great! Congrats and I can’t wait to get your cookbook!
Thank you, Sarah! Glad to hear that!
Congratulations! That’s awesome news. I’ll be ordering a copy for me and a couple for gifts, I’m sure. And I’d love to test recipes! I’ll be stalking for the opportunity. :)
Woohoo! Thank you, Courtney! I just added your email to my very short list of recipe testers. :)
Eagerly awaiting my first “assignment!” :)
Aaaaaaahhh!!! Best news ever!! Congrats congrats congrats. Also, these pancakes look ah-mazing.
Thank you, Kate!!!
So exciting!! Looking forward to 2017 :)
Thank you, Tova!
Triple Yeah!!! I will wait with great anticipation for your cookbook! So exciting!!!!!
Yeah!!! Thank you! :)
Congratulations! I can’t wait to see the finished book! These pancakes sound heavenly too.
Thank you, Amanda!
Wonderful news! Congratulations! I love your blog and recommend it to people all the time – can’t wait for the cookbook!
Thank you so much for your support, Amanda!
So exciting! Can’t wait to support you and buy one! Yum. :)
Thank you, Paige! :)
congratulations kate! this is my first time posting a comment, but i make your recipes all the time and they’re always 1) simple 2) delicious!
i notice that you have a vegan pancake recipe besides this one, but i do want to make this one as well…how necessary is that egg?
Thank you!!! Good question about the egg. I think these might do well without it, especially since there’s apple sauce in there, but I haven’t tried. Please let me know if you do!
I am so delighted about your cookbook!! Congratulations on the deal! Your blog is one of my absolute favourite reads – I have made so many of your wonderful recipes and they are always, always incredibly delicious and nourishing. Reading your blog is just a joy, you are such a skillful writer and I cannot wait to immerse myself in more of your beautifully written stories and notes in your new cookbook. Thank you for sharing your gift with us, and for being so brave in taking this next step — sending love and blessings your way for the remainder of your book progress xxx
Hannah, thank you! I really appreciate your kind words. Hope you have a wonderful Friday/weekend!
Congratulations! That is very exciting news. I’ve been working with Rodale for almost a year now and they are a top notch organization – you’re in great hands! Can’t wait to hear more about how your cookbook progresses. You blog has such beautiful photos and wonderful recipes that I’m sure your cookbook will be a big hit!
Thank you, Amy! Glad to hear you’re enjoying Rodale. Yay!
Woo hoo! I’m so psyched for you! (And for all of us who get to enjoy your book!)
xoxoxo
E
Thank you, Erin!!! Thank you again for being so generous. Your support means a ton! xo!
Congratulations! I will definitely pre-order, just let us know when.
Thank you, Flor! I will be sure to announce when pre-orders are available. :)
How fantastic! Congratulations on a huge next step. I have always enjoyed your reliable recipes and your very readable tone- excited to see this cookbook!
Thank you so much, Minna!
Yah! I’m so happy to hear about the book – the one thing I don’t do is turn my computer/laptop/ipad/whatever device I have at home, on when I get in from work. So, I’m always trying to read recipes over my iPhone and being ‘of that age’, I don’t see so well anymore so I end up eating a can of beans for dinner:) I’m looking forward to actually reading/seeing a book and making some yummy food. Anything Mexican or spicy please!
Thank you, Bonnie!!! Kudos for shutting down those devices when you’re at home. I have lots of Mexican dishes on the list!
Congratulations Kate (and Cookie!) this is the best news ever!
Thanks, Hannah!!!
Congratulations! I can’t wait for the book. I’m sure it will just be a lovely, beautiful extension of your blog that I’ve read (and loved) for years! Can’t wait to try these pancakes for brunch this weekend :)
Thank you very much, Alyssa! :)
Yes yes yes! This is the best news! Congrats!! My husband and I LOVE all your recipes, and we are beyond excited to add your cookbook to our collection!
Yay, that makes me happy! Thank you, Nikki!
CONGRATULATIONS! I loooooove your cooking style, and I can’t wait to preorder the book as soon as we can! Best of luck with the rest of the process.
Thank you very much, Nicole!
I can’t wait for your cookbook! Your site is one of my absolute favorites. Very exciting news! Mazel tov!!
Thank you, Sarah! :)