Makes: *2 Servings*
Per Serving: *18g Protein | 255Cal*

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When you think about high-protein breakfast options, you probably think of smoothies, egg dishes, yogurt bowls, and the like, but one option that may not come to mind right away is pancakes. Although pancakes and other high-carb breakfast foods often don’t contain a ton of protein, there are ways to amp up the protein content (and other nutrients) in foods like pancakes. The result? A decadent, delicious, and healthy breakfast perfect for lazy weekend brunches or even hurried, busy weekday mornings.

My fluffy protein pancakes get their protein from both protein powder and cottage cheese that’s been blended until smooth and creamy, making it easy to incorporate into the pancake batter—kids and cottage cheese haters won’t even be able to tell it’s there. To make these apple pancakes, each stack of pancakes is then topped off with warm cinnamon apples for a hint of sweetness and all of those cozy fall vibes.

These apple pancakes come together in just 25 minutes, making them easy to whip up on a busy morning, but you could also meal prep a batch to have on hand all week long. Comforting and satisfying, these pancakes are sure to quickly become a breakfast staple. They're the absolute best way to make the most of apple season!

Why You'll Love This Simple Apple Protein Pancakes Recipe

Plenty of Protein: Each serving of these apple pancakes contains 18 grams of protein, which means they’re great at keeping you feeling full for longer and for helping your muscles recover after a workout.
No Refined Sugar: This healthy pancake recipe uses the natural sweetness of apples, plus a little from the cinnamon protein powder, rather than refined white sugar. Whether you need to watch your sugar intake or you’re just trying to cut back, this recipe is a great option for you.
Easy to Make: These apple protein pancakes take 25 minutes to make from start to finish, so they’re great for a relaxing brunch or for a busy workday morning. You can also meal prep them, making them even easier to serve during the week.
Easy to Customize: These pancakes are easy to make your own, simply swap the flavor of protein powder, use a different fruit on top, or switch up the spices you’re using (vanilla protein, cherries, and cardamom would be delicious!).

apple protein pancakes with a bite on a fork

Ingredients

3/4 cup all-purpose flour (you could also use whole wheat flour)
1 scoop cinnamon or vanilla protein powder (I used Devotion Sinful Cinnamon, but any whey protein works)
1/2 cup cottage cheese
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon baking powder
1.5 teaspoons ground cinnamon, divided
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
1/4 to 1/2 apple, diced small
Lakanto syrup (you can also use your preferred low-sugar syrup or pure maple syrup) for serving

Instructions

Preheat the Pancake Pan: Heat a lightly greased griddle or large skillet over medium heat. You can use coconut oil or avocado oil spray to grease the cooking surface.
Mix the Dry Ingredients: Combine the flour, protein powder, baking powder, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and a pinch of salt in a medium bowl. Whisk well.
Blend the Cottage Cheese: Blend the cottage cheese until it’s smooth and creamy using either an immersion blender or regular blender.
Combine the Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl (you can use the large bowl you blended the cottage cheese in if you used an immersion blender), combine the eggs, cottage cheese, and vanilla extract. Whisk well.
Mix the Ingredients Together: Carefully add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir slowly until just combined. Avoid over-mixing to keep the pancake batter from becoming tough—a few lumps are just fine!
Cook the Pancakes: Add the pancake batter to the hot griddle or skillet. Use ¼ cup of batter for each pancake. If you need to, work in batches so as to now crowd the pan. Cook each pancake for about 2-3 minutes (or until bubbles form and the pancake is golden brown), then flip and cook on the other side. Repeat until all of the apple pancakes have been cooked.
Sauté the Diced Apple: When the final batch of pancakes is cooking, add the diced apple to one side of the skillet. Sprinkle ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon on the apples and cook for about 2-3 minutes until the apples warm through and become tender.
Top the Pancakes and Serve: Serve up the pancakes and top them with the warm apple mixture. Drizzle with Lakanto syrup or another low-sugar syrup and enjoy!

apple protein pancakes cooking in a pan with cooked apples

Nutritional Information (Per Serving, without syrup - Makes 2-3 Servings)

Calories: 255
Protein: 18g
Carbs: 43g
Fat: 1g

Swaps and Substitutions

Add Sweetness: If you’re using an unflavored or unsweetened protein powder, you may find that you need a little extra sweetness in your pancake batter. Try using a teaspoon of honey or maple syrup or a bit of your favorite sugar substitute.
Add Mix-Ins: Looking to make these healthy pancakes your own? Try swapping the apples for another fresh fruit like cherries, blueberries, or pears or stir in some chopped pecans or hazelnuts for crunch.
Great for Meal Prep: Pancakes are wonderful for meal prepping. Scale up the recipe and make a big batch all at once, then freeze your pancakes in an airtight container or freezer bag and pull out the portion you want to eat when you’re ready. A quick, high-protein breakfast you can make any day of the week.

FAQs

Definitely. I love the Devotion Sinful Cinnamon for baking and other sweet recipes, but you can use a vanilla-flavored protein powder or even an unflavored version instead if you’d prefer. Because some of the sweetness of the pancakes comes from the protein powder, make sure you’re using a sweetened variety or add a little honey or maple syrup to the batter to make up for it.
To make these apple cinnamon protein pancakes dairy-free, use a non-dairy yogurt like coconut yogurt in place of the cottage cheese (or dairy-free cottage cheese if you can find it!) and be sure to use a vegan protein powder. The consistency will probably be slightly different, but your apple pie protein pancakes will still taste great.
The cottage cheese adds creaminess and additional protein to these apple protein pancakes. Blending the cottage cheese is a great way to make it more palatable, but if you don’t like it—even when blended—try Greek yogurt instead. It’ll still add some protein, but the consistency of the batter might be slightly different than if you had used cottage cheese.
Yes! While this recipe does call for some all-purpose flour, you can easily substitute a gluten-free all-purpose flour or even an alternative like almond flour, oat flour, or buckwheat flour. Like with most things, the gluten-free version of the recipe might have a slightly different texture than the version with gluten, but it’ll still taste great!

Apple protein pancakes are the perfect easy high-protein breakfast for any fall day. Whether you’re meal prepping for the week or hosting a Saturday morning brunch, this apple protein pancakes recipe has you covered. A good source of protein and bursting with the fall flavors you love, they’re healthy, nutritious, and satisfying. Next time pancakes are on your menu, try these apple protein pancakes.