Oatmeal Pancakes with Warm Cinnamon Apple Topping

Good morning!

As I mentioned before, my son is a huge fan of pancakes- and I enjoy making them for him. On the weekends, I usually take my time and make breakfast from scratch because we typically have more time in the morning to relax/cook before our day begins. I enjoy coming up with variations on the regular weekday pancake, experimenting with new toppings and mix-ins to make something special. (Don't worry, we don't always have pancakes- we also enjoy waffles, eggs, and crepes).

This weekend, however, we don't have a lot of leisure time. It is my son's birthday weekend, and my mom is visiting from Florida, so we are in a hurry to have fun and get ready for his birthday party tomorrow!

This morning, I wanted to make something special and different that wouldn't take a lot of time. So, I used my favorite cheat- Bisquick... and put my own little twist on things to make a yummy breakfast full of fall flavors.

Bisquick's "The Ultimate Pancake"

2 cups Original Bisquick mix
2 tsp baking powder
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tsp vanilla
3 tbsp sugar
1 cup milk
2 eggs

**I added: a generous 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg, and about 1/2 cup of quick cooking oats.

Stir all ingredients until blended.
Pour batter using 1/4 cup measure onto hot greased pan/griddle.
Cook until edges are dry. Turn, and cook until golden.

While the pancakes were cooking, I made a quick Cinnamon Apple topping. I peeled and diced one large apple. (I only have Pink Lady apples- my favorite- in the house, so that's what I used. I would recommend using a Gala, McIntosh, or other baking apple). I tossed the diced apple pieces into a small saucepan with a sliver of butter, a sprinkle of cinnamon, a pinch of salt, and 1/3 cup of apple cider. I brought the mixture to a boil, then turned it down and allowed it to simmer while I cooked all of the pancakes. When finished, the apples were tender, lightly spiced, and not too sweet.

To serve, I topped my Oatmeal Pancakes with the Warm Cinnamon Apple Topping, and a little drizzle of maple syrup. (They would be pretty with a little "snow"/powdered sugar sprinkled on top, too....) Yum!

I hope that everyone has a great weekend!

I am in no way affiliated with Bisquick or Betty Crocker, and do not receive any payment or recognition for mentioning their products or recipes.