An apple a day really may keep the doctor away, as it contains nutrients such as flavonoids, which are compounds that may help reduce the risk of inflammation, heart disease and other illnesses. You can improve the nutritional content of a pancake breakfast with apple toppings instead of sugary or fatty options like maple syrup, powdered sugar or gobs of butter. Round out your healthy breakfast by using whole-grain flour for your pancakes and pairing the meal with fruit or vegetable juice.
Applesauce
Instead of using sugary syrups or processed toppings, spoon warm or cool applesauce over your pancakes for a healthier alternative. If you buy ready-made applesauce, look for varieties without added sugar. Should you desire a sweeter sauce, you can add healthy sweeteners, such as agave syrup, sparingly. If you make your own applesauce, leave the skins on the apples for extra fiber. Use organic apples so that you can take advantage of the vitamins in the skin, while minimizing your exposure to pesticides.
Stewed Apples
For an apple topping that's evocative of apple pie, chop apples roughly and heat them as if you were preparing applesauce. However, don't let the apples cook as long as you would for a smooth applesauce and do not mash or blend the larger apple pieces -- 15 minutes should suffice to bring out the apple flavor and leave the chunks tender but slightly firm.
Complementary Ingredients
Complement the apple flavor by including other fruits or even vegetables in your topping. Butternut squash adds a slightly savory twist to stewed apples. The firmer flesh of the squash will require a slightly longer cooking time; add the apples in after the squash has cooked for about 8 minutes and has started to caramelize. Raisins are another classic pairing with warm apple. You can add them near the end of the cooking process. For a more flavorful spin, steep the raisins in rum before adding them to the mixture. Allow them to cook for several minutes to remove any alcohol. For more exotic variations, add other dried fruits, such as dried sour cherries, cranberries or chopped up figs or dates.
Spices and Seasonings
Cinnamon is the most traditional spice for sweet apple dishes. For a slightly savory kick, add a small amount of black pepper. If you'd prefer to stick with dessert-style pancakes, use molasses or brown sugar to bring out the apple's sweetness. Other traditional pairings include nutmeg, cloves or allspice, all used in autumnal dessert dishes. Vanilla also goes well with fruit desserts. For a more decadent take on pancakes, add a small amount of vanilla sugar to low-fat whipped topping.
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