Using Pancake Mix To Bake a Cozy, Protein-Rich Apple Crumble Is Almost Too Easy

There’s nothing better than a breakfast shortcut—and this one involves using protein-packed pancake mix as a base for a delicious dessert (slash cozy winter breakfast).

Ready to crumble? Ahead, we’re sharing a delicious high-protein caramel apple crumble recipe featuring Kodiak’s Cinnamon Oat Power Cakes Flapjack & Waffle Mix that’s packed with protein and fiber, and most importantly, is dietitian-approved.

High-protein caramel apple crumble recipe

Yields 6-8 servings 

Ingredients4 large Granny Smith apples2 Tbsp cornstarch1 Tsp ground cinnamon1 cup bottled caramel sauce (can use homemade, as well)1 cup Kodiak Cinnamon Oat Power Cakes Flapjack & Waffle Mix4 Tbsp salted butter, cold, cut into cubes1⁄4 cup waterVanilla ice cream, to top

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.2. Peel and core the apples. Slice them into one-half-inch thick wedges.3. Place the sliced apples in a mixing bowl and sprinkle the cornstarch and cinnamon over the top. Toss to coat the apples evenly.4. Place the apples in a nine-inch round or square baking dish. Drizzle the caramel sauce evenly over the apples.5. Place the Kodiak mix in a mixing bowl. Cut the butter into the mix with a fork or pastry cutter until the butter is the size of small peas.6. Mix the water into the mixture with a fork until the mixture becomes clumpy.7. Sprinkle the oatcakes mixture over the top of the apples evenly.8. Cover the dish with tin foil and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, remove the tin foil and continue to bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until the crumble is golden brown and the caramel sauce is bubbling.9. Remove from the oven and serve warm with scoops of vanilla ice cream.

 So… Is this a healthy breakfast? 

Registered dietitians recommend making sure your morning meal includes fiber and protein. “I recommend between 21 to 35 grams of protein at breakfast—and each meal—from both animal and plant sources that are low in saturated fats, and five to 15 grams of fiber from whole food sources,” registered dietitian Amy Shapiro, MS, RD, CDN, previously shared with Well+Good.

One of our all-time favorite ways to boost the nutrition of a simple breakfast spread—or any meal for that matter—is by including nutrient-dense breakfast products in the mix (literally). As Shapiro mentioned, getting sufficient amounts of fiber and protein supersedes just breakfast time; with 30 grams of protein and six grams of fiber being the RD-recommended benchmark per meal. Fortunately, Kodiak’s protein-and fiber-rich flapjack and waffle mix can help with that. In fact, there’s 14 grams of protein, and up to 18 grams of protein if you use milk (and 21 grams if you add milk and eggs), plus four grams of fiber per serving of this product.

According to sports registered dietitian and founder of Eleat Sports Nutrition, Angie Asche, MS, RD, CSSD, there’s more that this breakfast has to offer. “Compared to refined flours [found in other baked good recipes], the whole grains in this mix contain more fiber and also provide essential vitamins and minerals,” Asche says. “These essential vitamins and minerals play several different roles in your body. For example, B vitamins are essential for energy production and metabolism, vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant, and magnesium plays a role in bone health and muscle function, among many other functions,” she explains. Plus, the whole grains in this pancake and waffle mix also helps with stabilizing energy levels.

A sweet snack with an even healthier twist, anyone? This certainly isn’t your ordinary apple crumble recipe: it’s packed with protein and nutrient-dense ingredients to help get you through the day. Who’s ready to dig in?

This vegan graham cracker apple tarte is what *sweet* dreams are made of: