One of my favorite breakfast/brunch spots in San Diego is Richard Walker’s Pancake House. They have a huge menu selection of all things breakfast: omelettes, pancakes, waffles, crepes, you name it. But the one thing they are “world famous” for, is their baked Apple Pancake.
If you ever get the chance to go here, get THIS!!
This thing is served hot out of the oven, it’s super decadent, full of flavor, and hands down, the MOST super delicious pancake I have ever had!! Best breakfast cheat meal, no doubt!
So I knew I had to recreate this all-time favorite guilty pleasure of mine, incorporate my favorite flavors, and transform it into a protein–packed, high fiber, nutrient-filled powerhouse.
I consider it a cross between a baked pancake, like Richard Walker’s, and a cookie pizza, or “pizookie,” like what you would find at a BJ’s Restaurant/Brewhouse…
And I think the end result is nothing short of spectacular!
So without further adieu….
Enter….my Dark Chocolate Raspberry Apple Protein Pizookie!!
This oven-baked protein pancake / cookie pizza / pizookie has all my usual healthy fixins‘…
low carb almond flour for its high fiber content…
whey protein powder for lean, muscle-building power….
nutritious berries and apples for a nice one-two punch of fruit…
Antioxidant-rich dark chocolate chips….
cinnamon for a spicy boost of flavor.…
Chopped pecans for added crunch…
and of course, that melted peanut butter drizzle…
KA-POW!!
Breakfast/dessert heaven!
Just check out that lovely, decadent filling of melted raspberries, baked apples, and dark chocolate chips inside the moist, high protein batter…
Go ahead and tear that thing up guys! You’ve got my seal of approval!! Don’t feel guilty, this thing is mouth-watering, delicious, but it’s still made using healthy, natural ingredients!!
OK, so at first I set out to create a dutch baby for this recipe. A dutch baby is a pancake, using a simple batter, baked in the oven at a super high temperature (450 degrees) in a cast iron skillet. Baking at this high heat, especially in a cast iron, causes the batter to puff up and rise, well above the height of the skillet like so…(click here to see on Wikipedia)
Well, after substituting in healthier ingredients for the batter (almond flour for all purpose flour, olive oil for butter, and zero added sugars) and after numerous attempts, and adjusting oven temperatures, I still could not get this thing to rise like a typical dutch baby.
Maybe it was the almond flour? I don’t know, but feel free to comment below if you have any feedback on that….
So I thought long and hard about how to accurately name this monstrous, oven-baked dish..
It’s not really a pancake, but once you bite into it, its texture is very soft, and almost spongy, similar to a pancake’s. And since there’s chocolate chips in this, like a giant cookie, and I enjoy it super hot right out of the skillet, it’s definitely a lot like a cookie pizza…
So, i don’t know, you can call it a “pan-zookie,” a “skillet cookie,” a “baked pancake,” but since “pizookie” is a more well-known term, and it has a nice ring to it, I’ll just leave it at that. Hopefully it’ll be easier to find on google searches using this term as well lol…
But anyway, let’s check out the nutritional benefits of the main ingredients in this Dark Chocolate Raspberry Apple Protein Pizookie…
Raspberries are fully loaded with nutrients like vitamin C, manganese, vitamin K, fiber, magnesium, etc. They also contain high amounts of tannin, an ellagic acid that studies have shown may help fight certain types of cancers. Raspberries also contain a certain type of anthocyanin that has been shown to help support heart health.
Apples contain unique antioxidants that have been shown, or believed to, help fight cancer, combat free radicals, fight off cell and DNA damage, and may help against cardiovascular disease. Phytonutrients and phytochemicals in apples may help fight against inflammation. Apples are also a great source of fiber, helping to ease digestion and remove wastes from the body.
Cinnamon is widely considered as the most antioxidant-rich natural spice available on the planet. The antioxidants found in cinnamon are believed to maybe help fight cancer, protect cells from DNA damage, slow the aging process, and help fight disease. Cinnamon also contains certain compounds that have been known to maybe help fight off viruses and infections.
Pecans are good sources of fiber, protein, manganese, thiamine, copper. Minerals found in these nuts have been shown to help support brain function, and fight off free radical damage. Thiamine has been shown to help boost the function of the heart. Copper in pecans may help fight and reduce inflammation.
Almonds, which are basically ground up to create almond flour, are packed with nutrients, and are good sources of protein, fiber, vitamin E, riboflavin, magnesium, manganese, calcium. They contain a special kind of vitamin E, called gamma-tocopherol—studies show this antioxidant to be a powerful cancer-fighter. Their high fiber content helps support our digestive system.
Here’s what you’ll need…
If you like these, then you’ll want to check out my Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Protein Bars!! And my Peanut Butter Bananas Foster Protein Pancakes!!
Here’s some quick notes before you get started:
-Whenever a recipe calls for apples, I love using honeycrisp apples. They are the most flavorful of all the bunch in my opinion. It just has that perfect mix of tartness, sweetness, and crispness. Pink ladies come in at a close second. Of course you can sub in your favorite variety, but I recommend honeycrisp all the way!!
–Maple syrup is completely optional, but preferred.
-I used fresh raspberries to top this baby off, but frozen raspberries will taste just as amazing, if not better! Definitely a MUST try!
–Almond milk is shown in the picture above, but it is not really needed.
Alright then, let’s get to it!!
| Prep Time | 25 minutes |
| Cook Time | 20-24 minutes |
| Servings |
slices
|
- 3/4 cup almond flour
- 1.5 scoops vanilla whey protein powder
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1.5 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 cup applesauce
- 3 whole eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1.5 tsp almond extract
- 1/2 cup raspberries
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
- 1.5 honeycrisp apples
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- cinnamon
- 2 tsp maple syrup (optional)
Ingredients
Batter:
Apple mix:
|
|
- Preheat oven to 425. Also, at same time, preheat 8" cast iron skillet in oven for about 20 minutes.
- Slice apples into thin slices. Remove hot cast iron from oven. Add olive oil. Add apples. Should be sizzling. Add cinnamon, maple syrup. Stir and coat evenly. Throw back in oven for about 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, make batter. Add dry ingredients to bowl. Add wet ingredients in separate bowl. Gradually add dry ingredients into wet ingredients bowl, mixing thoroughly. Fold in raspberries, chocolate chips.
- Remove hot cast iron from oven. Quickly pour batter on top of apples. Add more apple slices, choc chips, raspberries on top if desired. Bake for about 20-25 minutes, or until edges are golden brown and center surface is set.
- Remove from oven. Add toppings. Enjoy right out of skillet!
-I recommend using honeycrisp apples.
-Adding maple syrup to the apples is completely optional, but preferred for added sweetness. Omitting this would subtract about 26g carbs, 26g sugar from the entire recipe.
-Try using frozen raspberries for topping!
