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Polish Apple Pancakes (Placki z Jabłkami)

10/12/2025 | Bonia Bakery |

If there’s one breakfast that instantly brings me back to my childhood, it’s Placki z Jabłkami — pronounced platz-ke z yab-kame. These sweet, tender Polish apple pancakes are my babcia’s recipe, and they’ve been a part of my mornings for as long as I can remember. They’re made from the simplest ingredients — the kind you almost always have on hand — and they come together in just minutes.

I grew up on these pancakes. My babcia would stand by the stove, flipping each golden round with such care, the air filling with the sweet scent of apples and warm batter. She never measured much, just a handful of this and a splash of that, yet they were always perfect. The kind of perfect that can only come from love and years of making them for family.

Once the pancakes were ready, she’d dust them generously with powdered sugar, stack them high, and that was it — breakfast was served. No syrup, no extra fuss — just a plate of soft, sweet, apple-studded pancakes that you could never eat just one of.

And just like my babcia and my mom, I still eat them with my hands. Always have, always will. There’s something so comforting about holding a warm pancake between your fingers, feeling the powdered sugar dust your skin, and taking that first soft bite. It’s simple, it’s cozy, and it’s exactly how these pancakes are meant to be enjoyed.

Why You’ll Love These Polish Apple Pancakes

These pancakes are:

  • Quick and easy — ready in just minutes.
  • Made with simple, everyday ingredients.
  • Sweet, soft, and filled with bits of tender apple.
  • The coziest, most nostalgic breakfast — no forks required (unless you want one!).

Ingredients

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • A pinch of salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla or vanilla sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 teaspoon neutral oil (like canola or vegetable)
  • 4 apples, peeled and shredded
  • Powdered sugar, about ¼ cup, sifted, for dusting

Directions

  1. Prepare the apples: Start by peeling your apples, then use a shredder or box grater to shred them into fine pieces. Set them aside while you prepare your batter.
  2. Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, vanilla, and salt.
  3. Mix wet ingredients: In a separate bowl, beat the eggs, then whisk in the milk and oil until well combined.
  4. Combine: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until smooth — the batter should be thick but pourable. Gently fold in your shredded apples.
  5. Cook: Heat a lightly greased skillet or nonstick pan over medium heat. Pour about ½ cup of batter for each pancake. Cook until small bubbles form on the surface, then flip and cook the other side until golden brown and the apples are tender.
  6. Serve: Transfer to a plate, dust with powdered sugar, and enjoy — preferably with your hands, just like my babcia always did.

Storage Tips

Placki z Jabłkami are best enjoyed warm, right off the pan. But if you happen to have leftovers (which is rare in my house!), you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat them gently in a pan or toaster oven — they’ll taste just as cozy as the day you made them.

You can also freeze them! Just layer them with parchment paper between each pancake, seal in a freezer-safe bag, and store for up to a month. To serve, reheat from frozen in a warm skillet or oven.