Pumpkin Whole Wheat Pancakes with Apple Maple Compote

The other day I was in Michael's to buy some craft supplies. There was a sweet elderly lady in line behind me who thought the little fake pumpkin I was buying was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. She was very chatty, and we ended up talking about baking with pumpkin puree. She said she had never made a pumpkin pie out of an actual pumpkin; she always had bought the canned puree. "At this point in my life it's more about convenience than trying to impress," she said. I have to agree with her...even though I'm not her age yet, I like convenience too!

I don't foresee myself making pumpkin pie from scratch. One, because I don't like pumpkin pie THAT much. And two, because it's too easy to pick up a can of pumpkin puree at the grocery store, especially this time of year!

Last weekend I made these pumpkin pancakes (with canned pumpkin- of course), and topped them with a sweet apple maple compote. I'm still trying to use my apples!

Pumpkin Whole Wheat Pancakes with Apple Maple Compote
Adapted from honey & jam
Makes about 12 large pancakes

• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/3 cup white sugar (can use less--I used about 1/4cup)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1 1/4 cup buttermilk
• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten

Place skillet over medium-high heat. Combine dry ingredients in large bowl. Add buttermilk, pumpkin and eggs. Stir until just combined...don't over mix!

Generously spray skillet with non-stick spray. Ladle batter onto skillet, cook for about 5 minutes then flip. Pancakes should be dark gold in color. 

For Apple Maple Compote

• 1 apple
• 1/2 tablespoon butter
• 1/4-1/3 cup maple syrup
• dash cinnamon

Core and thinly slice apple; heat butter in a hot skillet. Add apples and cook for 2 minutes, gently flipping over once. Add maple syrup and cinnamon. Cook for a couple more minutes, letting syrup get bubbly and warm.  Pour over pancakes. 

After taking my first bite, I told my husband the pancakes tasted like Fall in my mouth! He wasn't quite sure what that meant. If Fall had a flavor, this would be it.