Aebleskiver are one of Denmark's most famous types of pastry. Aebleskiver (in Danish, "Apple Slices") are light, pancake balls that taste like a cross between a pancake and a donut.
Ingredients:
2 apples, peeled, cored, pared, and chopped into 1/2” pieces
2 Tbsp. butter plus butter to grease aebleskiver pan
2 tsp. cinnamon
2 eggs
1 Tbsp. sugar
2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
Preparation:
Place aebleskiver pan over medium-high burner and bring up to heat (to the point where butter sizzles on the surface).
In a separate pan, lightly sauté apple pieces in 2 Tbsp. butter until softened but still firm. Sprinkle with cinnamon. (Or in my case, add a little sugar and a tablespoon of your favorite preserves).
Separate the eggs and beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form. Whisk egg yolks and sugar together until creamy. Sift together flour and baking powder; gradually stir flour and buttermilk, alternating with each 1/2-cup addition, into egg mixture. Gently fold beaten egg whites into batter.
Reduce heat under aebleskiver pan to medium. Place 1/8 tsp. butter into each well to grease, using a pastry brush to coat surface of wells entirely.
Spoon batter into each well, filling half-way (about 1-2 teaspoons). Place a teaspoon of apple filling on the batter, then spoon enough additional batter over apple to cover and fill well to the top. Allow to cook until the edges of each “pancake” begin to brown and pull away from the sides of the wells. Lightly run a knife (I used two wooden skewers) around the edge of each ball to loosen, and then flip over to cook through (about 2 minutes).
Remove the aebleskiver to a plate and sprinkle with powdered sugar to serve.
Alternative: Although aebleskiver are commonly filled with apple slices, you can substitute jam, dried fruit, or even cheese to create a delicious range of both sweet and savory variations.
Yield: 28 aebleskiver.