Name: apple-filled ebelskiver (danish pancakes)
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon unsalted butter; 3 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar; 3 granny smith apples, peeled & grated; 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger; 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves; 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg; 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon; juice of 1/2 lemon; 1 cup heavy cream; 1/4 cup pure maple syrup; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour ((or "00" flour)); 3/4 teaspoon baking soda; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 1 1/2 tablespoons granulated sugar; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 3 egg yolks; 1 1/3 cups buttermilk; 1/2 cup sour cream; 5 egg whites; 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted; 1 tablespoon powdered sugar; 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

These guys are as delicious as they look. Really. And yes. You can make these Apple-Filled Ebelskiver (Danish Pancakes) at home.

Imagine the fluffiest pancake with yummy spiced apples thrown in. Then shape it all into the cutest little sphere and add a dollop of maple whipped cream. A little bit of heaven on earth. Let’s start at the beginning…

What are ebelskiver anyway?

singular aebleskive\ aeb·le·ski·ve | \ ˈe-blə-ˌski-və \
plural aebleskiver\ ˈe- blə- ˌski- vər \

According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of aebleskive is a muffin-shaped pastry made of yeast-leavened batter baked in a special pan. There are several acceptable spellings but the one used in this post seems to be most widely used in our part of the planet.

Ebelskiver are a type of Danish pancake that are traditionally reserved for enjoying during the Christmas season. They are cooked in a special stove-top pan that is formed with several (usually seven) half-spherical molds.

The pan that I use (and love) is made by Nordic Ware and can be found in most kitchen supply stores or online at Amazon. The ebelskive is shaped like a golfball with a light fluffy interior encased in a crispy browned exterior. And just to be clear …in my household, we enjoy them throughout the year.

In Denmark, ebelskiver are usually served covered in powdered sugar with a topping or filling of fruit jam. Even though the literal translation of the Danish word, ebelskiver, is “sliced apples,” don’t assume that you are limited to apple-filled pancakes.

The choices are endless. They can be savory or sweet. Filled with nutella or herbed cheese. They can be enjoyed with no filling then sprinkled with cinnamon & sugar.

If intrigued by the possibilities, there are a few cookbooks out there that are packed full of inspiration… Ebelskivers: Filled Pancakes and Other Mouthwatering Miniatures and 150 Best Ebelskiver Recipes.

Let’s get started on our spiced-apple filling…

Since you’ll be adding a fairly small amount of filling to each pancake, it’s important to break the apple down to very small pieces.

You could actually mince it but the most efficient way is to use your grater.

Preheat a sauce pan over medium heat.
Add the butter, brown sugar, apples, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon and lemon juice.
Cook for about 20 minutes, stirring frequently.
Drain off any excess liquid.
Set aside.

While the apple mixture is simmering, work on preparing the maple whipped cream and pancake batter.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat together the heavy cream, maple syrup and salt until soft peaks form.
Alternatively, this can be done using a hand mixer.
Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

For the pancake batter…

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, granulated sugar and salt.
In another container, lightly whisk the egg yolks, then whisk in the buttermilk and sour cream.
Add the egg yolk mixture to the flour mixture and mix until well combined.
The batter will be lumpy. Set aside.

As you are working on building your batter, you may think it’s pretty involved. Stay with me, here. It is so worth the effort.

Especially the step where you whip the egg whites on their own then fold them into the batter. I’ve been making my waffle batter this way for years and please believe me when I tell you that it makes all the difference in the world. It adds so much lightness and fluffiness to your finished breakfast treat.

You can use your stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment or hand-held mixer here.
Beat the egg whites on high speed until stiff but not dry peaks form, 2 to 3 minutes.
Using a rubber spatula, gently stir the whites into the batter in two additions.

Let’s make some ebelskiver…

As your ebelskiver pan is heating over low-medium heat, set up your mini-assembly line with the following…

Melted butter & pastry or basting brush
Pancake batter & a one-tablespoon measure
Spiced-apple filling & a half-teaspoon measure
Turning tools (Chopsticks or wooden skewers would also work.)
A timer

Brush the wells of the ebelskiver pancake pan with some melted butter.
Heat over low-medium heat until the butter bubbles.
Pour 1 tablespoon of the batter into each well and cook for 2 minutes.
Spoon a mounded 1/2 teaspoon of the apple filling into the center of each pancake.
Top with 1 more tablespoon of the batter.

Cook until the bottoms are golden brown and crispy, about 2 minutes more.
Using 2 skewers or toothpicks, carefully turn and flip the pancakes over.
Cook until golden and crispy, about 3 minutes more.
Transfer the pancakes to a plate.
Repeat with the remaining batter and filling.

The original recipe for these goodies comes from the folks at Williams-Sonoma Kitchen. As usual, I tweaked it a bit here and there.

Also, these guys can easily be made gluten-free with an easy flour swap.

Tips & Tricks

Do not allow the pan to become too hot causing the exterior of the pancakes to overly brown before the center has a chance to cook through.
Add the batter to the pan in an organized fashion. Work your way around the pan, filling the wells clockwise. Then use the same clockwise pattern for filling and flipping. This will ensure that your ebelskiver are evenly cooked.
Look for small bubbles rising from the centers of the pancakes – a sure sign that the ebelskiver are ready to be flipped.
Don’t worry if there’s still liquid batter in the middle of the pancake! It will ooze into the bottom of the pan and will adhere to the rest of the pancake.
Pancakes can be filled after cooking by using a pastry bag; pierce one side of the pancake and pipe the filling into the center.
Be sure to let the filled pancakes cool slightly before eating!

It’s time to impress your family with these Apple-Filled Ebelskiver (Danish Pancakes)

In a small bowl, combine the powdered sugar & ground cinnamon and sprinkle lightly over the pancakes.
Serve with the maple whipped cream.
Makes about 30 filled pancakes.

Maple syrup can be offered here but these beauties are moist and delicious without it. Enjoy!