Æbleskiver
Photo: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Æbleskiver#/media/File:Homemade_Danish_æbleskiver.jpg
Æbleskiver are difficult to spell, but easy to love. Made with a wheat, milk, and egg batter, they are cooked on a special pan with hemispherical voids.
The name means “apple slices” in Danish, even though apples aren’t usually in the modern versions. They can include jam, chocolate, or be unfilled. The crust is like European pancakes, but the inside is light and fluffy. In English, it’s sometimes spelled aebleskiver, ebleskiver, or ebelskiver.
Æbleskiver are cooked on the stove using a special pan with several half-sphere indentations. The pan can be used on gas and electric stoves, with cast iron being the most common because it holds heat well.
They are often topped with powdered sugar or jams.
See also: poffertjes.
Æbleskiver Recipe (Danish Pancake Balls)
Ingredients (Makes about 20-25 Æbleskiver)
- All-purpose flour – 2 cups
- Sugar – 2 tablespoons
- Baking powder – 1 teaspoon
- Baking soda – ½ teaspoon
- Salt – ¼ teaspoon
- Buttermilk – 2 cups
- Eggs – 2 large (separated into yolks and whites)
- Unsalted butter – 4 tablespoons (melted and cooled)
- Vegetable oil or additional butter – for greasing the pan
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Batter
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- In another bowl, whisk the buttermilk, egg yolks, and melted butter until well combined.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Do not overmix.
- In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites with a hand mixer or whisk until stiff peaks form.
- Gently fold the beaten egg whites into the batter, being careful not to deflate the mixture.
Step 2: Cook the Æbleskiver
- Heat an æbleskiver pan (a specialized pan with round wells) over medium heat and grease each well with a little vegetable oil or butter.
- Fill each well about ¾ full with batter.
- When the edges begin to set and bubble, use a skewer, chopstick, or fork to gently flip the pancake ball halfway. Let it cook for a few seconds, then flip it fully to cook the other side.
- Continue turning the balls as needed to ensure even cooking, about 2-3 minutes per batch.
- Remove the æbleskiver from the pan and keep warm while cooking the remaining batter.
Serving Suggestions
Æbleskiver are traditionally served warm and dusted with powdered sugar. You can enjoy them with:
- Jam or preserves: Such as raspberry or strawberry jam.
- Maple syrup: For a sweet and indulgent twist.
- Nutella or chocolate spread: For a rich flavor.
- Whipped cream: As a creamy topping.
| Name_ | Æbleskiver |
|---|---|
| Origin_ | 🇩🇰 Denmark |
| Morphology_ | ◎ ball |
| Flavor_ | sweet |
| Filling_ | chocolate, jam, various |
| Topping_ | sugar, jam |
| Recipe_ | Æbleskiver Recipe |
| « All Pancakes_ | |