Big Apple Pancake
I posted this recipe to Facebook over the weekend, so I’ll keep this brief. I have made this big apple pancake two weekends in a row now, and I have a feeling the run will continue for the remainder of the fall. It is one of the most fun recipes to prepare as it comes together in just minutes, puffs dramatically in the oven, and feeds four comfortably (so long as you provide some bacon or sausage on the side.)
This past weekend’s pancake came out better than the first, namely because I followed the instructions and made the effort to pulse the flour-egg-milk mixture in the food processor rather than just whisk by hand, which left the batter extremely lumpy. I also doubled the amount of apple this time around, ensuring that loads of tender apple slices filled every bite.
I love this recipe, but I find the name to be a bit of a misnomer — it tastes nothing like a pancake to me, leaving my pancake-making woes to persist. Alas, with a new delicious addition to the morning repertoire, I have no complaints. Hope you all had a nice weekend.
Note: This is a super easy/fast breakfast/brunch. It’s so good loaded with apples, so if your apples are on the small side, use two or three — enough to fill the bottom layer of the skillet generously.
Big Apple Pancake
Source: Gourmet
1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter
1 large sweet apple such as Gala or Golden Delicious, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/4-inch-wide wedges
1/2 cup whole milk
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
4 large eggs
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt
Confectioners sugar for dusting
1. Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 450°F.
2. Melt butter in skillet over moderate heat, then transfer 2 tablespoons to a blender or food processor. Add apple wedges to skillet and cook, turning over once, until beginning to soften, 3 to 5 minutes. (They don’t need to caramelize, just soften.)
3. While apple is cooking, add milk, flour, eggs, granulated sugar, vanilla, and salt to butter in blender and blend until smooth. (Do do this step — I didn’t the first time around and the batter was really lumpy.)
4. Pour batter over apple and transfer skillet to oven. Bake until pancake is puffed and golden, about 15 minutes. Dust with confectioners sugar and serve immediately.
ileana
Oct 22, 2012 @ 05:27:44
I need to try this as soon as I get some good apples. Looks delicious!
Lokness @ The Missing Lokness
Oct 22, 2012 @ 11:59:00
This reminds me of the apple pancake from Original Pancake House. Making this for sure! Looks very easy and delicious! Perfect for this apple season. Thanks.
Emily
Oct 22, 2012 @ 16:11:06
I’m always looking for easy recipes to make in the morning and this sounds perfect. Can’t wait to try it!
vivian
Oct 22, 2012 @ 18:32:42
This is a Dutch Baby….with apples!
Darcy
Oct 22, 2012 @ 19:18:16
Beautiful photos! Love the shots with the powdered sugar.
Margherita
Oct 23, 2012 @ 02:58:23
This is so original; I have to try it!
Josh Ely
Oct 23, 2012 @ 10:28:25
They look beautiful.
My pancake woes were solved by a big WOAH! (My reaction, after trying this recipe, which is on the outside of a Star Wars pancake mold package, from Williams Sonoma):
Ingredients
2 eggs
2 cups (315 g) all-purpose flour, sifted
3 Tbs. sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
2 1/2 cups (625 ml) buttermilk
4 Tbs. (1/2 stick / 60 g) unsalted butter, melted
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 to 2 Tbs. vegetable oil or nonstick cooking spray
Maple syrup for serving
Directions
1. In a bowl, using an electric mixer or a handheld whisk, beat the eggs on medium speed until frothy. Add the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, buttermilk, melted butter and vanilla. Stir just until the batter is smooth and no lumps of flour remain; do not overmix.
2. Heat a griddle over medium heat until a few drops of water flicked onto the surface skitter across it. Lightly grease the griddle and the inside surface of the pancake molds with vegetable oil, or spray with nonstick cooking spray. Set the molds, with the handles up, on the griddle and heat until hot.
3. Pour about 1/3 cup (80 ml) batter into each mold. Using a butter knife, spread the batter into the corners of the molds. Cook until bubbles form on top and the batter is set, about 2 minutes.
4. Remove the molds and, using a spatula, flip the pancakes over. Cook until golden brown on the other side, about 2 minutes more. Keep warm until all the pancakes are cooked.
5. Repeat with the remaining batter, adding more oil to the griddle and greasing the molds as needed. Serve with maple syrup. Makes about 15 pancakes, 5 of each shape.
The batter is really thin, but it cooks up beautifully. It is thin enough that you can use it to “draw” designs on the griddle, making fun shapes / pictures for kiddos or for those who are a kid at heart. Plus, the pancakes taste great. I think it is the buttermilk.
Hope this helps your woes!!
alexandracooks
Oct 23, 2012 @ 17:30:43
Josh, haha, I love it. THANK YOU for sending along this recipe. I am going to try it this weekend — I have some family coming into town. I wonder if I have time to get my hands on some pancake molds before then? I love the Star Wars idea, but I think I might like some farm animal shapes as well. I suppose I can always just use some circular ring molds. I will report back. Oh, I also have a ton of cookie cutter molds — the kids will LOVE that. Thank you thank you. Can’t wait to give this a go. I have a feeling it is going to be a good one with all of that buttermilk.
Shawn
Oct 24, 2012 @ 15:02:22
Made this, this morning for the man. I had some old apples tucked away in the fridge, used 2. This is a huge pancake, enough for 4 easily. We loved it, it’s a fun and different alternative to a standard pancake, but protein rich from all the eggs. A winner!
Jessica
Oct 24, 2012 @ 21:09:14
Hi, I’m Jessica and I discovered your website about six months ago..and I’ve since made sooo many recipes from your site – it’s fantastic
This recipe looks so similar to the Balzano Apple Cake you posted, a recipe I made two weeks ago for my mom’s birthday haha, is it that similar?
I was wondering, where did your recipe index go? Now all I see are the essentials, which are fantastic, but I also really really needed your complete recipe index! Did you plan to delete it forever? Please put it up again!
alexandracooks
Oct 25, 2012 @ 04:50:01
Jessica, hi, I am so sorry about removing the recipe index! It’s back! Honestly, I wasn’t sure if anybody was using it, and in a cleaning frenzy, I removed it. I won’t do that again. Thank you for your nice words about the blog. I can’t believe I didn’t compare this big apple pancake to the Balzano Apple Cake recipe, but you are right — they are very similar! I am going to take a closer look right now. I haven’t made the Balzano in awhile now, but I know it bakes at a slower temp and for a longer time. Thanks for writing in. Promise never to remove the index again
alexandracooks
Oct 25, 2012 @ 04:51:19
Shawn — so happy to hear this! You are right about the protein, and this recipe is a great way to use up old apples.
Sandi
Oct 25, 2012 @ 20:05:34
Yes, that is a Dutch Baby with apples added.
Javelin Warrior
Oct 25, 2012 @ 21:12:32
What a beautiful and simple way to use apples – I have so many right now and this would be a delicious way to use some of them up… I’m featuring this post as part of Food Fetish Friday (with a link-back and attribution) and thanks for making me drool!
talley
Oct 27, 2012 @ 01:14:59
I’M IN LOVE, in a big way. We just ate this for breakfast and absolutely loved it. It’s so light and fluffy and not too sweet and perfectly apply. I’m not sure what Shawn is talking about, but we managed to polish this off between 2 – gluttons? maybe! I used three apples – I guess mine were small – and a bit of cinnamon because I can’t seem to help myself when it comes to cinnamon and apple. Thank you thank you and happy weekend!
talley
Oct 27, 2012 @ 01:14:59
I’M IN LOVE, in a big way. We just ate this for breakfast and absolutely loved it. It’s so light and fluffy and not too sweet and perfectly apply. I’m not sure what Shawn is talking about, but we managed to polish this off between 2 – gluttons? maybe! I used three apples – I guess mine were small – and a bit of cinnamon because I can’t seem to help myself when it comes to cinnamon and apple. Thank you thank you and happy weekend!
Anne Murphy
Oct 27, 2012 @ 07:29:12
This is delicious and a cinch to make. Thanks for a great breakfast!!!!! Will definitely make again.
alexandracooks
Oct 27, 2012 @ 15:31:01
Anne — So happy to hear this! We are loving it too!
alexandracooks
Oct 27, 2012 @ 15:36:24
Talley, well, I can’t tell you how happy I am to read this because the truth is that I made this one morning for myself and ate half of it in one sitting and the other half the following morning, cold, straight from the Tupperware container I had stored it in. I think 3 apples sounds perfect in fact and cinnamon — duh! Next time I will add a sprinkling of cinnamon, too. Happy weekend to you too!!
alexandracooks
Oct 27, 2012 @ 15:41:10
Thanks JW!
Sarah
Nov 07, 2012 @ 06:19:23
This looks really delish and I’m excited to try it. I was wondering what size skillet you used?
-SarahR
alexandracooks
Nov 08, 2012 @ 06:15:33
Hey Sarah, I used a 10-inch cast iron skillet. It’s so yummy! I hope you try it.
Averie @ Averie Cooks
Mar 05, 2013 @ 02:21:12
This is so pretty! Repinned it and need to make it! I have a cast iron skillet that’s begging to be put to use with this!
alexandracooks
Mar 05, 2013 @ 19:56:21
Averie — this is one of my faves. Definitely give it a go!