Danish Æbleskiver (Pancake Balls)

About This Recipe

Æbleskiver are one of Denmark's most beloved and distinctive foods — spherical, puffy pancakes cooked in a cast iron pan with round indentations, turned with a knitting needle or skewer to cook evenly all around. Despite the name (æble = apple), they rarely contain apple today; they're served with strawberry jam and powdered sugar at Christmas markets and family gatherings throughout the holiday season.

Ingredients

Serves 6

• 2 cupsall-purpose flour
• 2 tspbaking powder
• 1/2 tspsalt
• 2 tbspsugar
• 3 largeeggs, separated
• 2 cupsbuttermilk
• 4 tbspbutter, melted
• 1 tspvanilla extract
• 1 tspcardamom
• butter for greasingthe pan
• strawberry jam and powdered sugarto serve

Instructions

1. 1

   Separate and whip

   Separate eggs. Whip egg whites to stiff peaks. Set aside.

2. 2

   Make the batter

   Mix flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, and cardamom. Add egg yolks, buttermilk, melted butter, and vanilla. Mix until smooth.

3. 3

   Fold in whites

   Gently fold beaten egg whites into the batter in three additions. The batter should be airy and light.

4. 4

   Cook the æbleskiver

   Heat an æbleskiver pan over medium heat. Butter each indentation generously. Fill each 3/4 full with batter. When the batter sets around the edges (2 minutes), use a skewer to rotate each 90°. Continue turning until a perfect sphere forms and cooked through, about 4–5 minutes total.

5. 5

   Serve

   Dust generously with powdered sugar. Serve with strawberry jam for dipping.

Variations

• •

  Fill with a piece of apple or jam before closing

• •

  Make savory with cheese and bacon filling

• •

  Dip in chocolate instead of jam

• •

  Vegetarian: swap the protein for roasted king oyster mushrooms, smoked tofu or cooked chickpeas — adjust seasoning slightly upward to compensate.

Storage

Best eaten immediately. Can be refrigerated and reheated in an oven.

Frequently Asked Questions