Aebleskiver / Danish Pancake Balls
Aebleskiver / Danish Pancake Balls
Danish Aebleskiver (or Ebelskiver) are traditional pancake balls served all over Denmark during Christmas. This recipe for traditional Danish pancake balls is probably one of the most famous Christmas desserts that the Danes love and eat during Christmas.
‘Aebleskiver’ in Danish means ‘apple slice’ because traditionally these were made by putting a small slice of apple in the center while cooking them. But from what I have researched and read, the tradition of putting apple slices in the center of aebleskiver has waned in Denmark and it no longer a common practice. These delicious Danish Pancake balls are like a spherical pancake, fluffy and light and the taste of a donut mixed with pancakes. I savoured these delicious heavenly light pancakes at the Winter Wonderland in London few years ago. I could never remember the name but would always look out for them in all the Christmas Markets. These pancake balls are extremely popular in Denmark during the Christmas holidays.
This Danish aebleskiver recipe is really easy and will look familiar if you have ever made waffles or pancakes from scratch. It uses staples like flour with some baking powder and baking soda for leavening, along with a little bit of sugar for a hint of sweetness. Then egg yolks, melted butter, and buttermilk are stirred in just until everything is combined before folding in stiffly beaten egg whites. They are just so easy and fun to make, not to mention delicious. The frying of the aebleskiver is done on the stove top in a special pan with hemispherical hollows.
And there are lots of other aebleskiver variations that you can make with different fillings or flavours. Start a new tradition this Christmas season with your family by making these tasty Danish Aebleskiver for a special breakfast or tasty dessert and talk about Christmas traditions around the world! Ingredients
Ingredients
For The Batter
I cup plain flour
1 large egg (whites and yolks separated)
1 cup buttermilk
pinch of salt
1/6 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
¼ teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon unsalted melted butter
For Frying
1-2 teaspoons unsalted butter
20-30 grams chocolate buttons (optional)
To Serve
Icing sugar
Directions
Whisk the egg white and 1 teaspoon sugar together until fluffy and stiff. Keep it aside.
In a bowl, combine together the egg yolk, flour, buttermilk, sugar, salt, baking soda, baking powder and melted butter and mix/whisk until combined to a smooth batter.
Gently fold the beaten egg whites into the batter without overmixing it.
Heat the aebleskiver pan over a medium–high heat.
Brush each cup of the aebleskiver pan with melted butter, then fill each cup with about 1-2 tablespoons of batter or until almost full then reduce the heat to medium and cook for 1–2 minutes, until the edges begin to firm.
When the edges are firm and the aebleskivers begin to bubble around the edges, add 2-3 chocolate chips (optional) onto the uncooked part as near to the centre as possible and add a 2-3 drops of batter to cover the chocolate. Use a wooden skewer, chopstick, or fork to flip and turn the aebleskiver.
When the aebleskiver are firm, turn them regularly for about 2-3 minutes or until they have an even and golden-brown crust.
Remove from the pan and serve dusted with icing sugar.
