It might sound like something from Ikea. However, aebleskiver means apple slices in Danish (not Swedish) because they were traditionally stuffed with apple slices. I like to get creative and break tradition, so Nutella is my stuffing of choice. 😜 An aebleskiver recipe falls somewhere between a pancake and a donut texture-wise, which is perfect for those days when you just can’t decide. They whip up quickly and always fly off the platter, regardless of whether you serve them for breakfast, brunch, a snack, or dessert. If you can’t get your hands on one, though, you can use a regular frying pan. The shape will be different, but they’ll taste just as good.
Recipe Ingredients
How to Make Aebleskiver Danish Pancakes
Make the Batter
Dry Ingredients – Combine all dry ingredients: flour, sugar, baking powder, nutmeg, and grated orange zest in a medium bowl. Set aside. (Photo 1) Wet Ingredients – Whisk eggs for about a minute, then gradually add milk and vanilla until thoroughly combined. (Photo 2) Combine the liquid ingredients and dry ingredients, a little at a time. Mix thoroughly. (Photo 3) Add Butter – Finally, add melted butter and fold it in. The mixture will be a little runny, but that’s ok. (Photo 4)
Cook the Aebeskiver
Heat the aebleskiver pan over medium heat, add about ½ teaspoon of oil, and brush the holes with the oil. (A cast iron pan will also work.) Fill – Make sure the pan is hot enough before adding the batter. Fill each hole halfway (about a tablespoon of batter), then quickly add Nutella until it’s about ¾ of the way full. (Photos 5-6) Cook – Add more pancake mixture over the Nutella to cover each hole. Cook for 1-2 minutes until the bottom is golden brown. (Photo 7) Flip – When you see the batter getting bubbly, push the aebleskiver to the side of the pan. Then, gently and quickly flip it using a chopstick or fork. Two chopsticks make it easier. Final Step – Continue cooking on the other side until golden brown. Repeat until all the batter is used. (Photo 8) Serve – Let it cool slightly, dust with confectioner’s sugar, and serve.
Recipe Variations
Tips and Tricks
Make-Ahead Instructions
Aebleskivers are best fresh out of the pan, but you can make them ahead of time if you need to. Unfilled aebleskiver are best for making ahead as they don’t get soggy. To reheat them, I find a convection oven to be the best option, but you could pop them in the microwave for a few seconds.
Serving and Storage Instructions
Serve aebleskiver hot out of the pan dusted with powdered sugar. Feel free to offer your guests jam or syrup for drizzling or dipping. If you have leftovers, refrigerate them in an airtight container for 3-5 days. To reheat them, a couple of seconds in the microwave or a couple of minutes in your toaster oven should do the trick.
What Goes With Aebleskiver Danish Pancakes
I love aebleskiver as a part of a nice big breakfast buffet alongside other sweet and savory offerings, like hashbrown breakfast casserole, turkey breakfast sausage, and cinnamon orange rolls. They also look beautiful on a breakfast charcuterie board. Be sure to serve them with something warm to drink, too, like hot coffee or ginger tea. 😍
More Perfect Pancake Recipes to Try
Watch How to Make It
[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”xU7wMmHS” upload-date=”Mon Aug 06 2018 19:57:54 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)” name=”Aebleskiver Danish Pancakes” description=”Aebleskiver Danish Pancakes – Little Danish pancake puffs, absolutely gorgeous and a delight in your mouth, with or without Nutella stuffing.”] This blog post was originally published in August 2015 and has been updated with additional tips, new photos, and a video
