Aebleskiver: Danish Pancake Balls

The Magic of the Aebleskiver Pan

To make these fluffy Danish pancake balls, you're going to need three things:

1. The Pan: A heavy cast-iron Aebleskiver Pan with half-sphere indentations.
2. The Tools: Two long, pointy knitting needles or bamboo skewers to maneuver the batter in the pan.
3. The Finesse: The "quarter-turn" technique that forms the pancake balls.

How To Make Aebleskiver: Step-By-Step

1. Prepare the Batter

Our traditional aebleskiver batter uses a mix of flour, buttermilk, eggs, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, salt, vanilla, and a hint of cardamom for that authentic Scandinavian flavor.

2. Heat and Fill

Heat up your aebleskiver pan, add butter or oil to each indentation and then pour batter into each hole, almost to the top.

3. Add Fillings, Optional

This is where you can get creative! Traditional Danish aebleskiver often feature a slice of apple, but you can use:

• Sweet: Chocolate chips, raspberry jam, or Nutella.
• Savory: A small cube of havarti or a bit of ham or cooked sausage.

How to fill them: Just after adding the batter to the pan, drop your filling into the center of each pancake. Then, "plop" a small bit of extra batter over the top. This seals the filling inside so it doesn’t slip out when you turn the batter to form the ball.

4. The "Quarter Turn" Technique

This is the "magic" part of the recipe. Once the batter sets and crisps up on the bottom (usually about 1 minute), it’s time to turn:

• Grip: Use your knitting needles or skewers to gently grab the aebleskiver from opposite sides.
• Turn: Slide the batter (the crisped up part) it to make a quarter turn. You'll see some raw batter spill out into the hot pan—don't worry, this is exactly what you want! That batter firms up to create the next section of the sphere.
• Repeat: Repeat the "quarter turn" two more times until you have a perfect pancakeball!

Serving Suggestions: Make festive Aebleskiver for the holidays!

Here are some ways to serve them:

• For Breakfast: Set them out on a platter and sprinkle them with powdered sugar and/or serve them with a side of raspberry or strawberry jam
• For Dessert: Though aebleskiver make a fun breakfast, if you really want to embrace Danish tradition, serve these around the holidays for dessert and wash them down with mugs of steaming Gløgg.

If you try this Aebleskiver recipe, I hope you'll come back to leave a star rating and a comment. I'd love to know what you think!

Recipe

Aebleskiver Recipe

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5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 2 reviews

• Author: Lisa Goldfinger
• Total Time: 15 mins
• Yield: 8-10 1x

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Description

Festive Danish pancake balls, plain or stuffed with chocolate, apples or jam. Traditional for Christmas breakfast and dessert. Aebleskiver are incredibly delicious and they're also super fun to make with the whole family!

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Ingredients

Units USM Scale 1x2x3x

Equipment: A cast iron aebleskiver pan. A pair of pointed knitting needles or two long bamboo skewers.

• Butter or oil for greasing the pan

Dry Ingredients

• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 2 tablespoon white sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon ground cardamom (optional)

Wet Ingredients

• 2 cups buttermilk
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Optional Fillings

• chocolate chips
• chopped apples, sautéed in a little butter to soften
• Jam or preserves

Topping

• Powdered sugar
• Jam

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Instructions

Prepare the Batter:

1. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cardamom.
2. Whisk Wet Ingredients: In a separate large bowl, whisk the buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla until well combined.
3. Combine: Gradually stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined. Pro Tip: For the fluffiest results, be sure to use the batter within 10 minutes of mixing.

Cook The Aebleskiver:

1. Preheat the Pan: Heat your cast iron aebleskiver pan over medium-high heat for 2–3 minutes. Add about ¼ teaspoon of butter or oil to each indentation.
2. Add Batter: Once the butter bubbles, pour batter into each hole, filling it almost to the top.

3. Optional Filling: If using a filling, spoon ¼ to ½ teaspoon of filling into the center of each round. Then "Plop" a tiny bit of extra batter over the top to seal the filling in.

4. The First Turn: When the batter bubbles at the edges (about 1 minute), use your needles to gently grab the aebleskiver on both sides and coax it into a ¼ turn. It should turn easily. As you turn the firmed-up bottom section, you will see some raw batter spill out into the hot pan—this is the secret to the sphere! That liquid batter will cook against the pan to form the next part of the ball.

5. Form the Sphere: Cook for 20–30 seconds, then make another ¼ turn. Repeat this until you have a perfect ball cooked on all sides. Adjust your heat as needed to prevent burning.

6. Test for Doneness: Insert a toothpick into the center; if it comes out clean, they are ready!
7. Serve: Arrange the warm aebleskiver on a platter. Sprinkle generously with powdered sugar and serve with jam on the side. Enjoy!

Notes

• Buy the Aebleskiver pan online
• Make these ahead and freeze them: Aebleskiver pancakes freeze well. Freeze them in an airtight container and reheat them on a baking tray in a 325ºF oven for 20 minutes or until heated through. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve immediately.

• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 5 mins
• Category: Breakfast or Dessert
• Method: stove top
• Cuisine: Danish