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German Apple Pancakes

These tender and not-too-sweet cakes fall somewhere between an American flapjack and a crêpe. Though they're traditionally served for dessert, we love them for a special winter breakfast, generously dusted with cinnamon sugar.

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    1 hr

  • Yield

    Makes 4 to 6 servings (about 12 pancakes)

Ingredients

1

/4 cup plus 2 teaspoons sugar

1

/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1

cup all-purpose flour

1

/2 teaspoon salt

1

1/2 cups whole milk

4

large eggs

1

1/2 lb Gala apples (3 or 4)

2

tablespoons fresh lemon juice

3

/4 stick (6 tablespoons) unsalted butter, cut into 12 pieces

Special Equipment

an adjustable-blade slicer

Need to make a substitution?

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Preheat oven to 200°F.

    Step 2

    Stir together 1/4 cup sugar and cinnamon and set aside.

    Step 3

    Whisk together flour, salt, and remaining 2 teaspoons sugar in a large bowl. Add milk in a slow stream, whisking, then add eggs, 1 at a time, whisking well after each addition.

    Step 4

    Peel apples, then cut into 1/8-inch thick slices with slicer, rotating around core (discard core). Cut apple slices into 1/8-inch-thick matchsticks and toss with lemon juice in a bowl. Fold apples and juice into batter.

    Step 5

    Heat 1 piece butter (1/2 tablespoon) in a 6-inch nonstick skillet over moderate heat until foam subsides, then add 1/3 cup batter, spreading evenly to cover bottom. Cook, reducing heat if browning too quickly and turning pancake over once with a thin flexible heatproof spatula, until golden on both sides, about 4 minutes total. Slide pancake onto a platter and keep warm in oven. Make more pancakes with remaining butter and batter in same manner. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar and serve immediately.