There are a few restaurants that serve this breakfast (also known as a German apple pancake), but my memories of this dish are from my Grandma’s house when I was little. Sometimes, she would make a chocolate version! Oddly, the recipe I use was given to me for a gourmet foods class I took in high school. Not a Home Economics class, but an actual cooking class, which I loved.

Though amazingly impressive, it’s actually quite easy to make. For me, the most difficult part is preparing the apples…which really isn’t difficult at all, just time consuming. I highly recommend you try this at least once though, as it is worth every effort!

Depending on the size of the pan (mine is a 10″) the pancake may have a slightly different texture. I have had ones in restaurants that were fairly dense and much more moist. Though good, they tend to make me feel that they aren’t fully cooked. The one I made yesterday, for a birthday brunch for both my son and I, was light and fluffy! I warn you now that you may have to make more than one of these! Though they spread over a platter, you will have lots of requests for more!

Puffed Apple Pancake 

Apple Filling:

3-4 granny smith (green) apples

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup butter

1 teaspoon cinnamon

Dash allspice

Dash nutmeg

Pancake:

3 large eggs

3/4 cup milk

3/4 cup flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 – 2 tablespoons butter

Apple Filling Directions:

1. Peel, core, and slice apples thin.
2. Melt butter in large pan, add apples, sugar, and spices.
3. Sauté, stirring frequently, until tender – about 5 to 10 minutes. Set aside until pancake is ready.

Pancake Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 450 and heat large (oven proof) iron skillet over medium high, until hot but not smoking.
2. Beat eggs, milk, flour, and salt with mixer until smooth.
3. Melt butter in pan, tilt to coat pan.
4. Add batter, quickly tilt pan to spread batter evenly, and place pan in hot oven for 15 minutes. If pancake puffs, you can break it with a fork or knife.
5. After 15 minutes, turn oven temp down to 350 for an additional 10 minutes.
6. Remove from oven, slide pancake to serving platter, and top with apple filling. Garnish with powdered sugar, if desired.