german apple puffed pancake

for as long as i can remember, my mom has been making this german apple puffed pancake recipe.  growing up, it was always one of my favorite things for breakfast, and i would request it for breakfast each year on my birthday.  over the years, it became a tradition, and i always looked forward to having my mom's german apple puffed pancake for breakfast on the morning of my birthday.  my mom would wake up early and sneak down to the kitchen to start slicing and sauteing the apples.  i would then wake up to the amazing aroma of apples, cinnamon, and brown sugar wafting out of the kitchen.

recently, over the last few years, ryan and i have been making this breakfast for special occasions.  of course it is never as good as my mom's version because of all of the love that she put into hers in our family kitchen, but it comes pretty darn close.

this pancake isn't a typical pancake at all.  it is baked in the oven to become fluffy and light.  the delicate fluffy dough supports the slices of apples, while the cinnamon and sugar work together to balance the tartness of the apples.  once the pancake has baked and become all golden brown, the top is dusted with powdered sugar, and it is perfect just like that.

(ryan likes to pour maple syrup on his slice, but i always stick to the traditional version with just the powdered sugar dusted on top.)

this breakfast dish holds such a special place in my heart.  every time i eat it, i am flooded with such fond memories of my childhood.  each bite is like getting a great big warm hug from my mom.  it's a comfort food for me, and it's the perfect way to start off a special morning.

ps: today i am guest posting over on carrie's blog "frugal foodie mama" and sharing this german apple puffed pancake recipe.  there is also a giveaway there too.  so, be sure to check out my guest post and the giveaway here.

slice the granny smith apples 

place the apple slices into a large pan with melted butter

add cinnamon and brown sugar

saute the apple slices until they are tender and evenly coated

whisk together the ingredients for the batter

allow butter to melt in a large baking pan while the oven preheats

place the apples in the warm buttery pan and pour the batter over the top

bake the pancake in the oven until it becomes puffed and golden brown

remove the pancake from the oven and dust the top with powdered sugar

german apple puffed pancake
prep time: 10-15 minutes
cooking time: 5-10 minutes
baking time: 30-40 minutes
yields: 4-6 servings

ingredients:
4 large granny smith apples
2 tablespoons salted butter (divided)
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
2-3 tablespoons brown sugar
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 cup milk
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
powdered sugar (for dusting)

directions:
peel, core, and slice the apples into medium size slices.  in a large non-stick pan, melt 1 tablespoon of butter over medium heat.  place the apple slices in the pan, and sprinkle the cinnamon and brown sugar over the apple slices.  saute the apple slices until they are tender, making sure that all of the apple slices are evenly coated.  meanwhile, preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.  while the oven is preheating, place 1 tablespoon of butter in a 9x13 inch glass baking pan.  put the baking pan in the oven, just until the butter melts, then remove the pan from the oven and evenly spread the butter around the pan.  once the apple slices are tender, pour them into the prepared glass baking pan.  whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, milk, eggs, and vanilla.  pour the batter evenly over the apple slices.  bake the pancake for 30-40 minutes or until it is puffed and golden brown, and an knife inserted in the center of the pancake comes out clean.  dust the top of the pancake with powdered sugar, and serve warm.

enjoy!

love, laurie