Æbleskiver (Danish Pancakes)

Aebleskiver are buttery, tender pancake-like balls that are enjoyed in Denmark during the holiday season. Dusted with powdered sugar and and served with jam, sweet and fluffy æbleskiver are an irresistible treat.

Lucky for us, they are very easy to make at home. Let me show you how!

Why This Recipe Works

These æbleskiver recipe produces top-notch results every time because:

• It contains just the right amount of sugar and isn't overly sweet;
• Just a hint of Nordic spices (cardamom and nutmeg) add welcome flavor to this otherwise simply flavored treat; and
• the eggs are separated and the egg whites are whipped before adding them to the recipe. This creates an extra light and fluffy texture in the final product.

The Ingredients

Nothing fancy, just simple pantry staples required here. I have a couple of ingredient notes when it comes to substitutions:

• If you are not a fan of cardamom and/or nutmeg or simply just want a more plain version of æbleskiver, feel free to omit one or both spices.
• The whole milk can replaced with plant-based milk or buttermilk if desired.

See the recipe card below for exact amounts and detailed instructions.

The Equipment

This recipe does require an æbleskiver pan, which is a pan with divots that is specially designed for making these pancake-like balls. You will also need a wooden skewer or some other sharp, pointy implement (some people use a knitting needle) to help turn the æbleskiver over while they are cooking

How to Make Æbleskiver at Home

Making æbleskiver is a lot like making traditional pancakes but with a few twists:

• Separate the egg yolks from the egg whites. Set aside.
• Combine the dry and wet ingredients in separate bowls, reserving the egg whites for the next step.
• Beat the egg whites with the whisk attachment of stand mixer until they form medium peaks that are fluffy but not dry. This can be done by hand but requires a lot of vigorous whisking!

• Mix the wet and dry ingredients together and then gently fold in the beaten egg whites.

• Heat an æbleskiver pan over medium low heat. Place a small cube of butter in each round or brush each round with melted butter using a heat proof pastry brush. Swirl the pan to coat all sides.

• Once the butter stops foaming, spoon batter into each round until it is nearly full. Cook until it is JUST set, about 1 minute.

• Using a skewer, flip each æbleskiver 90 degrees (the batter will run out into the bottom of each round).

• Continue turning the æbleskiver so that the partially cooked bottom is now on top.

• Turn the æbleskiver frequently using the skewer until golden brown on all sides and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes total.
• Transfer to a wire rack to cool slightly. Serve warm with powdered sugar and jam.

Expert Tips for Excellent Æbleskiver

• Monitor the heat carefully! It's easy for these Danish pancakes to cook too fast on the outside and not be done on the inside. Start with the heat at medium low and then adjust downward if they are cooking too quickly. You can check the doneness of the interior of the æbleskiver by inserting a skewer into the center (it should come out clean with no batter attached).
• Begin to turn them once the first side is just set. This helps them become more round and prevents the bottom side from browning too quickly.
• Turn the æbleskiver frequently. You will end up with a more evenly done, golden brown round final product if you continue to turn them as they cook.
• Be sure to wipe out the pan with a damp paper towel in between batches. This clears out any leftover butter or cooked bits of batter so that you can start with a clean slate.

FAQs

Æbleskiver Variations

The original recipe is delicious, but once you've got that mastered, try some of these variations:

• Vanilla Æbleskiver: Omit the cardamom and nutmeg and let the flavors of the vanilla extract shine through.
• Buttermilk Æbleskiver: Replace the milk with buttermilk and add ½ teaspoon of baking soda to the recipe.
• Filled Æbleskiver: While the pancakes are cooking, drop a couple of pieces of cubed apple, a dollop of fruit jam, a spoonful of pastry cream or a few small pieces of chocolate into the center of each æbleskiver.

Related Recipes

Looking for other Scandinavian holiday favorites? Give some of these classics a try!

Recipe