Puffed Apple Pancakes: A Family Tradition at Our House

Celiac.com 04/29/2022 - This past Thanksgiving I continued a family tradition that started nearly 30 years ago. I baked a pancake that goes by many different names but we call it a Puffed Apple Pancake.

This pancake is not your usual pancake! It is baked in the oven until golden brown, puffing up with large mountains that create perfect little valleys for holding special toppings, and it is utterly delicious. We usually fill those valleys with chopped apples that have been sautéed in butter and tossed with a little cinnamon and sugar. For many years, we were content to Puffed Apple Pancakes: A Family Tradition at Our House By Carol Fenster, Ph.D. simply dust powdered sugar on the top, but my daughter-in-law recently introduced us to the joy of adding a dollop of freshly whipped cream. How divine!

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I started baking this special, puffed pancake for my son when he was a toddler. It became one of our special treats as he was growing up, something I baked for him on holidays or when I wanted to make an “out of the ordinary” breakfast. Sometimes we topped it with fresh strawberries or blueberries instead of apples, but we always come back to our favorite—cinnamon-scented apples that fill our house with an enticing aroma.

This past Thanksgiving, I baked several of these pancakes so that my whole family could enjoy this treat. We were especially interested to see what my two-year-old grandson thought. Supremely unaware of the importance of this ritual (you see, I bake this pancake every time my son comes for a visit), my grandson gave it a two-year-old’s version of a “thumbs up”— he asked for seconds!

I bet there are foods that your family enjoys at special occasions—or for no special reason—simply because they hold fond memories and make everyone happy. These special foods—like my Puffed Pancake— are our way of bonding together, showing our family we love them, and instituting feelings of security and certainty in our lives. Ask your family what dishes they view as special or ones that they want you to continue serving because it makes them happy. You might be surprised!

Carol Fenster’s Puffed Apple Pancakes

This treat tastes best made with real butter. Any type of apples will work, but I prefer the flavor and texture of Gala, Granny Smith, or Fuji. Leave the skins on the apples for a more colorful dish, plus more fiber and nutrients.

Ingredients:

Pancake:

• 3 large eggs
• 1⁄4 cup gluten-free flour blend 
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt 
• 1/3 cup milk 
• 1 tablespoon soft butter or 
• margarine, melted
• Margarine or shortening for 
• greasing pans

Filling:

• 2 large apples, thinly sliced 
• 1 tablespoon butter or margarine
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1⁄4 teaspoon cinnamon

Toppings:

• Powdered sugar
• Whipped cream 

Directions:

Pancakes
1. Preheat oven to 450F. Generously grease 9 or 10-inch cast-iron (or oven-proof ) skillet (or, use two small oven-proof dishes approximately 4 inches in diameter). 
2. In blender, beat eggs until thick and fluffy. Gradually add flour, salt, and milk until well blended. Beat in melted butter or margarine. 
3. Pour into greased pans. Bake 10-15 minutes until puffed and nicely browned. After removing from oven, immediately fill valleys of pancake with sautéed apples. Cut into 4 pieces. Dust with powdered sugar and add a dollop of whipped cream. Serve immediately. Makes four small servings or two large ones. 

Filling
1. While the pancake is baking, sauté the apples in butter or margarine until soft. Toss with sugar and cinnamon.

Additional Tips
1. Choose a pan or skillet with sides that slope out at the top, rather than straight up and down. This allows the pancake to rise more quickly and therefore, higher and more beautiful.
2. Cast-iron skillets are great for this recipe; either one large 9 or 10-inch pan or two 4-inch pans will work. But you can also use stainless steel or any skillet or pan that is oven-proof. 
3. Be sure to generously grease the pan to make sure your beautiful pancake slides easily onto a plate.
4. Be prepared to eat the pancake right away since it quickly falls as it starts to cool.