What are Æbleskiver?
Æbleskiver, (pronounced able ⋅ skee ⋅ vr) are Danish pancake balls that are popular around the holidays. The name translates to “apple slices, although many present-day recipes do not feature it as an ingredient in the batter.
Popular toppings include powdered sugar, berry jams, whipped cream, butter, and maple syrup. The spherical shape comes from a special æbleskiver pan with several inverted dome indentations. The cook uses a skewer or knitting needle to continuously turn the batter in the indentations to pancakes.
They are most commonly eaten at casual family gatherings, Christmas markets, open-air events, or from street vendors.
Wondering where you can get your hands on these tasty treats in Seattle? The National Nordic Museum in Ballard serves æbleskiver every year at our annual holiday market, Julefest, held the weekend before Thanksgiving.
Æbleskiver at the National Nordic Museum – Then & Now
Want to Make Æbleskiver at Home?
Here is the recipe that we use for Julefest!
Ingredients:
- 4 cups flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoon sugar
- 8 eggs
- 2 tablespoon baking powder
- 3 ½ cups buttermilk
- 2 teaspoon baking soda
- Canola oil, as needed for the pan
Instructions:
- Preheat the æbleskiver pan.
- Combine dry ingredients.
- Beat eggs for 3 minutes.
- Add buttermilk and dry ingredients alternately to eggs, beating after each addition.
- Pour 1 teaspoon of canola oil into each hole in the pan.
- Fill each hole 2/3 full of batter.
- Using a wooden skewer or fine knitting needle, flip the æbleskiver a ¼ turn when the batter becomes bubbly and the outside is beginning to brown. Continue to flip by ¼ turns so that the balls will cook evenly.
- To test for doneness, insert the wooden skewer or knitting needle into the æbleskiver to check if it comes out clean.
- Remove the æbleskiver from the pan. Dust with powdered sugar and serve with jam, whipped cream, or any topping of your choosing!
