Caramelized Apple German Pancake Food

APFELPFANNKUCHEN (GERMAN APPLE PANCAKES)

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, mix together flour, milk, water, and egg yolks.
• In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites with the salt until stiff peaks form. Fold the beaten egg whites into the flour mixture.
• Heat roughly ¼ Tbsp of butter in an 8" skillet over medium-high heat.
• Arrange some of the apple slices in the hot skillet. Let the apple slices caramelize for 30-45 seconds.
• Spoon enough batter into the skillet to fill the entire pan in a ¼ - ½ inch layer. (The batter will be stiff from the egg whites and will need to be spread evenly with a spatula to thin it for consistent cooking.)
• When edges start to turn golden and the center is mostly dry, about 4-5 min, carefully flip the pancake. Cook for 2-3 minutes on the second side. Then, slide the pancake onto a serving platter.
• Keep the pancakes warm in a low oven while you make the rest of the pancakes, adding a little butter to the skillet before each set of apples and batter. (As the pan gets hotter, you may need to reduce the heat slightly to keep the apples from burning.)
• Sprinkle the pancakes with cinnamon sugar to serve.

MINI GERMAN PANCAKES WITH APPLE-CALVADOS CARAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Combine the milk, sugar, vanilla, zest and eggs in a blender and blend until smooth. Add the flour, butter and salt and blend until completely smooth, about 1 minute. Spray muffin tins well with nonstick cooking spray and pour 1/4 cup batter into each tin, filling about three-quarters full. Bake until puffy and golden on top, about 15 minutes. Remove and let sit on a baking rack for a few minutes. Remove the individual pancakes to a platter. The pancakes will sink slightly in the center. Fill with some of the Apple-Calvados Caramel Sauce and dust with cinnamon powdered sugar.
• Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the apples and cook, stirring until soft, about 8 minutes. Whisk in the sugar and cook until the sugar melts and thickens slightly. Remove the skillet from the heat, add the calvados, then return to the stove and cook until reduced. Add the heavy cream and cook until warmed through. Finish with the mint.

CARAMELIZED APPLE PANCAKES

Steps:

• Heat a large, seasoned cast iron skillet over medium heat and add butter. Once skillet is hot and butter has melted, add diced apple and sprinkle evenly with sea salt. Toss and stir to coat the apples with melted butter and salt. Cover skillet with a lid for about 2 minutes.
• Remove lid and stir. Reduce heat slightly if apples are starting to brown too much. Cover and cook until apples are soft, 2 to 4 minutes. Remove lid and continue to cook, stirring, until apples are lightly browned all over, about 2 more minutes. Remove from heat and mix in coconut sugar, cinnamon, and apple pie spice. Set aside.
• Sift flour into a medium mixing bowl and add sugar, salt, and baking soda. Mix to combine. Whisk together buttermilk, egg, and melted butter in a second bowl. Pour liquid ingredients into flour mixture; stir just enough to incorporate.
• Heat a lightly oiled griddle over medium-high heat. Pour about 1/4 cup of batter at a time onto the hot griddle and cook until bubbles form and the edges are dry, 3 to 4 minutes. Flip and cook until browned on the other side, 2 to 3 minutes. Repeat with remaining batter. Serve pancakes with caramelized apples.

CARAMEL APPLE PANCAKES

Steps:

• Combine diced apples and water in a microwave-safe dish for the sauce. Cover and microwave on high power for 3 minutes. Stir, replace cover, and microwave on high until apples are fork-tender, about 2 more minutes. Drain and set aside.
• Combine brown sugar, cream, butter, and salt in a 2-quart saucepan over medium-low heat. Bring to a boil and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 7 minutes. Mixture should be bubbly all over the surface. Mix in vanilla extract and cook, stirring, for an additional 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in cooked, drained apples.
• Preheat an electric griddle to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C). Lightly grease.
• Combine flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt in a bowl.
• Combine eggs and milk in a separate container, stirring briskly until eggs are well incorporated. Drizzle in melted butter while stirring. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir until most of the lumps are gone.
• Use a 1/4-cup measuring cup to pour batter in batches onto the preheated griddle, forming 6-inch pancakes.
• Cook until bubbles form on top of the pancakes and the surface begins to look a little dry, 3 to 4 minutes. Brown to desired doneness on the second side, 2 to 3 minutes. Keep first batch warm in a 250 degrees F (120 degrees C) oven, while the remaining pancakes cook.
• Serve a stack of 3 pancakes with caramelized apple sauce, and garnish with chopped, toasted walnuts.