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Dutch Baby with Spiced Apples

Yesterday morning I woke up with a plan. I was making a Dutch Baby with Spiced Apples. Decades ago, there was a restaurant in Skokie, IL that served something like this and I have always wanted to make it. As always I had researched several different recipes (it is also called a German Apple Pancake or a Baked Apple Pancake, Dutch Baby and several other names) and then recreated it with my own twist.

Full transparency -> A Kitchen Confession:

Before I get to the recipe, I need to confess that the morning started with a bit of excitement. I had my plan, so I got out of bed and straight to the kitchen. First thing I did was turn on the oven to get it nice and hot – set to 450 degrees. (I usually set it about 25 degrees hotter than the recipe calls for because of the heat loss when I open the door. Once the item is in the oven, I reset to the required temperature.)

Ok, the oven is hot, and I need to melt the butter in the skillet. I smell something burning but am not concerned. However, there is now smoke leaching out the vents. I open the oven door and oops…. FIRE! Not a birthday candle fire that could be blown out “with a huff and a puff,” but also not an “oh sh!t, call the fire department either!” It is somewhere between where is my fire extinguisher and what if I grab some water.

Oy, Flaming Cheese!

Alas, I keep a layer of aluminum foil on the bottom of my oven as I tend to have things spill over. Just last week our pizzas lost some cheese through a crack in the crust and well, that is what caught fire in a few locations on the foil.  Without really thinking, I grabbed the foil and tossed it in the sink. Water on and the fire is out. Oops not yet, there is flaming cheese on the kitchen floor creating a soot line on the cabinet. I toss a wet paper towel on it and now the fire it out. Note to self: Change foil more frequently.

Clean off the soot on the floor and cabinet. Put clean foil in the oven, and now it is time for my Dutch Baby.

 

Dutch Baby with Spiced Apples

Ingredients

***** For Batter *****

4 eggs
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 cup turbinado** or white sugar
A pinch salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup milk (I used 1/2 cup heavy cream & 1/2 cup cashew milk as that is what I had)*
1 tablespoons butter, melted in microwave (unsalted if you stock it)

***** For Spiced Apples *****

2 tablespoons butter, (unsalted if you stock it)
1/4 cup palm sugar or brown sugar**
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 apples – peeled, cored and sliced

Preparation

In a mixing bowl or your blender, blend eggs, flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt. Next add milk, vanilla, one tablespoon melted butter and mix until the batter is without any lumps. (This is a super thin batter) Let batter stand for at least 15 or up to 30 minutes.

dutch baby

Preheat oven to 425 degrees

Melt butter in a 12 inch cast iron or another oven-proof skillet, brushing butter up on the sides of the pan. Once the butter melts, sprinkle with the 1/4 cup palm or brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Add in the apple slices and toss to coat. Once coated, spread out apples into a single layer. Place in oven and bake until the mixture bubbles (about 15 minutes). Remove from oven to gently pour the batter over the apples and place back into the oven.

                                             dutch baby

dutch baby

dutch baby dutch baby

Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 300 degrees and bake for ten more minutes. The pancake will be all puffed up when you remove from the oven and will fall as you slide it out of the pan onto a serving platter.

dutch baby

dutch baby

Sprinkle with powdered sugar (if you like). Cut into wedges and serve immediately. 

Feeds 2 to 4 people

Optional additional toppings: Maple syrup, apple butter, plum preserves

dutch baby

Notes:

*We do not drink regular milk so all I had in the fridge was Cashew Milk.  Since I was afraid that elements of true dairy are needed I used 1/2 cup heavy cream & 1/2 cup cashew milk and it turned out perfectly. I may try with just cashew milk next time.

** Most recipes call for plain white sugar, I use turbinado, palm and brown sugar because I like the caramel flavor that these sugars impart.

Download Recipe Here: Dutch Baby with Spiced Apple

Well, that is all for now…

Cheers,

rick