Apple Dutch Baby Pancake

*Disclaimer - This recipe was originally published in 2014. I'm working hard to update all my older recipes with recipe cards, new photos, and additional recipe information. But, getting to all of them will take time. Please bear with me. In the meantime let me assure you that this recipe is still a winner and one I'm sure you'll be well pleased with when you make it at home.

I remember my sister-in-law Carole making something she called a wooden shoe several years ago while we were on a family cabining vacation in Wisconsin.

She served it for brunch one Sunday morning when we were all gathered at the picnic table outside their cabin. When Carole stepped out of the cabin that Sunday morning holding the glorious-looking wooden shoe in her hands, I remember the incredible amount of oohs and aahs she'd received from everybody in attendance.

It's a memory that has always stuck with me, and it's one that I carry fondly in my heart as I travel throughout my cooking and baking food journey. I aspire to hear those oohs and aahs and feed family and friends in the same fashion Carole did on that fine Sunday morning.

Carole, you've been an inspiration to me in so, so many ways. From being a fabulous mother, wife, cook, confidant, friend, and sister-in-law (just to name a few of your wonderful attributes). So I figured it was about time I tell you so, and I really hope you're reading this. LOL

This recipe I'm sharing with you today was inspired by Carole and her amazing wooden shoe.

But sadly this is not Carole's recipe. It's one I found in the October 2014 issue of Bon Appetit magazine. I adapted the recipe ever so slightly and decided to double it because my cast iron skillet is gigantic, and I needed to make sure I'd had enough batter to cover the entire bottom of the skillet.

The thing about an Apple Dutch Baby Pancake is that it's similar to a souffle, in which it puffs up all nice and golden when it comes right from the oven. And then, before you can say, "come and get it," it deflates like a popped balloon. Unfortunately, I wasn't quick enough to get that picture, so I hope you'll trust me on that.

I do however remember Carole's being all nice and puffy brown, so I'm pretty sure she must have sprinted from the oven to the picnic table on that day at the cabin in Wisconsin. See, I told you Carole was wonderful!

Sadly, I'm not that quick...or that wonderful, and the only one who oohed and aahed... was me. HaHa!

From what I remember, Carole served hers with some fresh lemon wedges to squeeze over the top and some powdered sugar.

For this recipe, apple cider is reduced down on the stovetop with a little brown sugar and cinnamon sticks to make a syrup that is poured over the pancake while still hot from the oven. Ooh! Aah!

*Note - this recipe is designed to be made in a 12" cast iron skillet.

APPLE DUTCH BABY PANCAKE    {PRINT THIS RECIPE}
Serves:  6-8       Prep Time:  30 minutes (includes the syrup making)   Bake Time: 20-25 minutes

For the syrup:
4 cups apple cider
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon brown sugar
3 cinnamon sticks
pinch freshly grated nutmeg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

For the pancake:
2 large honey crisp apples, peeled, cored, and sliced to ¼" thickness
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon brown sugar
5 large eggs, at room temperature
1 cup milk (I used 2%)
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
½ teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, divided
4 tablespoons butter, divided

To make the syrup:
-Bring the apple cider, butter, brown sugar, cinnamon sticks, and nutmeg to a boil on high heat in a medium-sized saucepan. Reduce the heat to medium/high and gently boil, stirring occasionally until the mixture reduces and becomes thick and syrupy (approximately 30 minutes). Remove the cinnamon sticks. Remove the syrup from the heat and stir in the vanilla. Set aside until the pancake is baked and ready.

To make the pancake:
-While the syrup is reducing, Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
-In a large 12" cast iron skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter and add the brown sugar.
-Add the apples to the skillet along with ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon. Cook over medium/high heat (approximately 2-3 minutes) to soften the apples slightly.
-Use pot holders to carefully move the skillet into the preheated oven while you make the pancake batter.
-In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, flour, baking powder, salt, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, and 2 tablespoons of melted butter.
-Remove the skillet from the oven and carefully pour the pancake batter over the apples in the hot skillet.
-Return the skillet to the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes until the pancake is cooked through and has puffed and browned.
-Immediately pour the apple cider syrup over the pancake. Cut into wedges and serve,

Here are a few step-by-step photos to show you the process of making this Apple Dutch Baby Pancake. Should you have any questions, please feel free to leave them in the comment section for me and I'll be happy to answer them for you as soon as possible.

• Prepare the apple cider syrup and set it aside while you prepare the pancake.
• Melt butter in the skillet and saute the sliced apples in brown sugar to soften slightly.
• Carefully place the skillet and apples into a preheated oven while preparing the pancake batter.

• In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, vanilla, and melted butter.

• Carefully remove the skillet from the oven and pour the pancake batter over the apples in the skillet.
• Return the skillet to the oven and bake until golden brown and slightly puffed.

• Pour the apple cider syrup immediately over the hot pancake.
• Cut into wedges and serve.

I hope you've enjoyed this recipe as much as I've enjoyed bringing it to you and also about telling you a little bit about Carole. I wish that Carole and I lived closer together (she lives in California, and I live in Illinois).

Recently I know I disappointed her greatly by having to cancel a trip we were planning on taking to go out and visit her and her husband. It pains me greatly that I hurt her with the difficult decision we needed to make. And in her same Carole fashion, she sympathized, listened, understood, and sent love...which is just what a Wonder Woman would do! Thanks, Carole. I love you, and I promise we'll be out to visit just ASAP!!!