This fall I met Chad and his partners at the Mill City Farmer’s Market in Minneapolis. My co-author and I did a bread presentation from our book Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day. When I came off the stage, there was Chad and these funny round pans, which were filled with little cakey spheres. I’m not sure what pastry rock I have been living under, but this site was completely foreign to me. I had to run off to do a wedding cake that day so I couldn’t stay to see Chad’s explanation or try one of these donut/dumpling/cake/crepe like creations. The following week I went back to find him and his spheres and found out they were called aebleskivers. Here’s what I learned:
They are a traditional Danish treat. The recipe they serve at Aunt Else’s has been in the family for over 100 years. They fry them in cast iron pans made just for this purpose. (I must say I’m in love with this pan and WILL find additional uses for it!) The perfectly patinaed pans they use at the Farmer’s Market have been passed down in the Andersen & Henriksen family for generations. They were given to the current owners by none other than Aunt Else, along with the family recipe. They won’t share the secret recipe, but they do sell an organic whole wheat Aebleskiver mix and the pan, so you can make your own! Chad and his partners, after I spent the better part of a morning watching them in action at the market, they agreed to give me a pan and some of their mix to try out. My kids and I loved them so much that I want to share it with you!
They are so simple to make, even my 7 year old son was able to master the Aebleskiver, with lots of stove top supervision! Just follow the instructions on the bag for mixing the batter, then
heat the pan over medium-low heat. Drop a 1/2 teaspoon of neutral flavored oil in each of the wells.
Fill each well about 3/4 of the way full with the batter.
Let them cook until they start to bubble just a little, or until you see them turning golden on the edge.
With a chop stick or a skewer, turn the Aebleskiver by pushing down along the side of the well and scooping the batter up slightly. Turn it 1/4 and let it cook again. If the Aeblskiver is ready to turn this will be quite easy. If you have to fight it to turn than give it another few seconds to cook. Like anything, it may take a couple of skivers to get comfortable. Just keep in mind that my 7 year old can do it, no problem! 😉
After you have turned them all, then start back at the first one and give them another 1/4 turn. It is traditional to put a slice of apple in the center at this point. Aebleskiver means “apple slice,” but you can put anything you like in there. We’ve tried ham and cheese, chocolate, pears, cherry jam, sausage, bacon, bananas. Go crazy!
Repeat until they are completely cooked. You can poke one with a skewer to make sure they are all the way done through. Pick them up with a pair of tongs and repeat!
My friend Sue Zelickson, the Minneapolis Food Maven, was at the market and she enjoyed Aunt Else’s Aebleskivers with me! They serve them dusted in powdered sugar with a few different flavored syrups or preserves.
Several people have asked me what products they should put on their Christmas wish lists this holiday, here are my ultimate must haves in your kitchen to bake breads and pastries! And my camera equipment, for those of you that can’t bake without taking pictures of your food. It happens to the best of us! Am I missing anything??? What is your favorite piece of equipment?
Breads:
Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day – But you knew I’d say that! 😉
Baking Stone
Pizza Peel
Oxo Good Grips Pastry Scraper
Taylor Oven Thermometer
Round Storage Container 6 Quart Clear
Escali Measuring Scale
Pastry:
KitchenAid 5-Quart Stand Mixers
Spatula Set – different sizes for different jobs
Nonstick Silicone Baking Mat
Microplane Grater/Zester
Wüsthof Le Cordon Bleu 10-Inch Serrated Super Slicer
Piping Bag – Featherweight – 18″
Pastry Tip Set
PASTRY BRUSH SET
8 by 3-Inch Round Cake Pan
Marble Rolling Pin I like the weight of this pin and that the marble stays cool
The Simple Art of Perfect Baking
Baking with Julia Savor the Joys of Baking with America’s Best Bakers
Cookwise and BakeWise:– food science made fun!I love cookwise and have just started reading bakewise. I’m loving the food science more than the recipes.
On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen
Photography:
Canon Digital Rebel XSi Camera with 18-55mm Lens (Black)
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Camera Lens
Happy Holidays and I hope you get everything on your wish list!
***Here is a nice piece that Rick Nelson did recently on my Granny’s Brown-Butter Shortbread Cookies for the Star Tribune Website. He used a picture of me from 8 years ago when I was pregnant with my youngest son, the Aebleskiver maker I mentioned above! 😉
PS…Zoe, BTW–The best tool for turning æbleskivers…. knitting needles!
My husband received one of these pans last year for X-mas from his sister along with his grandmas recipe. We love them and he has a great time making them.
Hey Zoe-
I’m sorry I didn’t see this post earlier! Wish I could have helped with your Scandinavian education a little sooner by having you over to my holiday party last year when my family was in town. Mom made æbleskivers for everyone who came to the open house–they are our favorite Xmas treat! (Ask Bret & Jon someday about how they helped mom cook…) Something to think about adding to your other recipes is cardamom–it is a must for æbleskivers! My job as a kid was to get the seeds out of the pods and grind them in a mortar & pestle (I’m sure your boys would be great at that!). I’d be happy to share our family recipe with you–it’s made lighter by separating the eggs and folding in the beaten egg whites into the batter. Really, the best I’ve ever had. Have a great holiday!
YUM! these look delicious!
So good even a Norwegian loves them! Aebleskivers are delicious and I’d love a pan of my own!
I LOVE THESE!
I have always wanted one of those pans. We didn’t even have one at my culinary school!
Those little treats look fantastic. I would make them sweet with raspberry jam. Mmmmm
Wow! These look delish. I want I want!!!!
🙂
I had an aebelskive pan years ago but it was lost when we moved. Couldn’t find a source to replace it, but I do remember how wonderful the treats were. I made them for special weekends.
Oh, and you are so right to put the Artisan Bread in Five Minutes in Five Minutes A Day on your list. I just got it and it is fabulous! Haven’t made anything yet because I need to find a plastic container to use in the fridge, but am looking forward to it.
I recently heard about these from a friend, but I had never seen them before! Thanks for the great pics – what a beautiful pan!
I have seen them before and they so good. You try putting jam in the middle.
Those look great would love to try them!!!
My sister makes these for my daughter whenever they do a sleepover. My daughter was so-o-o-o excited when they showed up at Mill City! They’re doing a winter farmers’ market at Local D’Lish on 1st Street in Minneapolis – 3rd Saturday of the month (so there’s one this Saturday!). And Aunt Else’s has a stand set up there. Go get some aebleskivers!
The aebleskivers look delish! Great photos BTW.
Ooooh, I LOVE aebleskivers!
Hi Zoe –
Our friend Carolyn (for whom you made the marzipan cherries)made Aebleskiver’s last Christmas and they were the best. I’ll have to make your’s to see how they compare. (As an aside: I recommended your book today… I think I sold it!)
Happy Holidays to you and your family.
My husband would be so happy if I won this pan – he’s loved aebleskivers since enjoying them as a kid on a trip to Solvang, CA!
These are good!
Felicity, thanks for sharing your Grandma’s recipe. What a treasure. Our family recipe must be more Americanized because we use buttermilk, and baking soda & powder.
I’ve heard of people cooking with butter, but I’ve always been afraid of it burning. I will try it out next time I make aebleskiver!
For those interested in a pan, we are temporarily offering 10% off every item in our online store at http://auntelse.com/shop.aspx
Happy Holidays everyone!
Oh my, by the time I get the right pronounciation, all Aebleskiver will be eaten! It’s looks so yummy, and the pan does a wonderful job. That would be a wonderful Christmas present! Thanks for the whislist, I sure could have a lot a fun just with a couple of those presents. Happy hollidays, Zoe!
I love checking your site each day. So far we have made three different recipes and have been thrilled witht he results. It would be a lot of fun to have this new pan so that my two kids and I could go crazy creative with what could go inside. Yeah for you! 🙂
I thought about buying this pan not too long ago at W-S but wondered if it will work on a flat cooktop (rather than a gas range), since the bottom’s not flat. I didn’t take the time to ask a salesperson, but after your terrific review and photos I’m going to head back over there to find out!
These look lovely. I appreciate the step by step photos…
Those look wonderful. I am enjoying your site.
my mouth is watering…
sign me up