Apple Dutch Baby

Yesterday felt like fall, but not the fall I enjoy. Crisp with a side of cool? Yes, please. Wet and miserable? No thank you! I felt like doing nothing but huddling under a blanket on my couch for the past day or so, and I was grumpy that I had to put socks on last night. So, what's a cold, soggy, sun-deprived, sock-wearing girl to do in order to make herself feel better? Get a mani and a pedi? No. This girl is going to make her life better by making a beautiful, golden, caramel-y, cinnamon-y, apple dutch baby. And she's going to sprinkle it with lots and lots of powdered sugar, and she's going to ENJOY EVERY MOMENT!!



We drove out to Outlook Farm yesterday and picked up two large bags of "utility" apples. Outlook Farm sells slightly bruised, not red enough, or just-too-darned-big-to-eat-at-once apples in large bags (maybe 20lbs?) for $9.95. We purchased a bag each of Gravenstein and Lady Golds, and I just ate one of the smallest I could dig out. It tasted just as good as an apple that would have come from the tinier, more expensive bag! We did not buy all these apples just to make dutch babies. Rather, we have big plans to make BIG BATCHES of delicious apple butter in the near future, but more on that later. Let's get to the task at hand, shall we? (If you've forgotten, the task is to make me feel less miserable about the rainy coldness...)

An apple dutch baby is a large, baked pancake with apples and cinnamon. It's sweet and buttery, but not overly so, and I think it has a bread pudding-like consistancy. It's perfect for a decadent breakfast or a great fall dessert, maybe with some vanilla ice cream (but that's really making it rich!). You'll need a 12" cast iron frying pan for this, as you'll be making this baby on the stove top first, then transferring the pan right into the oven. Cut into wedges and serve warm. You can reheat them the next day, or snack on it at room temp. I've been using this basic recipe from www.cooks.com, and I love it because it's fast, easy, and I always have the ingredients on hand during the fall months.

Recipe: Apple Dutch Baby
from Cooks.com

You'll need:
  • 6 tbsp. butter
  • 2 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1/4 c. brown sugar
  • 2 lg. Gravenstein or Granny Smith apples, thinly sliced
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 c. flour
  • 1 c. milk
  • Powdered sugar

In a 10-12 inch frying pan (cast iron is good), melt butter and stir in cinnamon and sugar. Add apples. Cook, stirring until apples are translucent, about 5 minutes. Place pan, uncovered, in 425 degree oven while you mix the batter, about 5 minutes.

Mix eggs and flour until smooth. Blend in milk. Pour batter evenly over apples in pan. Bake, uncovered, until pancake is puffy and golden, about 15 minutes. Dust with powdered sugar and let stand about 5 minutes. Cut into wedges.

Make yourself happy! Make the Apple Dutch Baby!

2 comments:

  1. I did as you suggested and "made myself happy" tonight. This was excellent and much easier than apple pies (last year's apple baking obsession). My boyfriend is just finishing his 3rd helping. :)

    We are also first time CSA'ers this year and your blog has been super helpful. Since our weekly harvests are so similar to yours, I often check your site for inspiration.

    Next up: apple butter!

    Stephanie

    ReplyDelete
  2. Toby made this recipe last night, and it is fantastic! Easy and delicious, my favorite combination. :)

    I took your suggestion and ate it for breakfast, too. ;)

    ReplyDelete

 

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