| Prep: 15 mins | Cook: 20 mins | Difficulty: Easy | Serves: 6 |
| kcal | fat | saturates | carbs |
| 399 | 9.5g | 5.8g | 70g |
| sugars | fibre | protein | salt |
| 23g | 3.7g | 9.4g | 0.59g |
Why I Love Polish Apple Pancakes
I hold a certain soft spot for this recipe of Apple Pancakes. Having been born and raised in Atlanta, you might expect my culinary focus to stay firmly within the realms of Afro-Southern fusion. While that is my signature style, I allow my culinary adventures to wander and explore through other cuisines. This particular recipe is inspired by the mouth-watering delights of Polish cuisine, showing that fantastic flavors can transcend geographical and cultural borders.
Cross-Cultural Culinary Adventures
Though it may seem a far cry from the cornbread and jambalaya my southern heart holds dear, these Apple Pancakes bring me immense joy. Polish cuisine has a beautiful simplicity to it, with a primary focus on hearty, nutritious ingredients. I think this is a feature it shares with both West African and American Southern food, hence my attraction to it.
There’s something truly magical about how simple ingredients like apples, flour, and a pinch of cinnamon combined in unique ways can produce such sophisticated flavors. Taking a break from chilies and other spicy elements in my African heritage, the gentle sweetness of these pancakes provides a refreshing detour.
A Nod to Julia Child
When I think about international culinary exploration, I can’t help but pay homage to the incredible Julia Child. Today, her fearless exploration of French cuisine inspires my journey into uncharted culinary territories, such as Poland. The creation of these Apple Pancakes stemmed from the same desire to experiment and discover new combinations and flavors.
Serving Suggestions and Pairings
The beauty of these pancakes is their versatility. Start your day with a sweet, hearty breakfast, or end a dinner party with a warm, inviting dessert. These Apple Pancakes are the culinary equivalent of a chameleon.
If you’re wondering about ideal pairings, imagine enjoying these Apple Pancakes alongside a hot chai latte or a cold glass of milk. The warm hints of cinnamon in the pancakes blend perfectly with your beverage of choice, creating a harmony of flavors that would satisfy and delight your palate.
Additionally, these pancakes remind me a bit of the classic Southern dish, apple dumplings. Both make incredible use of the beautiful flavor potential of apples, but our Polish-influenced pancakes are a fun and different way to indulge in these well-loved flavors.
For me, love for a recipe grows from a blend of passion for culinary exploration, shared cultural undertones, and the sheer joy of creating and consuming delicious food. These Apple Pancakes encompass all these elements, making them hold a special place in my heart and in my kitchen.
What You’ll Need
- 1.5 cups of all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons of white sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon of salt
- 1.5 teaspoons of baking powder
- 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
- 1.25 cups of milk
- 1 large egg
- 3 tablespoons of melted butter
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 3 medium-sized apples, peeled and grated
- Additional butter for cooking
- Powdered sugar for dusting (optional)
Method
Step One
Begin by mixing together the 1.5 cups of all-purpose flour, 2 tablespoons of white sugar, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, 1.5 teaspoons of baking powder, and 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon in a large bowl. This will be your dry mix.
Step Two
In another bowl, whisk together the 1.25 cups of milk, 1 large egg, 3 tablespoons of melted butter, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. This will be your wet mix.
Step Three
Grate 3 medium-sized apples after peeling them. You can then add the grated apples to the wet mix.
Step Four
Next, start to gradually mix the dry ingredients into the bowl with the wet mix. Combine the ingredients until the batter is smooth.
Step Five
Heat a non-stick pan over medium heat and add a pat of butter to the hot pan.
Step Six
Drop 1/4 cup of the pancake batter onto the pan for each pancake and cook until it’s brown on both sides. This should usually take about 2-3 minutes per side.
Step Seven
Repeat this process with the remaining batter, adding more butter to the pan as needed.
Step Eight
Finally, serve your fresh apple pancakes warm and dust them with powdered sugar if desired. Enjoy your homemade apple pancakes!
