Definition:

Aebleskiver - also spelled "ebelskiver" - are Denmark's hallmark "pancakes." Light and airy inside, these golden spheres are slightly crispy on the outside - a contrasting texture made possible by the cooking method: tablespoons of the batter are spooned into a special, welled pan, then baked and flipped 3 to 4 times during the cooking process until they form perfect spheres.

Their name, aebleskiver, translates as "apple slices," for they are often prepared by inserting a sliced apple into the center of each "pancake" as it bakes.


Yet there are multiple variations on this theme: in southern Jutland, cooks typically insert a prune filling instead, in a version called Sønderjyske or "Berliner" æbleskiver (recipe here). Some fill their aebleskiver with raspberry or strawberry jam; others serve the jam alongside the cooked fritter. Aebleskiver also are delightful when prepared with savory fillings, as Kevin Crafts demonstrates in what is possible the best English cookbook on the subject (see my full review of this great cookbook here).

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Pronunciation: ebel-sku-wyr

Also Known As: ebleskiver, apple slices, Danish pancakes

Alternate Spellings: ebleskiver

Examples: Apple-filled aebleskiver are a favorite Christmas treat in Denmark.