Aebleskiver

Aebleskiver: A Traditional Danish Dessert

Aebleskiver (pronounced ay-bluh-skee-ver) is a traditional Danish dessert, that is sometimes also spelled Ebelskiver. It consists of traditional Danish pancake balls with a fluffy interior and a crisp, golden-brown exterior. They are also referred to as traditional Danish pancake puffs. I recently traveled to Solvang, California, which is considered the Danish Capitol of America!

It was in Solvang that I tried Aebleskiver for the very first time. And I absolutely fell in love with it! It was so light and delicious! I just had to learn more about it and its history. And of course, I had to learn how to make it at home! 

How It’s Cooked

Aebleskiver is cooked in a special, dimpled pan and is commonly served during Christmas, dusted with powdered sugar and dipped in raspberry or strawberry jam, rather than syrup. They are traditionally served in groups of three and eaten with fingers, dipped first into raspberry or strawberry jam and then into powdered sugar. (Although, in Solvang, California, I was given a fork to eat them with). In Denmark, they are the quintessential Christmas treat, typically served at family gatherings or by street vendors during winter.

The Danish word Aebleskiver literally translates into the words “Apple Slices” in English. While Aebleskiver originated with apple slices inside (made by dipping slices of apple into pancake batter before frying them), most modern versions do not contain any apple. I did provide a way to add in apple slices in the notes section of the recipe, if you would like to try it. But the version I tried in Solvang did not contain any apple slices and it was so wonderful!

As I mentioned, the cooking technique requires a specialized, heavy pan with round, half spherical molds that are often in cast iron or copper, but can also be found in nonstick versions as well. I provided a link to a great one right here: Nordic Ware Danish Ebelskiver Pan. It is non-stick and cleans up well.

You can make six Aebleskiver at a time, which is perfect. In Solvang, one serving is three Aebleskiver balls, but of course, you can decide what is your best serving size (could be one Aebleskiver ball, could be all six!).

It is recommended to flip them with skewers or chop sticks. This is to help it form a perfect sphere. Unlike standard pancakes that are flipped once, Aebleskiver must be turned multiple times. Though now we use a skewer, traditionally it was turned using a knitting needle! You can still flip them this way today as well. You can also feel free to just use a fork!

A Danish Tradition

Aebleskiver is traditionally served during the holiday season in Denmark with jam, powdered sugar and often glögg, which is mulled wine.

Aebleskiver symbolizes community and hospitality. Common ingredients include buttermilk, eggs and sugar. Sometimes, people add in cardamom and lemon zest, but those last two won’t be part of our recipe today. There are also recipes containing active yeast. But most recipes use buttermilk and baking soda to achieve a light, airy texture similar to a popover or Yorkshire pudding (this is the recipe we will be using).

Although they are traditionally served during the holidays in Denmark, in Solvang, Aebleskiver is served year round. While Danes rarely eat Aebleskiver for breakfast, Danish-American communities often serve them as a weekend brunch item, sometimes paired with maple syrup or sausage.

There is also an interesting Viking Legend that I’d like to share.

The Viking Legend

A popular myth exists that Aebleskiver was invented by the Vikings! The story goes that the Vikings invented the dish by cooking pancake batter in their dented shields after returning from battle. And the dented shields developed into the Aebleskiver pan! I think this story has so many fun elements to it. However, historians point out that Viking shields were primarly made of wood, making this story more of a fun folk take than a historical fact. (I still think it’s a great story!).

Other Fillings

As I mentioned earlier, sometimes people put apple inside their Aebleskiver, but sometimes they also include jam or chocolate as a filling. And sometimes, they include savory fillings with ingredients with cheese or herbs.

Aebleskiver: Served in Solvang, California

By the way, I documented my visit to Solvang and did a comprehensive review as a blog (and a video) that you can go to by clicking here: Solvang, CA… Worth the Trip for Food Lovers? In addition to trying Aebleskiver for the first time, I also try many other restaurants and talk about Solvang’s history and all the things you can do there and in the surrounding area.

I stayed for four days and three nights in Solvang, California and really got to experience it. And I’m so glad I did. It’s so different than other vacation spots in the United States. It really was an experience. Well, now that we’ve learned about Aebleskiver, let’s learn how to make it!