If you love to get a do-ahead jump on things whenever possible, today’s breakfast-brightening recipe is your kind of thing. Or, if you’re a last-gasp specialist, the do-now technique works equally well. It’s one of those win-win situations, no matter when.
Bothell cook Jackie Saarela sent it along to us, along with a handful of other Finnish pancake options, hoping it might be just what Virginia Hobbs of Everett was looking for. Jackie notes it’s taken from a 1964 edition of “The Finnish Cookbook.”
In addition to its do-whenever batter, this applelicious concoction can be served either hot for breakfast or cold as a coffee time go-with.
Yeast batter oven pancake (hiivapannukakku)
11/2teaspoons active dry yeast
2 tablespoons warm water
11/2cups milk, scalded and cooled to lukewarm
1 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons sugar
3 eggs, beaten
2 cups flour
2 tablespoons butter, plus extra for buttering the pans
Cinnamon sugar
1/2-1cup sugar (depending on the tartness of the apples) mixed with 2 teaspoons cinnamon
2large cooking apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
Dissolve the yeast in the water and add the milk, salt, sugar and eggs. Beat until smooth. Add the flour and beat again until smooth. To prepare the night before, cover and refrigerate; in the morning, the batter should be bubbly. If it is not, let it stand at room temperature until large bubbles appear on the surface. If making in the morning, cover and let rise in a warm place until the batter has large bubbles.
Butter two 8- or 9-inch round cake pans very well and sprinkle evenly with about 2 tablespoons of the cinnamon sugar. Arrange the apples in a layer over the bottom of the pans and sprinkle with the remaining cinnamon sugar. Dot with the butter. Pour the yeast batter over the apples, dividing it equally between the two pans.
Bake in a moderately hot oven, 385 degrees, yes, 385 degrees, for 30 to 35 minutes or until the tops of the pancakes are golden.
To serve, invert pancakes onto plates and cut into 3-inch wedges. Serve hot for breakfast or serve cold as a coffee accompaniment.
Makes about 12 wedges.
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