German apple pancakes are made from a batter which is poured over caramelised apples. The pan is then put into the oven where the pancake cooks and puffs up. Perfect for breakfast or dessert

Pancake day is fast approaching. Traditionally in England, we make pancakes with a sprinkle of lemon and sugar. These use up the last of the milk, eggs and butter in the cupboard before Lent begins.

Part of the fun is flipping them into the air to turn them over. Catching them in the pan is an art that is hard to master.

Whilst I love traditional pancakes I have recently been experimenting with different kinds. For a delicious meal crispy chicken and bacon savoury pancakes were perfect. I also travelled a bit further afield and tried making Indonesian pancakes. These are sweet and bright green in colour so will cause a sensation when served.

If you have children they always know about pancake day. My son always comes home from school and demands pancakes. Even if I haven’t told him about it he knows and it would be a disappointment if I didn’t make pancakes. Fortunately, they are quick and easy to make and can even be made in advance.

I am not brave enough to flip them, I use a spatula to turn them over. It avoids any disasters like pancakes hanging from the ceiling.

German Apple Pancakes

Over the weekend I tried making German apple pancakes. These are apple filled baked pancakes are known as Apfelpfannkuchen in Germany. S

ometimes these pancakes are known as Dutch babies, probably a corruption of the German word deutsch which means German. They are delicious. German apple pancakes capture all the flavour of an apple pie in a form that is lighter and airy. These pancakes are a delight to eat.

How to make German apple pancakes

German apple pancakes are easy to make. First, prepare the apples. Melt some butter and add the slices of apple to the pan with some sugar and cinnamon. Cook them gently until they are soft and caramelised.

When the apples are ready pour the batter over the top of the apples and place the pan in a preheated oven. Make sure that the pan you are using will fit in the oven before you start and that it is oven proof.

As the pancake cooks a type of magic occurs. It puffs up and rises in a similar way to a Yorkshire pudding. When taken out of the oven it will look large and overflow the pan. This is bound to awe and impress your family before they even taste it. The large pancake is cut into slices and put onto plates. It is a perfect dish for a brunch.