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Recipe

Dutch-Inspired New Year Apple Pancakes

Make thin Dutch-inspired apple pancakes for New Year brunch, with tender apple slices and cinnamon. Includes flipping tips, serving ideas and nutrition.

Dutch-Inspired New Year Apple Pancakes
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Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups (190 g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 3/4 cups (420 ml) whole milk
  • 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 medium firm apples (about 350 g), peeled, cored and very thinly sliced
  • 3 tablespoons (42 g) unsalted butter, divided
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 tablespoons (15 g) powdered sugar, for serving

Instructions

  1. Whisk the flour and salt together. In another bowl, whisk the eggs, milk and vanilla, then gradually beat into the flour until the batter is smooth. Cover and rest for 20 minutes while slicing the apples.
  2. Cut the apples into slices about 1/8 inch thick so they cook quickly. Divide the slices loosely into eight portions. Stir the rested batter and divide mentally into eight portions of roughly 1/3 cup each.
  3. Heat a 9- or 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat. Melt about one-eighth of the butter, add a portion of apples in a loose single layer and cook for 1–2 minutes until beginning to soften.
  4. Pour a portion of batter around and over the apples, tilting promptly to cover the base. Cook for 2–3 minutes until the top loses its wet shine and the underside is golden. Lower the heat if the apple edges darken before the batter sets.
  5. Slide a wide spatula fully beneath the pancake and turn carefully. Cook the second side for 1–2 minutes until no wet batter remains. If turning is difficult, use two spatulas rather than tossing the pan.
  6. Transfer to a warm plate. Repeat with the remaining butter, apple portions and batter to make eight pancakes. Stir the batter before each scoop because flour settles.
  7. Fold the pancakes loosely into quarters and serve two per person. Mix the cinnamon and powdered sugar, then sift a modest share over each portion just before eating.

Thin apple pancakes bring a simple, warm centerpiece to a relaxed New Year breakfast. Apple slices soften in a little butter before the batter flows around them, making a broad pancake with fruit in every bite rather than a thick stack.

These original pancakes are inspired by Dutch pannenkoeken. They are a festive brunch suggestion, not a substitute for traditional Dutch New Year oliebollen. The batter has no raising agent and should spread easily across the pan.

Texture and serving

These pancakes are thinner than American pancakes but thicker where apple slices sit. They are best freshly cooked; additional syrup or yogurt is optional and not included in the estimate.

Make ahead

Refrigerate covered batter for up to one day and stir before use. Refrigerate cooked leftovers promptly and reheat covered in a skillet until hot throughout.

Frequently asked questions

Why did the pancake tear?

It may have been turned before the upper surface set, or the apples may have been sliced too thickly. Give it another minute and support it with a wide spatula.

Do I need baking powder?

No. A thin, flexible pancake is the goal; baking powder would create a different texture.

Nutrition notes

Nutrition is an approximate editorial estimate per serving, not a laboratory analysis. Brands, substitutions and portion sizes change the values. These original recipe drafts have not been kitchen-tested; use the stated doneness checks as well as timing.

Estimate includes all apples, butter and cinnamon sugar divided into four servings of two pancakes; additional toppings are excluded.

Allergens: Wheat; Eggs; Milk. Check all product labels.

Food storage and handling

Refrigerate perishable leftovers in shallow containers within 2 hours, or within 1 hour above 90°F / 32°C. Keep at 40°F / 4°C or colder, use within 3–4 days and reheat cooked leftovers to 165°F / 74°C. Follow any shorter storage guidance given in the recipe.

Illustrative recipe image; presentation may vary. This is not a photograph of a kitchen test.

Per serving

Nutrition facts

Serving size: Two thin apple pancakes (estimated nutrition)

Calories
435
Total fat
17 g
Saturated fat
9 g
Cholesterol
130 mg
Sodium
245 mg
Total carbohydrate
58 g
Dietary fiber
3 g
Total sugars
21 g
Protein
13 g

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