 Ãbleskiver (; danish meaning apple slices [singular: Ã¦bleskive]), also called "appleskives" are traditional danish pancakes in a distinctive shape of a sphere. somewhat similar in texture to european pancakes crossed with a popover, Ã¦bleskiver are solid like a pancake but light and fluffy like a popover. the english language spelling is usually aebleskiver or ebleskiver. in the united states, a version of Ã¦bleskiver is sold with a commercially repackaged pan, branded as "pancake puffs". ==Ãbleskive pan== thumb|left|top view of an Ã¦bleskiver pan. Ãbleskiver are cooked on the stove top by baking in a special pan with several hemispherical indentations. the pan exists in versions for gas and electrical stoves (the latter with a plain bottom). pans are usually made of cast iron, allowing good heat retention. traditional models in hammered copper plate exist but are today used primarily for decoration. ==preparation== thumb|an Ã¦bleskive with red jam the batter for Ã¦bleskiver usually includes wheat flour, which is mixed with buttermilk, milk or cream, eggs, sugar and a pinch of salt. some recipes also include fat (usually butter), cardamom and lemon zest to improve taste, and a leavening agent, most often baking powder, but sometimes yeast, to aerate the batter. batter is poured into the oiled indentations and as the Ã¦bleskiver begin to cook, they are turned with a knitting needle, skewer or fork to give the cakes their characteristic spherical shape. they were traditionally cooked with bits of apple (Ã¦ble) or applesauce inside but these ingredients are very rarely included in modern danish forms of the dish. Ãbleskiver are not sweet themselves but are traditionally served dipped in raspberry, strawberry, black currant or blackberry jam and sprinkled with powdered sugar. Ãbleskiver can be bought fried and frozen at supermarkets, only needing heating in an oven. ==traditions== thumb|a man making Ã¦bleskiver at danebo, the danish-american cultural center in minneapolis, minnesota in denmark, Ã¦bleskiver are common before christmas. in december, they are often served with glÃ¸gg, scandinavian mulled wine. in norway, warm waffles have much of the same function as Ã¦bleskiver in denmark. they are
Danish_cuisine Danish_words_and_phrases Pancakes