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The Pancake Princess

The Pancake Princess

A baking blog curating internet recipes.

You're here: Home > Pancake Princess > Breakfast

Pancake Fridays: Tarte Tatin Pancakes

by erika

The first time I went to Paris, I found myself on a mission to try tarte tatin.

Let me back up. I went to Paris the summer after my sophomore year on an independent study on surreal art, which basically meant I spent my days in museums pouring over or reading about gorgeous works of splashy, dashed abstract art. I spent the in between time…well, sight-seeing and eating, mostly.

On my list to eat: the requisite French croissants (God, even the chain restaurant croissants were little epiphanies!), macaroons (airy and delicious, but probably not my habitual sweet of choice), a French baguette (there is nothing.better. than a fresh baguette from a French bakery. Nothing. Not even this cake. Not even Sprinkles cupcakes.), French cheese (WHYY. WHY IS CHEESE IN AMERICA SO SUBPAR.), and probably a zillion other dishes I’m forgetting. Oh, and cote de boeuf tomatoes were not on my list, but they are The.Best.Tomatoes in the universe.

But my awesome distant family friend, Tess, mentioned that since I was in Paris, I had to try tarte tatin: the Parisian upside-down apple tart.


Tarte tatin (okay, like that gratin, apparently it’s sort of pronounced like “tart tah-tan,” softening the “n” at the end) is generally made by sauteing a bunch of apples in butter and sugar in a pan, and tucking the crust over the apples before baking. When it’s done, you flip it all over so that the tart base is crowned by bubbling jewels of apples.

It took me awhile into my trip, but I finally had it for the first time while having lunch in a corner cafe near the Notre Dame. I was by myself. In between bites of salad nicoise, I wrote in my journal and people-watched. After the waiter took away my salad place, he set down on the table one of the biggest slices of pie I’d ever seen.

If we’re going to be real, I was a tiny bit apprehensive. Apple pie has never been my favorite dessert and I was worried it wouldn’t be as mind-blowing as it was chalked up to be. I don’t think I need to tell you that my fears were just…silly. The apples were incredibly thick, but tender all the way through, melting into the lusciously flaky crust. That was about when it became a goal of mine to make tarte tatin someday.

I still haven’t made it, but at least I can share these with you!

It’s like the lazy, cakey version of tarte tatin. These brown butter pancakes don’t have very much butter at all, but they almost ooze buttery essence with each satisfying bite. The softened apples, nestled into the bottom (or top) of the pancakes bake in like a bronzed, caramelized mosaic speckled with cinnamon.

Even if it’s blasphemy to call these tarte tatin pancakes, they’re still perfect fall pancakes 🙂

I wish I could share them through the screen! In any case, happy Friday!!! Are you doing anything fun this weekend?

Notes

Although you may be tempted to lay the apple slices on right after adding the batter to the pan, WAIT until one side is cooked through and layer them on right before flipping. I think these wouldn’t be bad if you used half a cup of whole wheat flour and 1 cup of all-purpose for a whole-grainy taste, but I wouldn’t use all whole wheat. You could also use all AP flour if want a silkier, though nutritionally less dense pancake 🙂

Also, feel free to cut down on the sugar if you like your apples a little less sweet and natural-tasting–use 1 tablespoon instead of 2. 

Tarte Tatin Pancakes
A PanPrin original, pancake base inspired by these.

Yield: 10-12 pancakes

1 cup white whole wheat flour
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 1/4 cups milk (I used Silk almond milk)
1 egg
3 tablespoons butter, melted and divided

2 large Granny Smith apples, sliced into thin wedges
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon

1) Heat a saucepan over medium heat and add the butter. Stir constantly until it browns–you should smell a slightly nutty aroma and you’ll see some milk solids gathering at the bottom of the pan. Remove from heat and remove 2 tablespoons of butter.

2) Combine 2 tablespoons sugar + 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Toss the apple wedges in the cinnamon sugar mixture. Set remaining 1 tablespoon of brown butter in the saucepan over medium heat and add the apples. Saute until softened, about 4-5 minutes. You should be able to make an impression with a cooking utensil, but they shouldn’t be falling apart. Set aside.

3) In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Make a well in the center and pour in the milk, egg and 2 tablespoons reserved browned butter; mix until smooth. Let the batter rest for at least five minutes while you heat the pan.

2) Heat a large, lightly oiled or buttered frying pan over medium high heat. Spoon approximately 3 tablespoons of batter into the pan cup for each pancake. Once the underside is cooked through and bubbles are rising to the top, about 2-3 minutes, press 3-4 apple slices into the exposed surface and flip. Cook an additional 1-2 minutes and serve hot!

If the pancakes are starting to cook too fast or burn after the second or third batch, lower heat to medium or medium low.

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Comments

  1. Christine (@cookingcrusade)

    October 3, 2012 at 3:16 am

    Oh man this looks fabulous. Definitely pinning it for later – what a great idea! I’d love to visit Paris myself one day.. it just looks so beautiful and the food!! I’d love to try making tarte tatin myself one day but its looks pretty complex for me .. hehe

    • erika

      October 3, 2012 at 12:15 pm

      Thanks Christine! I totally feel you on the tarte tatin 🙂

  2. Nancy @ gottagetbaked

    October 2, 2012 at 11:13 pm

    Ooooh these pancakes look amazing – so thick, fluffy, crispy and apple-y! And your description of the food in Paris is making me want to jump on a plane and fly there right now. The Husband and I are planning on going there in the summer. It’ll be our first time in Europe and we can’t wait!

    • erika

      October 3, 2012 at 12:11 pm

      Aha, my boyfriend wants to plan a trip to Europe this summer! We’ll see if anything comes of it…but OH MAN if you need recommendations of places to eat/see in Paris, let me know! Or if you need lodging recommendations in the Italian countryside, we stayed in this awesome villa that’s rented out by a very friendly English-speaking family–I think they might be expats. For dinner one night, their housecleaner (if memory serves) came over to cook dinner, and she made the most amazing, perfectly cooked and sauced spaghetti that is STILL one of my favorite food memories.

      Anyway, THANKS! And I hope you have a great trip!!

  3. Erica

    October 2, 2012 at 4:00 pm

    I pinned this recipe as well! I just made a real tarte tatin about two weeks ago, and am craving it again (perhaps in the form of these pancakes!)

    • erika

      October 3, 2012 at 12:06 pm

      Oooh, how was making it for real? I’m sure it was delicious!!

  4. Laura Dembowski (@piesandplots)

    October 2, 2012 at 2:44 pm

    I am so jealous that you’ve been to Paris. It sounds spectacular! Tarte tatin is on my list of things to make, but these pancakes seem like an easy, yet tasty alternative.

    • erika

      October 3, 2012 at 12:05 pm

      Thank you! The more I think about it, the more these are just jazzed up apple pancakes. But I like to think of them exactly like you said–as an easy, tasty alternative 🙂 Maybe some caramel sauce would kick things up a notch?

  5. Candy

    September 30, 2012 at 11:54 am

    Thes look mouth watering!

    • erika

      October 1, 2012 at 9:04 am

      Thanks Candy! So does your apple crumb cake…like literally. Mouth is watering. It looks so crumbly and good!

  6. Yesle @ D is for Dentist

    September 29, 2012 at 7:03 pm

    Um Erika your blog is kind of amazing…. delicious pictures. I’m drooling at these pancakes.

    • erika

      October 1, 2012 at 9:05 am

      Yesle!!! Thank you! You totally made my day 🙂 Going to check out your blog now–can’t wait to read about what you’ve been up to!

  7. Leah

    September 28, 2012 at 7:58 am

    Once I get through my pumpkin phase, these will be on my apple list!

    • erika

      September 28, 2012 at 8:39 am

      Yay! They will be worth it, I promise 🙂

  8. Choc Chip Uru

    September 28, 2012 at 3:40 am

    Mmm I’m in love with your pancakes as always 🙂

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

    • erika

      September 28, 2012 at 8:39 am

      Thanks Uru 🙂 Too nice!

  9. Mich - Piece of Cake

    September 28, 2012 at 12:49 am

    Apple pankcakes are lovely, even if they are not tarte tatin.

    • erika

      September 28, 2012 at 8:38 am

      I agree 🙂 And I like these even better than pancakes with apple chunks sprinkled throughout!

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