German Apple Pancakes

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup sugar, plus
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups whole milk
• 4 large eggs
• 1 1/2 lbs gala apples (3 or 4)
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 3/8 cup unsalted butter, cut into 12 pieces

Directions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 200°F.

2. 2

   Stir together 1/4 cup sugar and cinnamon and set aside.

3. 3

   Whisk together flour, salt, and remaining 2 teaspoons sugar in a large bowl. Add milk in a slow stream, whisking, then add eggs, 1 at a time, whisking well after each addition.

4. 4

   Peel apples, then cut into 1/8-inch thick slices with slicer, rotating around core (discard core). Cut apple slices into 1/8-inch-thick matchsticks and toss with lemon juice in a bowl. Fold apples and juice into batter.

5. 5

   Heat 1 piece butter (1/2 tablespoon) in a 6-inch nonstick skillet over moderate heat until foam subsides, then add 1/3 cup batter, spreading evenly to cover bottom. Cook, reducing heat if browning too quickly and turning pancake over once with a thin flexible heatproof spatula, until golden on both sides, about 4 minutes total. Slide pancake onto a platter and keep warm in oven. Make more pancakes with remaining butter and batter in same manner. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar and serve immediately.

6. 6

   Cooks' note:.

7. 7

   Batter, with apples, can be made 3 hours ahead and kept chilled, covered. Stir before using.