Baked Finnish Pancakes / Pannukakku (with and without Apples)

I recently posted the recipe for Finnish Pancakes.

They are a speciality of Hoito Restaurant in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

I got an email asking if there is a baked version.

The Finns are like us Maltese.
They have variations in their best recipes.
A few years ago we sampled a baked Finnish pancake in the Upper Peninsula, which has a huge Finnish community. 

Baked Finnish pancakes isn't like the pancakes served at the Hoito Restaurant.
Finnish Oven Pancakes puff up like a Yorkshire pudding.  
They have a bit of a crust, but they’re still soft inside. 
And they are easier to make and are a nice alternative for breakfast.

Hints:

Here are some topping ideas…
If you added the sugar to the batter top with:
Powdered sugar and a squeeze of lemon juice
A handful or two of fresh or frozen berries
A sprinkle of brown sugar and / or a drizzle of maple syrup
A dollop of fruit jam
A drizzle of caramel sauce over apples sautéed in butter  
A dollop of sweetened whipped cream and / or Nutella

If you didn’t add the sugar, top with:
Sausage gravy and chopped green onions
Beef or chicken stew
Cooked mushrooms and / or Gravy

                        Baked Finnish Pancakes

Serves 4-6

Preheat oven to 400 F

Beat together
3 1/2 Cup milk
1 1/2 Cup of flour
6 eggs
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon sugar (optional)

Melt in a 9 x 13 inch pan
1/4 Cup butter
Add the mixture and spread in the pan.
Bake for 30 to 40 minutes.
Serve topped as desired.

                        Baked Finnish Pancakes II

Serves: 4

Place in a medium bowl
4 large eggs
1 Cup flour
1 Cup milk (whole milk works best)
1 pinch of salt
4 Tablespoons sugar, optional
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, optional
Beat together, until the mixture is smooth.  Set aside.

Preheat oven to 300 F

Place in an 8- or 9-inch cake pan or 10-inch pie plate
4 Tablespoons (1/2 of one stick) butter, cut into four pieces
Place the pan or pie plate in the oven.
After the butter has melted, remove the pan from the oven.

Preheat oven to 400 F

Pour the batter into the hot pan.
Return the pan into the oven. 
Bake for 30 to 40 minutes.
The oven pancake will puff up and be a deep golden brown. 
Test by quickly inserting a knife in the centre of the pancake. 
If the knife comes out clean, the pancake is done.
Remove the pan from the oven.
Cut the pancake. It will deflate some.  It’s supposed to do that.
Serve topped as desired.

                        Baked Apple Finnish Pancakes

Serves 4-6

Preheat oven to 425 F

In a small bowl combine
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 Tablespoons sugar
Set aside.

Place in a 9 x 13 inch pan
2 Tablespoons butter
Place in oven to melt the butter.
Remove pan from oven and add
4 Cups apples, peeled and thinly sliced
Toss to coat.
Bake in the oven for five minutes.

While the apples are baking, place in a medium bowl
6 eggs
1 Cup milk
2/3 Cup of flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
Beat together until smooth.
Remove the pan from the oven.
Pour the egg mixture over the cooked apples. 
Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar over the pancake.
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until the pancake is puffed and browned.