Baked Apple Pancakes with Caramel Sauce

I had copied this Baked Apple Pancakes recipe from a magazine at a doctor's office years ago (great place to get recipes while you're waiting and waiting...),  but I just recently stumbled on it and used it for Mother's Day Brunch.  It's rich enough to be like an apple pie dessert so I modified it to fit the brunch requirement - sweet enough but qualifies as breakfast. 

Baked Apple Pancakes with Caramel Sauce

Makes 4-6 Servings

Ingredients
Batter:
8 eggs
 1 cup all purpose flour
3 T granulated sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
2 tsp vanilla extract

2 Granny Smith apples, peeled and thinly sliced
1/4 to  1/2 cup brown sugar (spread evenly amongst the dishes)
1/4 to 1/2  cup chopped pecans
1/4 cup butter
Caramel Sauce (store bought or use recipe below), optional

Instructions

• Heat oven to 425 degrees.
• Whisk together eggs, flour, sugar, salt and cinnamon. 
• Add buttermilk and vanilla extract, whisk until blended.
• Spray at least 4-6  oblong ramekins.
• Melt 1/4 cup butter in the microwave and spread evenly into the dishes.
• Spread sliced apples  into each dish, sprinkle with a little bit of brown sugar.
• Spoon the batter into the ramekins then sprinkle some of the brown sugar and top  off with chopped pecans.
• Place the dishes on a cookie sheet. Bake for 20 minutes. (When it comes out, it's a bit on the puffy side, but it will subside).  Cool for at least 5 minutes, then spread a little of the nuts and drizzle a small amount of caramel sauce (optional) or just sprinkle a little powdered sugar just before serving. (See steps below).

Caramel Sauce (optional)

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/2 cup whipping cream

2T butter

1 tsp vanilla extract

• Combine brown sugar and whipping cream in a heavy saucepan; cook over medium low heat, stirring constantly, until bubbly (at least 5 minutes).
• Remove from heat; add butter and vanilla, stir again until blended.  Cool for a few minutes before pouring into the pancakes.  

Steps Below :

Spread sliced apples into each ramekin, sprinkle with brown sugar.

 Spoon the batter into the ramekins then sprinkle some of the brown sugar and top off with chopped pecans

When it comes out, it's a bit on the puffy side, but it will subside a little. 

Don't worry if it doesn't look like "traditional" pancakes - they more resemble a puffed souffle.

ENJOY!