Cinnamon Apple Oven Pancake

I've made oven pancakes for years but only stumbled across the idea for the cinnamon apple topping out of desperation last weekend!  As they say, "Necessity breeds invention!"

Cinnamon Apple Oven Pancake

Ingredients:

For pancake:
1/2 cup flour
just under 2/3 cup unsweetened original almond milk
dash salt
2 eggs
1/2 stick or 1/4 cup Earth Balance spread

For topping:
1 granny smith apple, peeled and diced
1 tbsp Earth Balance spread
1/4 cup loosely measured brown sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
A sprinkle of powdered sugar, if desired

Instructions:

Pancake:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Place margarine in a glass pie plate and place in oven to melt.  Meanwhile, combine the flour and milk with a fork; it will be lumpy and that's okay.  Then add the dash of salt and eggs, mixing until a nice batter forms.

When margarine has melted, remove pie plate from oven and pour pancake batter over the margarine.  Replace in oven and bake for 15 minutes, or until the edges are light brown.  The pancake will rise up around the sides, forming a canyon and be very puffy.  When it's removed from the oven the center will fall and you will still have a bit of a bowl shape, just perfect for holding all that yummy topping!

Fresh from the oven

Topping:

While the pancake is baking, put the diced apples in a microwave-safe bowl and top with the margarine, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Microwave for 3-4 minutes, or until apples are soft and covered in thick, syrupy goodness.  Set aside and wait for your pancake to be ready.

Assembly:

Use a large, flexible spatula to get the pancake out of the pie plate and onto a plate.  It might be stuck a little bit--gently nudge with the spatula to loosen.  There will be a lot of melted margarine on the pancake.  I always let that drain off but if you're into it, go ahead and take it all.  Spoon the topping onto the pancake, sprinkle with powdered sugar and enter into tastebud heaven!

Pancake is ready!

***Note: You can top the oven pancake many other ways.  Lemon juice, sliced strawberries (really any fruit), chocolate chips, etc.