Baked Blue Grape Pancakes

This recipe has been sitting in my draft folder for a year since the last time blue grapes were in season here. By the time I finally got around to typing up the recipe and inserting my photos their glory had passed. Now, though, it is the time of year again when those those of us going into the fall harvest season in Ontario and the northeastern United States are able to pick and buy baskets of these wonderfully sweet and tangy little beauties. If you enjoy Concord grapes, you are going to love these deep blue "Coronation" grapes. Perfect for snacking on, they're also ideal for baking with because they are seedless.

Once again, I turned them into a pancake. Last year I made some blue grape pancakes with a blue grape sauce. They were so delicious, I wanted to try a baked pancake version to showcase this treasured fruit. One advantage of baked pancakes is that you don't have to stand in front of the skillet, flipping them in batches and keeping the finished ones warmed while you go through the batter. They're also ridiculously easy to make. But what you will really appreciate is the soft, creamy and slightly chewy texture of the baked pancake — with a slightly crisp exterior, it's like eating a baked custard with the sweet juice of the blue grapes running throughout.

If you can't find Coronation grapes, Concords may be used if they are available in your area — squeeze the end of each grape opposite the stem to separate the skins from the pulp, and discard the skins. If using other table grapes, add an extra tablespoon or two of sugar or honey to the sauce.

Baked Blue Grape Pancakes

Recipe by Lisa Turner Published on September 9, 2012 Soft, light and creamy baked pancakes with plump, juicy, sweet and tangy blue grapes Preparation: 10 minutes Cooking time: 15 to 20 minutes Print this recipe Ingredients: 2 tablespoons butter 4 eggs, separated 1 cup milk 1 cup all-purpose flour 3 tablespoons sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 1/2 cups seedless blue grapes icing sugar (optional) Instructions: Heat an oven to 425°F. Place 1 tablespoon of butter in each of two deep 9-inch pie plates. Put in oven to melt. Beat the egg whites until stiff. In a medium mixing bowl, beat the egg yolks with the milk, flour, sugar and vanilla. Fold the egg whites into the batter. Remove the pie plates from the oven and pour half of the batter into each. Scatter the blue grapes on top. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until golden on top. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with icing sugar if desired. Serve hot or warm. Reheat leftover portions at 300°F for 10 minutes. Makes two 9-inch pancakes

More baked pancakes that you will enjoy from Lisa's Vegetarian Kitchen:
Baked Strawberry Pancakes
Baked Blueberry & Peach Pancakes
Baked Coconut Mango Pancakes
Apfelpfannkuchen (Baked German Apple Pancake)