1966 WDEC - Apple Pancake

Last of the things I'm trying for now in the "Apple Cookbook" of Volume 1 of the Woman's Day Encyclopedia of Cookery.

Apple Pancake
(to serve 6)
3 - 4 tart apples
About 2/3 cup melted butter
About 2/3 cup sugar
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup sifted all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 450F (230C) Peel and core apples. Slice thin and saute in 1/3 cup butter for 5 minutes. Mix 1/3 cup sugar and spices and add to apples. Cover and cook for 10 minutes. Cool. Mix eggs, milk, flour and salt. Beat with rotary beater for 2 minutes.

Heat 1 tablespoon butter in 10" ovenproof skillet. Pour batter into pan. Bake for 15 minutes. As soon as batter puffs up in center, puncture with a fork, repeating as often as necessary. Lower heat to 350F (180C) and bake for 10 minutes.

Remove from oven; spoon 2 tablespoons melted butter over surface. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons sugar. Spread apple mixture over half the surface; fold in [i.e. fold the unspread half over]. Spoon 2 tablespoons melted butter over to; sprinkle with 2 tablespoons sugar.

Cooking Notes: I used half the apples and far less sugar - 3 tablespoons mixed with the apples but nothing spooned over the top at the end. I was concerned about cooking the apples for so long, but they nicely caramelized and developed a very flavorful sauce. The apple filling is shown below.

Even though I only used 1-1/2 apples, I made the full batch of batter because of the size of available ovenproof skillets. I tried to poke the rising parts down but it was no use, and the result had significant undulations, as shown in the picture below and in the first post picture of the finished product.

I also took the bread out of the oven after it had finished the 15 minutes at 450F, because it was completely cooked through and golden brown, and I couldn't see how another 10 minutes' cooking would improve anything rather than burning the pancake to a crisp.

Eating Notes: I can't see how this dish is supposed to serve 6, even if the apples were doubled. I easily consumed half as part of an otherwise substantial breakfast. Taste-wise it was good, if unsurprising. The caramelized apples, at least, added a tinge of a pleasant surprise.