The air fryer is a perfect way to make Dutch-Baby-style pancakes. Baby Dutch Babies have all the flavor and pouf of the original-style pancakes, but the little babies are far easier and faster. Plus, they're kind of cute. Making small Dutch Babies also is helpful if you're trying to control your calories--i.e., you can't eat the whole pancake, because it's not there. Instead, you have manageable little poufs, all ready to top with confectioner's sugar, a drizzle of syrup, a plop of your favorite jam, or, my preference, fresh, juicy strawberries. You can whisk up the batter in a few minutes, and the little poufs cook in about 5 minutes, which make the Baby Dutch Babies perfect for a nice weekday breakfast as well as a weekend. Need a quick dessert? Air Fry some Baby Dutch Babies and fill them with a scoop of ice cream and then drizzle them with some topping. Try coffee ice cream drizzled with chocolate syrup (and for adults a teaspoon of Kahlua). Then sprinkle on some chopped, chocolate-coated coffee beans. You'll have a quick, sophisticated, and, best of all, tasty dessert.
Baby Dutch Babies -- Makes 4 Little Babies
1 tablespoon of butter, cut into 4 equal pieces
1 large egg
1/4 cup of milk
1/4 cup of flour
1/8 teaspoon of salt
1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon of grated orange zest
1/4 teaspoon of vanilla
Confectioner's sugar to dust the tops
Place one piece of butter in each of 4 small (3-4-inches in diameter) ramekins. Put the ramekins in the air fryer basket and then put the basket in the air fryer. Set the temperature of the air fryer to 400 degrees and cook for a few minutes until the butter melts and the ramekins are hot. While the butter is melting, whisk in a medium bowl or glass measuring container, the egg, milk, flour, salt, cinnamon, orange zest, and vanilla until all the ingredients are combined. The whisking shouldn't take more than a couple of minutes. Don't over whisk or the babies won't puff up. When the ramekins are hot and the butter has melted, remove the air fryer basket from the fryer and carefully pour 1/4 of the batter into each ramekin in the fryer basket. Return the basket to the air fryer and let the Baby Dutch Babies cook for about 5 minutes. Check them after 5 minutes and, if necessary, add 1-4 minutes of cooking time, depending on how brown you'd like your Baby Dutch Babies. Let the babies cool a few minutes (they'll deflate, which is what they're supposed to do), tip them out of their ramekins, and serve them dusted with confectioner's sugar and/or the toppings of your choice.
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