Bring on the Birthdays

By Ali Lemmons / Photos by Kristina Armstrong

The only thing sweeter than a tasty dessert is having family, friends, and loved ones to share it with. While a birthday might conventionally call for cake, there are endless possibilities for desserts that can be used to celebrate. Here, we chat with four local women to find out their favorite birthday desserts and the accompanying traditions that make them all the more special.

Cindy Franklin’s Aebleskivers

Aebleskivers, Danish pancake puffs, are a delightful dessert that bring people together. With their crispy outside and fluffy interior, these bite-sized treats are often served with powdered sugar, jam, or syrup for extra sweetness. Perfect for any celebration, they add a unique touch to birthday festivities, creating a memorable experience for family and friends to share.

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Course Dessert

Cuisine Danish

Servings 7 servings

Ingredients

2½ cups flour
½ tsp. salt
1¼ tsp. baking soda
¾ tsp. baking powder
2 eggs, separated
2 cups buttermilk
¼ tsp. cardamom
3 Tbsp. butter, melted

Instructions

Stir flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder together.
Add beaten yolk to milk, then lightly fold in whites.
Fry in aebleskiver cast iron pan on the stove or in electric pan.
Place batter in each circle and turn with a wooden skewer or small crochet hook to cook.
Cut in half on plate and serve with jam or jelly and powdered sugar.

Keyword Aebleskivers

Cindy Franklin

with Husband John and grandchildren Dillon and Clayton

“My husband’s family started making this dish because of their heritage from Denmark. His mom made these his whole life, 58 years, and we have done it our whole marriage, 40 years this June.”

With Danish heritage on both sides of the family, it’s no surprise that Cindy Franklin and her husband, John, have a special place in their heart for aebleskivers, or Danish dough balls. “My mother-in-law introduced this recipe to me and taught me how to turn them with crochet hooks when I was first dating my husband,” shares Franklin. Now, more than 40 years later, Franklin and her family continue to make this special dessert for birthdays, Christmas, and other special occasions. “We all enjoy making them, plus it brings back the memories of all of us being around the table and celebrating,” she says. Franklin has carried on the family tradition by teaching her children how to make aebleskivers, just as her mother-in-law taught her all those years ago. This year, she’ll have her grandkids help flip them in the pan. “The experiences, the smells, the details, and the people all come back when you take the time to do the traditions that are special to you,” shares Franklin. “It also helps take the tradition to the next generation.”

Aebleskivers Recipe