Korovai of Crêpes
Recipe from the book "The First Ukrainian Everyday Cookbook" (1-ша українська загально-практична кухня), 1929, by Olha Franko.
Korovai of crêpes is a layered nalisnyky (thin pancake) cake with apples. Its recipe can be found in cookbooks from the early 19th century. This easy-to-make dessert was very popular among country folk.
On August 19th, Christians celebrate the Transfiguration, known as Yabluchnyi Spas (Apple Saviour's Day). According to tradition, it is considered sinful to eat apples before the feast: they are first brought to church to be blessed, and only then shared with guests. It is believed that before biting into a blessed apple, one should make a wish.
One of the traditions is to prepare apple dishes for dinner that evening — so this delicious korovai of crêpes is perfectly fitting today!
Ingredients
- 2 cups of milk
- 2 cups of flour
- 2 eggs
- 2 tbsp icing sugar
- 1 tbsp melted butter
- a pinch of salt
Additionally:
- 3 large apples
- 50 g melted butter
- 1 tsp each of vanilla, cinnamon, and cloves, mixed with 3 tbsp of sugar.
Preparation
- In a bowl, beat 2 egg yolks with the sugar and a pinch of salt, add the remaining ingredients and mix well.
- Whisk the egg whites to stiff peaks, fold them into the batter and mix gently.
- Heat the pan and brush it with oil.
- Fry the crêpes.
- Slice the apples into thin plasterky (rounds or slices).
- In a buttered baking dish, layer the crêpes one by one, topping each with apple slices, a sprinkle of the spiced sugar, and a spoonful of melted butter.
- Bake at 180° for 40 minutes.
- Dust the finished korovai with icing sugar.
