Dutch pancakes, or “pannenkoeken” as they are known in the Netherlands, are a staple food in Dutch cuisine. These thin and delicious pancakes have been enjoyed by many generations of Dutch families and have become a favourite dish throughout the country.
As a lover of international cuisine, I’ve tried many different types of pancakes from all over the world. But there’s something special about Dutch pancakes that keeps me coming back for more. The texture is light and fluffy, while the flavour is mildly sweet and perfect for both savoury or sweet toppings.
In this recipe post, I’m excited to share with you my take on traditional Dutch pancakes. The recipe is easy to follow and requires only a few simple ingredients that you may already have at home.
History of Dutch Pancakes
Pancakes have been a popular dish in Europe since ancient times. In the Netherlands, pancake-making has been documented since the 16th century when it was considered an affordable meal for all social classes. Pancake houses became increasingly popular during the 19th century when people would gather for social events like birthdays or weddings.
Today, pancake houses can still be found throughout the Netherlands, serving up traditional pannenkoeken with various toppings such as bacon, cheese or apple compote. They remain a beloved cultural tradition in Dutch society and an important part of their culinary identity.
Ingredients
The key ingredients for making Dutch pancakes include flour, eggs, milk, and pinch of salt. The batter should be mixed until it becomes smooth without any lumps so that your pancakes come out perfectly thin every time.
Additionally, butter is used both in cooking and as a topping alongside stroop (similar to molasses), powdered sugar or fresh fruits like strawberries or raspberries.
How to Make Dutch Pancakes
While making dutch pancake batter isn’t difficult by itself, cooking the pancakes the traditional way requires some skill.
Serving and Topping Ideas
There are endless opportunities for toppings when it comes to Dutch pancakes. The most traditional toppings are stroop (treacle) or powdered sugar, but Dutch people get creative with additional options such as sliced strawberries, bananas, bacon or cheese.
It’s common in the Netherlands to eat pannenkoeken for both breakfast and dinner. Sweet versions are usually served as a dessert, while savoury pannenkoeken have more of a place as a main course.
Our passion for Dutch Pancakes
We love Dutch Pancakes. When I say love… I mean LOVE them!
Our little ones enjoy eating them too and that’s why we bake them twice per week for breakfast. Since a couple of months, our oldest daughter has started helping us with pouring the pancake batter into the frying pans. She loves to take the responsibility for getting the right quantity into the pan every single time. Too cute!
So… to get some sweetness and cuteness into your kitchen we would love to share our quick Dutch Pancakes recipe here with you.
Dutch Pancakes FAQs
What makes dutch pancakes different from American pancakes?
Dutch pancakes, or pannenkoeken, are a classic Dutch treat that have been around for centuries. While they may look similar to American pancakes, the two treats have quite different characteristics.
Pannenkoeken are much thinner than American pancakes and can be served in a variety of flavors like cheese or bacon. The texture is also slightly crisper than an American pancake due to the higher baking temperature used. Additionally, Dutch pancakes do not usually contain any leavening agents such as baking powder or baking soda which makes them flatter and less fluffy than traditional American pancakes.
The cook time for Dutch pancakes is also significantly shorter – usually just a few minutes per side on medium heat – compared to the several minutes needed for an average-sized American pancake to cook through.
What is the difference between Dutch pancakes and crepes?
Pancakes and crepes are two of the most popular breakfast dishes around the world, but do you know what sets them apart? Although they may look similar to the untrained eye, Dutch pancakes and crepes have distinct differences in taste, texture, and preparation.
Dutch pancakes are thicker than crepes with a unique doughy consistency made using a batter comprised of eggs, flour, milk, and butter. As they cook in a shallow pan or skillet on medium heat for about three minutes per side, Dutch pancakes puff up slightly like an American pancake yet remain flatter than most other types of pancakes. They also tend to be sweeter than typical pancakes as sugar is usually added to the batter.
On the other hand crepes typically have a thin pancake-like shape that’s achieved by pouring liquid batter into a hot pan.
How do you generally eat Dutch pancakes?
Many people roll them up to cut them into pieces or eat them from their hand.
Can I make Dutch pancakes ahead of time?
Dutch pancakes are best served fresh out of the oven, but you can make the batter ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Allow the batter to come to room temperature before using.
What can I serve with Dutch pancakes?
Dutch pancakes are typically served with powdered sugar, butter, and syrup, but you can also add fresh fruit or whipped cream for a more indulgent breakfast or brunch.
Dutch Pancakes
10
Pancakes5
minutes15
minutes20
minutesKeep the screen of your device on
Ingredients
300gr Plain Flour
600ml Milk
2 Eggs
1 pinch of salt
1 tsp Vanilla essence (optional)
1 tbs Sugar (optional)
Butter
Directions
- Heat up the frying pan(s) on medium/ high fire
- Sift the flour in a large bowl
- Add all the other ingredients to the flour and mix it together with a whisk till you get a smooth batter
- Add a tiny bit of butter in the frying pan.
- Once butter is melted, add one ladle of the Dutch Pancake batter into the frying pan
- Flip the Dutch Pancakes once the top is nearly “dry” and bake it for another 1-2 minutes.
- Continue this process until you finished up the Dutch Pancakes batter 🙂
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