Poffertjes Recipe: How to Make Mini Dutch Pancakes - Travel Alphas (2024)

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe·5 from 4 reviews

Did you just arrive home from a trip to the Netherlands, and now you’re searching for a poffertjes recipe to fill your craving?

I totally understand, because after our Dutch friends introduced us to poffertjes (mini Dutch pancakes) for the first time in the Jordaan district of Amsterdam, I was hooked!

Now every time I go to the Netherlands, I make sure to indulge in poffertjes at least once.

But the thing is, we don’t visit Amsterdam that often. Lately, it’s been a once-per-year occasion, if that, which means that my life is seriously lacking in the Dutch sweet treats department.

Poffertjes Recipe: How to Make Mini Dutch Pancakes - Travel Alphas (1)

On the bright side, though, poffertjes are pretty quick and easy to make — as long as you have a poffertjes pan! And lucky for me,my sweet friend sent me my very own poffertjes pan all the way from Amsterdam as a gift when I graduated from college. (Clearly, she knows me well.)

Since then, poffertjes have become one of my favorite things to make — whether for breakfast or a late-night snack!

GET YOUR VERY OWN POFFERTJES PAN:

Poffertjes Recipe: How to Make Mini Dutch Pancakes - Travel Alphas (2)

What are Poffertjes?

Oh, and if you aren’t familiar with poffertjes, then allow me to explain.

Poffertjes are essentially like mini American pancakes — only they are super light and fluffy, spongy, and cute, and so very Dutch. (And about 20 times more delicious.) They’re typically served with butter and powdered sugar, but of course, you can put on whatever toppings you like!

Today, I’m putting on all of my favorite accompaniments: powdered sugar, butter, maple syrup, and some vibrant berries for some freshness.

Have I sold you on making your own poffertjes yet?

Great. Let’s get to it!

Poffertjes Recipe (Mini Dutch Pancakes Recipe)

Poffertjes Recipe: How to Make Mini Dutch Pancakes - Travel Alphas (3)

The Ingredients

The ingredients necessary for this poffertjes recipe are pretty standard. I’d bet that you have them all on hand right now.

The Equipment

On the other hand, you probably don’t have the equipment necessary to make poffertjes. That’s my guess anyway!

To make poffertjes the proper way, you will need a poffertjes pan.

The poffertjes pan allows the pancakes to take their typical round shape, allowing for their fluffy texture. You could try to make poffertjes in a regular pan, but you just won’t end up with poffertjes (you’ll end up with denser American-style pancakes instead).

You will love these sweet treats so much, you will make them again and again. Buying your own poffertjes pan will be worth the investment.

It’s also super handy to use either a piping bag or squeeze bottle to distribute the batter onto the poffertjes pan! This helps to minimize what could be a huge mess. It also helps ensure that you’re piping the same amount into every place!

SHOP THE EQUIPMENT:

Poffertjes Recipe: How to Make Mini Dutch Pancakes - Travel Alphas (4)

Poffertjes Recipe (Mini Dutch Pancakes Recipe)

I know that you’re going to love this poffertjes recipe. Every time I make them, the poffertjes bring me right back to the canals of Amsterdam — and that’s not such a bad place to be, eh?

These fluffy little delights are everything you want in a sweet treat, and so much more. Their light, spongy texture, paired with salty melted butter and sweet powdered sugar really hits the spot. Every single time.

Eet smakelijk!(That’s Dutch for enjoy your meal!)

Print

Poffertjes (Mini Dutch Pancakes)

5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star

5 from 4 reviews

Want to take a trip to the Netherlands without getting on a plane? Try making poffertjes, also known as mini Dutch pancakes. They’re super light and fluffy, spongy, cute, and so very Dutch! Poffertjes are typically served with butter and powdered sugar, but you can add whatever toppings you like.

  • Author: Maddy’s Avenue
  • Prep Time: 75 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 85 minutes
  • Yield: 4 people 1x
  • Category: Breakfast
  • Method: Stove
  • Cuisine: Dutch
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Scale

  • 2 and 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 1.5 cups milk (warmed slightly)
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 egg
  • butter (for topping)
  • powdered sugar (for topping)

Instructions

  1. In the microwave or a pan, heat milk until slightly warm (just above lukewarm). Then, in a small bowl, mix together the milk, sugar, andactive dry yeast. Set the mixture aside for 10 minutes, until mixture looks bubbly and foamy.
  2. Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl, combine flour and salt.
  3. Add the egg and the liquid mixture to the dry ingredients. Mix with a hand whisk or an electric mixer until you have a smooth, silky batter.
  4. Cover with a clean, damp cloth and set aside for one hour, or until the batter has about doubled in size.
  5. Transfer the batter into a piping bag or a squeeze bottle. Grease your poffertjes pan with butter and heat it over medium heat. Once the pan is hot, fill up each poffertjes mold with batter, then cook each side for one minute, using a fork or butter knife to flip.
  6. Serve your poffertjes hot, with butter, powdered sugar, and any other toppings you wish!

Notes

  • If you don’t have a piping bag or a squeeze bottle, you can simply use a spoon or an ice cream scoop. However, these options are a bit messier!
  • If you do not use a poffertjes pan, then your poffertjes will more resemble American pancakes. They will lack a thicker shape and fluffy texture, which is what makes them special! If possible, purchase this poffertjes pan.
  • I use 2% milk, but you can use whatever kind of milk you have on hand: skim, 2%, whole, or even plat-based milk.

If you try out our poffertjes recipe, let us all know how it went in the comments below. If you post a photo, tag @maddysavenue so we can see your poffertjes! Also, if you have any questions, leave them below.

Poffertjes Recipe: How to Make Mini Dutch Pancakes - Travel Alphas (2024)

FAQs

What are the small Dutch pancakes in Amsterdam? ›

Poffertjes are a traditional Dutch treat. Resembling small, fluffy pancakes, they are made with yeast and buckwheat flour. They have a light, spongy texture. Typically, poffertjes are a sweet treat, served with powdered sugar and butter.

Why are Dutch pancakes so good? ›

Dutch pancakes are traditional and worldwide famous, and there is a reason for that. They come with a topping of your choice or just plain. And it is the topping that makes the pancakes in a pancake restaurant so special.

What are mini pancakes made of? ›

Ingredients. This mini pancake recipe requires only a handful of basic pantry ingredients which makes them perfect for busy mornings. Dry Ingredients: Gather all purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Wet Ingredients: Gather melted butter, sugar, an egg, vanilla extract, milk and lemon juice.

What are Dutch pancakes made of? ›

A Dutch pancake is usually larger and much thinner than the thick and fluffy American pancakes. If you order a Dutch pancake at PANCAKES Amsterdam, you will get a delicious thin pancake with a diameter of 32 centimeters. Pancakes are made of basic ingredients, namely flour, milk, salt, and eggs.

What makes Dutch pancakes different? ›

What is the difference between Dutch pancakes called "pannenkoeken" and other similar dishes like French crepes or American pancakes? They are all made with the same batter (flour, eggs, milk, butter and salt). The only difference really lays in size and thickness.

What is a poffertjes pan used for? ›

You can use this pan just as well for American-style pancakes, for crêpes, mini-galettes or small meatballs and mini-burgers - and all that from the grill, too, because our poffertjes pan proves itself not only on the gas or electric stove.

What is another name for a Dutch baby pancake? ›

A dutch baby pancake is sometimes referred to as a puff pancake, a dutch puff, or a German pancake. It is essentially a large popover or Yorkshire pudding with a custardy base and crisp tall edges. It is typically served for breakfast.

What is a pancake in Dutch slang? ›

A pancake, just a typical Dutch dish. But it's also something you can call someone. An Ajax-fan (Ajax is the biggest football club in the Netherlands) made this one nationally popular in the 2000's when he called one of the most famous Dutch players, Marco van Basten, a pannenkoek.

What is poffertjes in English? ›

poffertjes, small Dutch pancakes, traditionally served with powdered sugar and knobs of butter. They are made of a batter that typically includes yeast and buckwheat flour, yielding a light, fluffy texture.

What are the ingredients in poffertjes? ›

Image of What are the ingredients in poffertjes?
Batter is a flour mixture with liquid and other ingredients such as sugar, salt, and leavening used for cooking. It usually contains more liquid than dough, which is also a mixture of flour and liquid. Batters are usually a pourable consistency that cannot be kneaded.
Wikipedia

Where did poffertjes come from? ›

Poffertjes (Made From Scratch Mini-Pancakes) Are Must-Try Holidazzle Sweet Treat. Poffertjes have a long history dating back to the 1700s. A Dutch treasure, these tiny pancakes have a few fabled stories on how they became so popular in Europe over the past three centuries.

How do you eat poffertjes? ›

How do you Eat Poffertjes? The traditional way to eat poffertjes is with butter and plenty of powdered sugar. They should be served warm, so the butter melts into them, ideally fresh from the poffertjespan, but you can warm them up for a few seconds in the microwave if they're cold by the time you get home.

What is the difference between Dutch pancakes and English pancakes? ›

English pancakes are thin, modest, and enjoy a good roll with lemon and sugar. Dutch pannenkoeken, on the other hand, are thicker, bolder, and they're not afraid to go wild with toppings. Both delicious, but in their own unique way!

How do you eat Dutch pancakes? ›

But they're also easily eaten for breakfast and lunch as well. They're super easy to make, you typically eat them rolled up. Dutch pancakes can be made sweet or savory. My favorite savory version is with bacon.

What are the pancakes in Amsterdam called? ›

Dutch pancakes (pannenkoeken) are kind of a cross between an American pancake and a French crêpe. In the Netherlands pancakes are often eaten for dinner. Mix flour, salt, sugar and cinnamon in a bowl. Make a little well in the middle and add the eggs and while whisking, add milk.

What is a Dutch baby pancake called? ›

A Dutch baby pancake, sometimes called a German pancake, a Bismarck, a Dutch puff, Hooligan, or a Hootenanny, is a dish that is similar to a large Yorkshire pudding.

What kind of pancakes are in Amsterdam? ›

These are pancakes are totally different in style to American pancakes or French crepes. Over the centuries, the Dutch have developed two very traditional types: Pannenkoek and Poffertjes.

What are the mini Dutch pancakes at Christmas markets? ›

In the Christmas and New Year's Eve period, you can find poffertjes stalls on every Christmas market. Traditionally they are served with powdered sugar and hot melted butter. Poffertjes are baked in a special pan.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Msgr. Refugio Daniel

Last Updated:

Views: 6129

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (74 voted)

Reviews: 81% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Msgr. Refugio Daniel

Birthday: 1999-09-15

Address: 8416 Beatty Center, Derekfort, VA 72092-0500

Phone: +6838967160603

Job: Mining Executive

Hobby: Woodworking, Knitting, Fishing, Coffee roasting, Kayaking, Horseback riding, Kite flying

Introduction: My name is Msgr. Refugio Daniel, I am a fine, precious, encouraging, calm, glamorous, vivacious, friendly person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.