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)

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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

Why are poffertjes important to the Netherlands? ›

The Dutch have been enjoying these bite-sized beauties since at least the 1700s, serving them at weddings, birthday parties, and other festive occasions. They are also a popular street food, sold from stalls on city streets and at outdoor festivals. Legend has it that poffertjes may even be divine in origin.

What makes Dutch pancakes different? ›

What's the difference between a Dutch pancake and an American pancake? 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.

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.

What is the history of mini pancakes? ›

Freshly baked tiny pancakes ​traditionally called "Poffertjes", have their origins back to the Dutch Abbey, where mini pancakes were used as a type of host for weekly communion. A shortage of wheat flour during the French Revolution meant substituting buckwheat flour which resulted in a plump and delicious offering.

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 some interesting facts about poffertjes? ›

As food first seen on a fair in Amsterdam in 1746. Poffertjes are also known as 'brothers'. The catholic church claims they invented 'poffertjes', but there are doubts about that claim. In the churches in the south of the Netherlands, sacramental host was eaten during the communion ceremony.

Why is my Dutch pancake flat? ›

If the pancake was a little flat it is most likely that either the oven or the skillet (or other pan) was not hot enough. If the pan isn't hot enough then the liquid does not heat up and create the steam quickly enough and so the flour will cook through and set before the pancake can rise.

What is another name for a Dutch baby pancake? ›

Though “Dutch baby” is a frequently used moniker when referring to this giant pancake, it has also been referred to as a German pancake, a puffed pancake, a baked pancake, a Bismarck and even a giant Yorkshire pudding due to its resemblance.

What is the meaning of poffertjes? ›

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 is a poffertjes in Dutch? ›

It doesn't need to be Pancake Day for the Dutch to eat pancakes. We eat them any time of the year, for breakfast, brunch, lunch, as a dessert, tea time treat or even dinner.

Where did poffertjes come from? ›

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.

Where are poffertjes from? ›

Poffertjes, (pronounced puff' ur jis) or Dutch Mini Pancakes are small, fluffy yeasted treats made in a special cast iron pan. They are sold throughout the Netherlands, and are traditionally served hot with a pat of butter and a good sprinkling of confectioners' sugar.

Why are they called dollar pancakes? ›

These bite-sized pancakes are similar to the small Scottish pancakes, sometimes known as drop scones, since the batter is dropped directly into the skillet. In the U.S., we refer to them as "silver dollar" pancakes, as they are roughly the size of the old-school coin.

Why is tourism important to the Netherlands? ›

International and domestic tourism are of substantial importance to the Dutch economy. The sector's value directly comprised 4.4% of the total GVA and provided 496 000 jobs in 2019, accounting for 6.4% of total employment.

Why is peanut butter popular in the Netherlands? ›

The Dutch colonized many places that had access to exotic comestibles and this proved a lucrative trade for the Dutch as well as a broadened of their food preferences. Dutch peanut butter is, in my view, the best available. It is absolutely delicious and mostly based on the Indonesian way of making it.

What is important to the Dutch culture? ›

Family is very important to the Dutch people and they tend to be very close to their immediate family. Support shown financially and emotionally is strongly towards the closest of family members. The Dutch are raised to be independent from a young age and tend to move out earlier in age than the rest of Europe.

What is the national pastry of the Netherlands? ›

In the Netherlands, the tompoes is iconic, and the market allows little variation in form, size, and colour. It must be rectangular, with two layers of puff pastry, similar to the cream slice in the United Kingdom. The icing is smooth and pink, or occasionally white.

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