Poffertjes (Dutch mini pancakes). Delicious, fluffy, tiny pancakes sold in street stalls of the Netherlands. This easy poffertjes recipe is made with simple ingredients!
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What are Poffertjes?
Poffertjes is a Dutch word for mini dutch pancakes. They are soft fluffy pancakes that originate from the Netherlands and has become very popular across Europe. They serve well as an afternoon snack, breakfast or dessert.
This traditional Dutch treat is usually paired with powdered sugar or icing sugar. However, they are served with many other toppings, such as caramel, maple syrup, vanilla sauce, fruits, chocolate, ice cream and more! It's a popular street food that you will not regret.
The first time I had them was actually in Switzerland during my travels. It was love at first bite! So much that I had to go back and get seconds and thirds! These miniature pancakes are popular on social media in the United States competing with American pancakes!
The Dutch people have a traditional poffertjes pan to make these little pancakes. It's a special cast iron pan with little wells for the batter to cook in. You can also use a takoyaki pan or a mini pancake maker. Or you can use a regular pan that is non-stick and pour 1 tablespoon of the poffertjes mix onto the pan to cook.
Ingredients
Please scroll down to the recipe card for full measurements.
- Dairy milk: or substitute with dairy-free milk like oat milk, soy milk, almond milk. Avoid using whole canned coconut milk as it's very thick.
- Large Eggs
- Vanilla extract: to give our batter a wonderful sweet aroma!
- Melted Butter: is essential for making to prevent the pancakes from sticking to the pan as it cooks.
Dry Ingredients
- All-Purpose Flour: I am using plain flour for this recipe. Even though, traditionally a mixture of buckwheat flour is used. But for purposes of ease and accessibility, feel free to use all-purpose flour.
- Dry Active Yeast or Instant Yeast
- White granulated sugar: to help sweeten the yeast-based batter
- Salt: a pinch of salt always helps to enhance the flavors
Topping Suggestions
- Icing Sugar
- Fresh berries
- Nutella
- Maple Syrup or honey
- Vanilla sauce
- Dulce de Leche
How to Make Dutch Baby Pancakes
Combine Dry Ingredients
In a mixing bowl, add flour, sugar and salt. Whisk together until combined.
Activate Yeast in Warm Milk
Heat your milk until warm (110F) about 90 seconds in the microwave. While whisking, gradually add dry active yeast to prevent clumping. Yeast should fully dissolve. Cover and let this sit for 10 minutes, until a thick frothy film develops on the top.
Create Batter
Add the yeast mixture to dry ingredients, followed by the eggs and vanilla extract. Mix just until smooth but do not overmix.
Mix & Rest Batter
Cover batter with a lid and let this sit in a warm area, for 30 minutes to become frothy, thick and bubbly.
Expert Tip: I place my bowl in a sink filled with just enough warm water, so that the bowl can sit and keep warm but not so much water that it's floating around.
Grease Pan
Melt your butter in the microwave for 60 seconds or until melted. Heat your Danish aebleskiver pan over low-medium heat, level 4/10 on a stovetop. Brush melted butter into the well of the pan. If you're using a normal non-stick pan, pour about 1 tablespoon of the batter into your greased pan.
Spoon in Batter
Pour 1 tablespoon of batter to fill the well halfway or up to ¾ of the way. Do not fill to the top or it will overflow. Repeat the process until all wells are filled.
Cook Pancakes
Cook until you see bubbles form on the top of the pancake and base is solid, about 2-4 minutes per side.
Flip Over
Flip with a wooden skewer or fork. Fry on the other side until golden brown. Serve with a knob of butter and any of toppings of your choice (maple syrup, fruits, Nutella, vanilla sauce, powdered sugar, etc.), enjoy!
Storage & Reheating
Leftovers will last up to 4 days stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. To reheat, microwave for 2-3 minutes until hot or reheat in a pan on medium heat.
Other Pancake recipes you may like!
📖 Recipe
Easy & Simple Poffertjes (Dutch Mini Pancakes)
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour or buckwheat flour
- ¼ cup white granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1.5 cup milk or substitute with oat milk or a nut milk like almond milk
- 1 teaspoon dry active yeast or instant yeast
- 3 eggs
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoon butter unsalted
Optional toppings:
- icing sugar
- Nutella
- maple syrup or honey
- fruit of choice such as berries
- dulce de leche
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, add flour, sugar and salt. Whisk together until combined.
- Heat your milk until warm (110F) about 90 seconds in the microwave. While whisking, gradually add dry active yeast to prevent clumping. Yeast should fully dissolve. Cover and let this sit for 10 minutes, until a thick film develops on the top.
- Add the yeast mixture to dry ingredients, followed by the eggs and vanilla extract. Mix just until smooth but do not overmix. Cover batter with a lid and let this sit in a warm area, for 30 minutes until it becomes bubbly, thick and frothy. Tip: I placed my bowl in a sink filled with just enough warm water, so that the bowl can sit and keep warm but not so much water that it's floating around.
- Melt your butter in the microwave for 60 seconds or until melted.
- Heat your Danish aebleskiver pan over low-medium heat, level 4/10 on a stovetop. Brush melted butter into the well of the pan, about ⅛ teaspoon per well. If you're using a normal non-stick pan, grease the base of the pan very well.
- Pour enough batter to fill each well halfway to ¾ full, about 1 tablespoon of batter. Do not fill to the top or it will overflow. Repeat the process until all wells are filled. If you're using a normal pan, pour 1 tablespoon of batter into pan.
- Cook until bubbles form on the top of the pancake and the base is golden brown, about 2-4 minutes per side. Flip over with a fork or skewer. Fry on the other side. Serve with icing sugar or any of toppings of your choice (maple syrup, fruits, Nutella, vanilla sauce, etc.), enjoy!
Jeanne
Great recipe! I tried others that did not work. I used soy milk and cake flour (+1/3 cup). Thanks.
christieathome
Very happy to read this and glad you enjoyed it with the substitutions! Thanks so much for making my recipe, Jeanne!
Kiana
Absolutely Wonderful
christieathome
Thank you so much Kiana for making my recipe and leaving a kind review! Have a lovely day!