Pannenkoeken (Dutch Pancakes) Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (2024)

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This simple 20-minute pannenkoeken recipe highlights the Dutch pancakes' delicate texture and flavor. All they need is a sprinkling of brown sugar.

I make two versions of these tasty pancakes - one with whole-wheat flour and one with coconut flour. Both are excellent!

Pannenkoeken (Dutch Pancakes) Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (1)

Pannenkoeken (literally translates to pancakes) are Dutch pancakes. They are very similar to French crepes, but they are thicker and sturdier and usually served rolled up, with just a sprinkling of sugar.

Unlike "Dutch Babies", these pancakes are truly Dutch. One of my fondest childhood memories is of my Dutch-born dad standing in the kitchen, making us big, thick pannenkoeken sprinkled with lots of sugar.

Jump to:
  • Whole-Wheat Version
  • Gluten-FreeVersion
  • Expert Tip
  • Recipe FAQs
  • Serving Suggestions
  • Storing Leftovers
  • Related Recipes
  • Foodie Newsletter
  • Recipe Card

Whole-Wheat Version

Scroll down to the recipe card for this version. My pancakes are smaller than dad's and they are made with whole-wheat flour.

Dad used to sprinkle his pancakes with white sugar, but I use brown sugar because it adds flavor in addition to sweetness.

If you use all-purpose flour, you can use just one cup of milk, since white flour absorbs less liquid. You’ll know the batter is right if it spreads easily in the skillet.

Gluten-FreeVersion

After transitioning to a low-carb and gluten-free diet, I created a gluten-free version using coconut flour. While certainly nontraditional, it's very good. Watch the video below to see how I make these pannenkoeken. Here's the detailed recipe for this version.

Ingredients

3 large eggs
½ cup plus 2 tablespoons whole milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
¼ cup (28 grams) coconut flour
Cooking oil for pan (I use avocado oil)

Pannenkoeken Instructions

  • Break the eggs into a medium bowl and lightly beat them. Add the milk and vanilla and whisk to incorporate. (Photo 1).
  • Add the coconut flour and whisk patiently until very smooth. Allow the batter to thicken for 1-2 minutes, then whisk again. (Photo 2).
  • Heat a small, 8-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat. Spray it with cooking spray or grease it with butter.
  • For each pancake, pour a scant ⅓ cup of the batter into the skillet. Swirl to spread. Cook until the top is bubbly and the bottom is set, 2-3 minutes.
  • Using a wide spatula, or two regular spatulas, as shown in the video, very carefully flip the pannekoek - it's not as sturdy as a wheat flour one so work carefully. (Photo 3).
  • Cook the second side briefly - it will be done in 30 seconds to 1 minute, then slide the pancake onto a plate. (Photo 4).
  • Spray the skillet again and continue cooking the pancakes until all the batter is gone. Pile the cooked pannenkoeken on top of each other on a plate and cover them loosely with foil to keep them warm.
  • Sprinkle each of them with sugar (or a sugar-free sweetener), roll, and serve. (Photos 5-6).
Pannenkoeken (Dutch Pancakes) Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (2)

Nutrition info

The recipe makes 6. Nutrition for 2 (pancake only, no toppings):
Calories: 210 Fat: 14g Saturated fat: 5g Carbohydrates: 10g Sugar: 12g Sodium: 127mg Fiber: 3g Protein: 10g

Expert Tip

Just like crepes, you can make this recipe in advance. Cook the entire batch, and keep them piled on a baking sheet.

Then briefly warm them in a hot oven, loosely covered with foil so they don’t dry out. Finally, sprinkle them with sugar, roll, and serve.

Recipe FAQs

What is the difference between pannenkoeken and pancakes?

Pannenkoeken are larger and thinner. They are closer to French crepes than to American pancakes, although they are thicker than crepes.

Where do pannenkoeken originate from?

They originate from the Netherlands. Their name literally translates to "Pan-Cakes."

Are Dutch pancakes served for breakfast?

They can be served for any meal. There are savory versions that can be served for lunch or even dinner. Many pannekoek restaurants in the Netherlands are open from noon until 7 or 8 pm.

They can also be served as dessert or as a snack. My dad typically made them a couple of hours after dinner, as a snack.

Serving Suggestions

Faithful to my childhood memories, the only filling I like for pannenkoeken is sugar (real or fake). But there are other tasty filling options if you'd like to experiment:

  • Chocolate hazelnut spread (homemade or store-bought)
  • Whipped cream or chocolate whipped cream
  • Blueberry compote or strawberry compote
  • Fried bananas
  • Cream cheese and jam

Storing Leftovers

You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for 3 days. Reheat them in the microwave, covered, at 50% power.

Pannenkoeken (Dutch Pancakes) Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (3)
  • Keto Crepes
  • Keto Hazelnut Spread
  • Almond Flour Pancakes
  • Blueberry Compote

Recipe Card

Pannenkoeken (Dutch Pancakes)

This simple pannenkoeken recipe highlights the pancakes' delicate texture and flavor. All they need is a sprinkling of brown sugar.

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time10 minutes mins

Total Time20 minutes mins

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: Dutch

Servings: 10 pancakes

Calories: 239kcal

Author: Vered DeLeeuw

Ingredients

  • 1 cup white whole-wheat flour
  • ½ teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder gluten-free if needed
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 ¼ cups milk
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter melted
  • 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon melted butter for the skillet
  • ¼ cup brown sugar packed

Instructions

  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, salt and baking powder.

  • In another medium bowl, beat the eggs. Add the milk, butter, and vanilla. Slowly stir in the flour mixture. Whisk to combine.

  • Heat a 6-inch skillet over medium heat for about 4 minutes. Brush it with a thin layer of butter. Pour about ¼ cup of batter onto the skillet, swirling the skillet to spread evenly. Cook until golden for 2-3 minutes. You’ll know it’s time to flip the pancake when the edges start separating from the skillet:

    Pannenkoeken (Dutch Pancakes) Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (9)

  • Carefully flip the pannekoek, using two wide spatulas. Cook it for 1-2 more minutes on the second side, until golden.

  • Transfer the pannekoek to a dinner plate. Sprinkle it with brown sugar, roll it up, and serve.

Video

Notes

  • After transitioning to a low-carb, gluten-free diet, I created a gluten-free version using coconut flour. While certainly nontraditional, it's very good. The detailed recipe for this version is included in the post above.
  • You can cut the frying time in half by using 2 skillets simultaneously.
  • Just likecrepes, you can make this recipe in advance. Cook the entire batch, and keep them piled on a baking sheet. Then briefly warm them in a hot oven, loosely covered with foil so they don’t dry out. Finally, sprinkle them with sugar, roll, and serve.
  • You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for 3 days. Reheat them in the microwave, covered, at 50% power.

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Nutrition per Serving

Serving: 2pannenkoeken | Calories: 239kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 339mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 14g

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Cup measurements refer to the standard American cup, which is 240 milliliters. Most of my recipes are low-carb (or keto) and gluten-free, but some are not. Please verify that a recipe fits your needs before using it. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Nutrition info is approximate, and the carb count excludes non-nutritive sweeteners. Nutrition info may contain errors, so please verify it independently. Recipes may contain errors, so please use your common sense when following them. Please read these Terms of Use carefully before using any of my recipes.

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About the Author

Pannenkoeken (Dutch Pancakes) Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (20) Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., CNC, has been following a low-carb real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She's a Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM-CNC), has taken courses at the Harvard School of Public Health, and has earned a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women's Health, Shape, and Country Living. Click to learn more about Vered.

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Pannenkoeken (Dutch Pancakes) Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (2024)

FAQs

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.

Is a Dutch baby the same as a pannenkoeken? ›

Although the name suggests otherwise, The Dutch Baby Pancake is actually an American thing. From what I've read, they were made popular by German immigrants in the US, which makes sense because they do loosely resemble traditional German Pannekoeken.

What is pannenkoeken in English? ›

Literally translated “pannenkoek” is the Dutch word for pancake. A pannenkoek is a delicious crepe with a variety of ingredients cooked right into the batter, making this not your average North American pancake.

What is the difference between Pannekoeken and crepes? ›

Dutch Pancakes, or as my relatives call them Pannekoeken, are super similar to French Crepes!! French Crepes and Dutch Pancakes are built with 3 basic ingredients: flour, milk and eggs. The only difference between the two are that a French Crepe is considerably thinner as its batter uses twice as much milk.

Why do restaurant pancakes taste better than homemade? ›

Restaurants use better quality ingredients

Restaurants tend to use real, farm-fresh eggs and real milk when making their pancakes, which as you might guess, adds to a richer, higher-quality eating experience.

What is the difference between Yorkshire pudding and Dutch baby pancake? ›

A Dutch baby is very similar to a Yorkshire pudding, with a few differences: the Yorkshire pudding is more likely to be baked in individual servings, the pan is usually greased with beef drippings, and the result is rarely sweet. Dutch babies are larger, use butter rather than beef fat, and are frequently sweet.

What is a pancake in Dutch slang? ›

Pannekoek means pancake. It is a very mild insult meaning you're a dumbass. Very much milder than klootzak or kut.

What do Dutch people call pancakes? ›

I've grown up with Dutch pancakes called 'Pannenkoeken' in Dutch. In the Netherlands pancakes are often eaten for dinner. But they're also easily eaten for breakfast and lunch as well.

How to eat pannenkoeken? ›

Pannenkoeken are made from a simple batter of eggs, milk, flour, and a bit of salt. (Traditionally you would often find them using buckwheat flour.) They can be eaten plain, or with a dark, thick cane syrup called stroop, and/or powdered sugar.

What do Southerners call pancakes? ›

In the South, pancakes are interchangeably called hotcakes, griddlecakes, and flapjacks, though British flapjacks are made with rolled oats cooked in the oven.

Where did pannekoeken originate? ›

Pannenkoek
Pannenkoek with bacon
CourseMain course
Place of originNetherlands
Region or stateNorthwestern Europe
Serving temperaturewarm
1 more row

Are crêpes healthier than pancakes? ›

What's healthier: crêpes or pancakes? A single crêpe has less fat and calories than pancakes because they don't have the baking powder and, so, are less dense. However, they're not less calorific if you're stacking up double the amount of crêpes vs pancakes, so bear this in mind before you get carried away.

Why do Brits call crêpes pancakes? ›

Yes they are the same, pancakes is the British name and crepes is the French name. BTW there is no such thing as 'British' pancakes, they are just called pancakes.

What is the difference between Dutch and English pancakes? ›

Pannenkoeken are usually larger (up to a foot in diameter) and much thinner than their American or Scotch pancake counterparts, but not as thin as crêpes. They may incorporate slices of bacon, apples, cheese, or raisins.

What's the difference between German and American pancakes? ›

German pancakes use a whole lot more eggs and no added leavening agent. German Pancakes are also baked in the oven to a golden perfection. Whereas the traditional American pancake uses baking soda or powder to help it fluff up and is cooked on a hot stovetop or grill and is much fluffier when done.

What is a Dutch baby pancake made of? ›

Dutch Baby Ingredients

Eggs and milk: This light and fluffy Dutch baby recipe starts with two eggs whisked with milk. Flour: All-purpose flour lends structure and helps hold the batter together. Seasonings: These sweet Dutch babies are flavored with nutmeg and a pinch of salt.

Why is my Dutch pancake flat? ›

The recipe doesn't contain any chemical leavening as the milk and eggs create steam that causes the Dutch Baby to rise. 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.

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