South African Pannekoek (Pancakes) - aninas recipes (2024)

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South African Pannekoek (Pancakes)

Anina January 28, 2020 baking 8 Comments

I’m sharing the easiest foolproof South African Pannekoek recipe today! Deliciously addictive, these thin crepes, usually served with loads of cinnamon and sugar, is a firm favourite South African treat.

South African Pannekoek (Pancakes) - aninas recipes (1)

This recipe is very easy and one of our family’s best-loved recipes. I don’t think it’s possible to count how many times over we have used this recipe in the last three decades. From my early childhood I remember the fun of church bazaars and school fetes. Where the waft of cinnamon sugar literally pulls you towards the stand, for a tray of freshly baked pannekoek. This South African Pannekoek is THAT kind of recipe. Therefore, this batter is great to make in bulk when you need to feed a whole army.

With a pinch of nostalgia added for good measure…

South African Pannekoek (Pancakes) - aninas recipes (2)

What is a Pannekoek?

Isn’t Afrikaans just such a fun language?

Pannekoek (afrikaans for pancakes) is a bit different from the US pancake versions. South African Pannekoek is a thinner batter, poured and spread out in a hot pan and cooked on both sides into a thin crepe. However, it is slightly thicker than the French version. It’s easy to fill pannekoek with all sorts of delicious things, from sweet to savoury. For example, in this recipe I filled my pannekoek with Spiced Caramelized Nectarines – to die for!

The South African Pannekoek way is with plenty of cinnamon sugar, melted into the rolled up pannekoek with a dash of fresh lemon juice.

South African Pannekoek (Pancakes) - aninas recipes (3)

How To Make South African Pannekoek

First off, this is an easy one bowl pannekoek recipe that takes no effort at all.

You simply add all the wet ingredients (water, eggs, lemon juice and oil) in a bowl with an electric hand mixer at the ready.

Next you just add the flour and baking powder little by little while beating with the electric mixer until the batter is smooth.

Lastly, and I never really know how much you need, but I keep a little water on hand to thin out the batter before I scoop about a ladle full into a hot non stick pan.

Tilt the pan when you pour the batter in, to spread it out all over the pan. Once the pancake batter starts pulling away from the sides, with bubbles in the batter on top, it’s ready to flip and cook for a few more seconds.

Serve with cinnamon sugar and see how long they’ll last. NOT LONG!

South African Pannekoek (Pancakes) - aninas recipes (4)

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Print Recipe

South African Pannekoek (Pancakes)

An easy and foolproof South African Pannekoek (Pancake) recipe, a real South African treat served with cinnamon sugar and fresh lemon.

South African Pannekoek (Pancakes) - aninas recipes (13)

Votes: 19
Rating: 3.53
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Course After dessert treat, dessert
Cuisine South African
Prep Time 10 min
Cook Time 30 min
Servings

pancakes

Ingredients

  • 2 large eggs
  • 3 cups water
  • 1/2 cup cooking oil
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 2 cups flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • pinch salt
  • cinnamon sugar to serve
  • fresh lemon to serve
Course After dessert treat, dessert
Cuisine South African
Prep Time 10 min
Cook Time 30 min
Servings

pancakes

Ingredients

  • 2 large eggs
  • 3 cups water
  • 1/2 cup cooking oil
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 2 cups flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • pinch salt
  • cinnamon sugar to serve
  • fresh lemon to serve

South African Pannekoek (Pancakes) - aninas recipes (14)

Votes: 19
Rating: 3.53
You:

Rate this recipe!

Instructions

  1. Add all the wet ingredients (water, eggs, lemon juice and oil) in a bowl with an electric hand mixer at the ready. Give it a quick beat with the mixer until all the wet ingredients are incorporated.

  2. While beating, slowly add the flour and baking powder, and mix until smooth shiny batter. Add salt and mix through.

  3. Keep a cup of water at your side once you start baking. You can add small amounts to the batter as you go. This just thins the batter out before you bake.

  4. Heat a non stick pan on medium heat. The pan should be hot, but the heat must not be otherwise you can burn the bottom of your pancake before it's cooked through.

  5. Scoop about a ladle full into a hot non stick pan.

  6. Tilt the pan when you pour the batter in, to spread it out all over the pan. Place back on medium heat. Once the pancake batter starts pulling away from the sides, with bubbles in the batter on top, it's ready to flip and cook for a few more seconds on the other side.

  7. Once cooked, transfer to a plate and generously sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Roll the pancake from one side and cover until you have a stack.

  8. Serve with fresh lemon juice.

Recipe Notes

Top tip: Put a few plain pancakes aside and keep in the fridge to use for a lunch with a delicious savoury filling.

If you have smallish eggs, add one more egg to the batter to help settle in the pan and to reduce cracking.

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About The Author

South African Pannekoek (Pancakes) - aninas recipes (18)

anina

Food blogger, Recipe Developer, Food Stylist and Photographer currently living the slow life in Cape Town, South Africa. I love to share easy and delicious recipes the whole family would enjoy.

South African Pannekoek (Pancakes) - aninas recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is pannekoek in English? ›

pannekoek, large thin Dutch pancake typically cooked with various sweet or savory fillings, including bacon, cheese, and apples.

What is the secret of amazing pancakes? ›

Don't use cooking fat - This is the real secret to the technique. If you want those perfect edge to edge golden brown tops and bottoms on your pancakes leave the pan totally dry. No butter, no cooking oil, no nothing.

How to make Queen Elizabeth pancakes? ›

Beat two eggs with 4 tablespoons of sugar and about one teacup (or 3/4 of a cup) of milk. Add 4 teacups of flour and mix in another teacup of milk "as required" Mix in 3 teaspoons of cream of tartar and 2 tablespoons of bicarbonate soda (baking soda) Fold in 2 tablespoons of melted butter.

Why do you put cream of tartar in pancakes? ›

Without cream of tartar, the meringue wouldn't be as strong, which may result in pancakes that aren't as tall and fluffy as they could be,” she mentions. “Or you'd have a batter that weeps or begins to separate while it waits for its turn on the griddle.”

What is the difference between pancakes and pannenkoeken? ›

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 a crepe and a pannekoek? ›

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.

Why is the first pancake no good? ›

The first pancake is in effect the trial run, working out the kinks before all the variables of even heat and pan seasoning come together. While that first pancake cooks the pan comes to temperature, and it absorbs just enough of the fat on the cooking surface so that second one will cook more evenly.

Why do you put milk instead of water in pancakes? ›

Can I Use Water Instead of Milk in Pancakes? Milk adds both flavor and texture to pancake batter, so if you are looking to make pancakes without milk, a simple swap to water doesn't always do the trick. For pancakes made without milk, you'll want to add some flavor through melted butter and vanilla extract.

What are purple pancakes made of? ›

These vibrant purple pancakes get their color from a natural source: ube, also known as purple yam. This ingredient is common in Filipino desserts, but can be difficult to find in the United States.

How does Gordon Ramsay make pancake MiX? ›

Gordon Ramsay's recipe

You will need 2 eggs, separated, 2 tbsp sugar, ½ tsp salt, 2 tsp baking powder, 60g vegetable oil, 300g buttermilk, 160g plain flour, and 1 tsp vanilla essence. Whisk the egg whites “*ntil foamy”. MiX all the other ingredients in a second bowl, then fold in the egg whites.

Why do you put coins in pancakes? ›

However, it's not as tasty as you think, as they add small objects (after they've been thoroughly cleaned of course) such as buttons, rings, and coins. Each object has a special meaning, for example, if you find a shiny coin in your pancake, you're deemed very lucky and will end up rich!

What happens if I use baking soda instead of baking powder in pancakes? ›

However, if you're in a pinch, the substitution is one teaspoon baking soda equals three teaspoons baking powder. Baking soda is also much stronger than baking powder and, by trying to provide enough leavening, you may wind up with an unpleasant metallic, salty taste in the final baked product.

What is a substitute for cream of tartar in pancakes? ›

You can use 1.5 teaspoons (6 grams) of baking powder to replace 1 teaspoon (3.5 grams) of cream of tartar. This substitution is ideal because it can be used in any recipe without modifying the taste or texture of the final product.

Is a Dutch baby the same as a pannekoek? ›

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 does pannenkoeken mean 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 do they call pancakes in Russia? ›

Blini (plural blinis or blini, rarely bliny; Russian: блины pl.), singular: blin, are an Eastern European pancake made from various kinds of flour or buckwheat, wheat, etc.

What are American pancakes called in France? ›

The common word is “crêpe”. But if you refer to American or English ones, people use the English one. Otherwise, if you make pancakes with buckwheat only or a mix of wheat and buckwheat, you'll say “galettes” or “ crêpes salées”. If you make them for dessert, the word “une crêpe” or “une crêpe sucrée” is used.

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