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.

How to make homemade pancakes Paula Deen? ›

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and baking powder. Stir in the buttermilk, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla. Pour ¼ cup of pancake batter for each pancake onto the griddle. Cook until the edges start to set and the pancakes are golden-brown underneath.

How do you eat a Pannekoek? ›

Pannenkoek fillings can be sweet or savoury.

Traditionally, Dutch pancakes filled or not, are rolled and then eaten. Slice them and use a fork and knife if you're feeling civilized, or just grab it with your fingers and dig in.

What's the difference between crepes 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.

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

Pancake lovers' biggest complaint when adding water instead of milk is that the flavor seems to change. Pancakes aren't as richly flavored with water. There are a few ways to improve your batter when you've used water, including: Add extra butter.

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 baking soda in buttermilk pancakes? ›

Pancakes and waffles typically both contain baking soda, which causes them to rise. As soon as the baking soda is combined with the wet ingredients (which contain an acidic ingredient, like often buttermilk), it starts producing carbon dioxide gas bubbles that cause the batter to rise.

Can you use vinegar instead of eggs in pancakes? ›

Vinegar and Baking Soda: Combine one tablespoon of white or apple cider vinegar with one teaspoon of baking soda to replace one egg. It's normal for the combination to bubble as it produces a leavening effect in your cakes.

How do restaurants make their pancakes so good? ›

The Batter

In an interview with Delish, IHOP's vice president of culinary innovation revealed that the pancake house keeps the wet ingredients “ice cold” in the prepared batter. This eliminates any heat interaction with the glutens that might cause the batter to rise prematurely.

What makes fluffier pancakes milk or water? ›

Milk helps make pancakes fluffier than water. Since milk is thicker than water, it creates a thicker batter. Further, if you use whole milk or low fat milk, the fat content helps yield tender, fluffy results.

Why are restaurant pancakes so much better than homemade? ›

Restaurants have professional griddles

The constant heat leads to a more evenly cooked pancake, that never runs the risk of having the batter poured too early. If the heat is always at the right level, it's always the correct time.

Is a Dutch baby the same as a pannekoeken? ›

Both Netherlands-style Pannenkoeken and Dutch Baby pancakes make a wonderful breakfast option as the batter can be made the night before and, in the case of the Dutch Baby, the pancake is baked in the oven, making it a relatively hands-off recipe.

What do they call pancakes in Russia? ›

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

What do the French call American pancakes? ›

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.

What are pancakes called in Mexico? ›

The small pancakes in Mexico are called "hotcakes" or "panqueques" in Spanish. They are similar to the American pancakes, but they are smaller and thinner, and sometimes they are filled with sweet or savory ingredients such as fruits, chocolate, cheese, or meat.

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