History

Dutch pannekoeken have been eaten since at least the 17th century, depicted in Golden Age paintings. Unlike French crepes, Dutch pancakes are made with whole milk and often buckwheat; they are cooked one at a time in a large pan and eaten as a full plate-sized portion. Utrecht cafes and bakeries serve pannekoeken as a brunch and lunch staple.

Common allergens: Gluten, Dairy, Egg

Make it at home

Yield Makes 4 large pancakesHands-on 20 minTotal 35 minDifficulty Easy

Ingredients

  • 200g plain flour
  • 2 eggs
  • 500ml whole milk
  • Pinch of salt
  • 30g unsalted butter for cooking
  • For savoury: 4 slices Dutch ham, 80g grated aged gouda
  • For sweet: 4 tbsp Dutch stroop (syrup) and icing sugar

Method

  1. Whisk flour, eggs, a pinch of salt and half the milk until smooth. Gradually add remaining milk to make a thin batter. Rest 15 minutes.
  2. Heat a 26cm frying pan over medium-high heat, add a small knob of butter.
  3. Pour a ladleful of batter (approx. 100ml) into the pan, swirl to cover the base completely.
  4. Cook 2 to 3 minutes until the edges are set and the underside is lightly golden; flip once and cook 1 minute more.
  5. For savoury: add ham and gouda when the pancake is nearly cooked and fold in half.
  6. For sweet: slide onto a plate, pour Dutch stroop over and dust with icing sugar.

Tip from the editors. Dutch pannekoeken should be very large and very thin; use a big pan and pour just enough batter to coat the base thinly.

This is the TableJourney editorial recipe, modelled on the canonical bistro / counter version. The first place to try the dish in its city of origin is below.

Where to eat dutch pancakes (pannekoeken)

Dutch Pancakes (Pannekoeken) in Utrecht

Rocking Chair ★ 4.6

Extensive Dutch and European weekend brunch buffet€15-€22neudeSat-Sun 09:30-15:00Recommended

Utrecht's most popular weekend brunch near the city centre. Expansive Dutch and European spread: smoked salmon, Dutch cheeses, eggs and freshly baked bread.

Order: Dutch cheese board with sourdough, smoked salmon and scrambled eggs

Willem van Noortstraat 88, 3514 GG Utrecht

NODA Eetbar and Deli ★ 4.3

All-day brunch on the top floor of the Neude library in the former 1920s post office€10-€20neudeMon-Sat 09:00-18:00, Sun 10:00-18:00Walk-in, groups of 6+ may book

Top-floor eetbar in the restored 1920s post office on the Neude. Breakfast, brunch and lunch from a globe-spanning deli menu under tall arched windows overlooking the Oudegracht.

Order: World-deli breakfast plate with a flat white and a view over the Oudegracht

Neude 11, 3512 AE Utrecht

De Bakkerswinkel ★ 4.4

Dutch bakery brunch with homemade pastries and artisan bread€12-€20centrumMon-Fri 07:30-17:00, Sat 08:00-17:00, Sun 09:00-17:00Walk-in

Bakery brunch from the Dutch artisan bakery on the Wittevrouwenstraat. Homemade pastries, Dutch-style pancakes, sourdough toast and eggs on fresh-baked bread.

Order: Dutch pancake with apple and cinnamon, and the house croissant

Wittevrouwenstraat 2, 3512 CT Utrecht

More cities are in research. Want dutch pancakes (pannekoeken) covered somewhere specific? Tell us where you want to eat.

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