Palacsinta (Hungarian Crêpes)
In short: Thin Hungarian pancakes made with sparkling water for lightness, filled with apricot jam, walnuts and sugar, or sweet curd cheese. It takes about 35 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 25 min
- Resting
- 30 min
- Total
- 35 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 570 kcal
Palacsinta are thin Hungarian pancakes, similar to French crêpes but usually made with a splash of sparkling water, which keeps them tender. They are filled with apricot jam, ground walnuts and sugar, cocoa, or sweetened túró cheese, then rolled or folded. Families cook a big stack for Sunday lunch or for dessert, and some turn them savory with a meat or mushroom filling. The batter is quick to make, and a batch freezes well.
Instructions
- Whisk the flour, sugar and salt in a bowl. Add the eggs and milk and whisk until smooth.
- Whisk in the sparkling water and the oil to make a thin batter, like single cream. Rest it for 30 minutes.
- Heat a 20 to 22 cm (8 to 9 in) nonstick pan over medium-high heat and brush it lightly with oil.
- Pour in about 60 ml (1/4 cup) of batter and tilt the pan to spread it thinly. Cook for 1 minute until the edges brown and the top is set. Flip and cook for 30 seconds.
- Stack the palacsinta on a plate, brushing the pan with oil every few pancakes.
- Spread each with a layer of apricot jam or the walnut and sugar mixture, then roll up or fold into triangles. Dust with powdered sugar and serve warm.
Tips
- Sparkling water makes the batter lighter. If you have none, use still water and rest the batter a little longer.
- For a savory version, leave out the sugar and fill with sautéed mushrooms, or ham and cheese, then bake them briefly with a spoonful of sour cream on top.
Questions and answers
What is the difference between palacsinta and crêpes?
They are similar. Hungarian palacsinta often use sparkling water and oil in the batter, are slightly thicker than French crêpes, and are usually rolled around jam, walnuts or sweet cheese.
Can I freeze palacsinta?
Yes. Stack cooled pancakes with baking paper between them and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature and warm in a pan.
What are traditional palacsinta fillings?
Apricot jam, ground walnuts with sugar, cocoa sugar and sweetened túró cheese with raisins are the most popular. Chocolate sauce and cinnamon apples are also common.
How long does it take to make Palacsinta (Hungarian Crêpes)?
About 35 min in total: 10 min of preparation and 25 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Palacsinta (Hungarian Crêpes)?
About 570 kcal per serving, with 13 g of protein, 80 g of carbohydrates and 21 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 570 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 13 g |
| Carbohydrates | 80 g |
| Fat | 21 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 34 g |
| Sodium | 200 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
