Pannukakku (Finnish Oven Pancake)
In short: A custardy oven pancake of eggs, milk and a little cardamom, baked until puffed and golden. Cut into squares and serve with jam or berries. It takes about 45 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 35 min
- Resting
- 10 min
- Total
- 45 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 230 kcal
Pannukakku is the Finnish oven pancake: a thin milk and egg batter poured into a pan and baked until puffed and golden at the edges, then cut into squares. Finns serve it warm with strawberry jam or berries, often as dessert after Thursday pea soup, and it makes an easy weekend breakfast too. A little cardamom in the batter gives it a gentle perfume.
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 225°C (435°F) and butter a 23 x 33 cm (9 x 13 in) baking pan generously.
- Whisk the eggs, sugar, salt and cardamom in a large bowl. Whisk in half the milk, then the flour, until the batter is smooth and free of lumps.
- Whisk in the rest of the milk and the melted butter. The batter will be thin, like single cream. Rest it for 10 minutes.
- Pour the batter into the pan and bake in the middle of the oven for 30 to 35 minutes, until puffed and deep golden. Do not open the oven in the first 25 minutes.
- Let the pancake cool for 5 minutes, since it will settle a little. Cut into squares and serve warm with jam, berries or whipped cream.
Tips
- Resting the batter for 10 minutes lets the flour absorb the milk, which gives a smoother, more custardy pancake.
- A smaller, deeper pan gives a thicker pancake with a softer center. Use a 20 x 30 cm (8 x 12 in) pan and add about 10 minutes.
Questions and answers
Why did my pannukakku sink?
Oven pancakes always settle as the steam escapes. A very hot oven that is not opened early limits the collapse, and serving soon after the short rest shows off the puff.
Can I make pannukakku dairy-free?
Yes. Use oat or soy milk and a neutral oil in place of the butter. The pancake will be a little less rich but cooks the same way.
What do you serve with pannukakku?
Strawberry jam is the classic partner, along with fresh berries, sugar or whipped cream. In Finland it often follows pea soup on Thursdays.
How long does it take to make Pannukakku (Finnish Oven Pancake)?
About 45 min in total: 10 min of preparation and 35 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Pannukakku (Finnish Oven Pancake)?
About 230 kcal per serving, with 8 g of protein, 24 g of carbohydrates and 11 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 230 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 8 g |
| Carbohydrates | 24 g |
| Fat | 11 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 10 g |
| Sodium | 270 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
