This Swedish pancake recipe comes from my grandma, and I’ve been enjoying this special treat since childhood. They are traditional Swedish pancakes, and this Scandinavian breakfast is soft and buttery, with a custardy texture.
Originally, it’s called pannkakor in Swedish. They are light and fluffy, and thicker than crepes, but thinner than the standard American pancakes.
Even though they are pancakes, you can have them not only for breakfast, but also as brunch or dinner. It can create your own family tradition.
The best part about these thin pancakes is that you can make your sweet or savory version and add any kind of toppings you like. So, let me get straight into the recipe!
Why You’ll Love This Swedish Pancakes Recipe
- These crepe-style pancakes are very thin, yet soft and fluffy with a tender texture in the middle and a lacy edge.
- The prep time for these thin Swedish pancakes is quite short because you can easily make the batter within minutes, and it takes a few more minutes to cook. So quick!
- Even the ingredients are simple enough that you can easily find them lying around in your kitchen pantry.
- These buttery pancakes are very versatile because you can add any kind of toppings like butter, yogurt, jam, and cream.
What Are Swedish Pancakes?
These Swedish rolled pancakes are actually known as Pannkaka in singular form and Pannkakor in plural form in Swedish.
They are known as Swedish crepe pancakes, but they are much thicker than French crepes. The milk-based batter is easy to whip up and makes for a soft and fluffy texture, which is thinner than regular American pancakes.
Because you put unsalted butter in the batter, the flavor is buttery. And you can serve them with different toppings. Usually, lingonberry jam and butter are the most popular toppings.
These Scandinavian pancakes are known for their versatility with sweet and savory fillings that can serve as breakfast, brunch, or dinner.
Ingredients for Swedish Pancakes
- Whole Milk: Making the batter milk-based is necessary to get the liquid consistency that creates very thin crepe-like pancakes. You can use almond milk if you want a vegan alternative.
- Eggs: You will need 3 large eggs at room temperature to get that custardy texture in the pancakes. Using egg alternatives can make the batter thicker, so keep that in mind when you’re measuring your ingredients.
- Sugar: Using the right amount of sugar will give your pancakes the sweetness they need.
- Unsalted Butter: This gives your pancakes the buttery texture you want, and you also need it to grease the pan. If you use unsalted butter, you can have control over how much salt you put in the batter. You can use oils, like olive oil or vegetable oil, instead of butter if you want a non-dairy option.
- Salt: Using a bit of salt will balance the sweetness and give your thin pancakes a little savory flavor.
- All-Purpose Flour: You can use any kind of flour you want. I like using all-purpose flour. But you can use almond flour for a gluten-free alternative. Just make sure you measure it right.
- Vanilla Essence: A little bit of vanilla essence will make the flavor of the breakfast pancakes richer.
- Toppings: You can use any toppings you like on your skillet pancakes, like jam, cream, yogurt, butter, heavy cream, etc.
Expert Tips for Perfect Swedish Pancakes
- To make your batter pour thin, you need to add enough whole milk for a high-moisture batter, as well as master the pan-titling technique for even pancakes.
- The best kind of pan you can use for this brunch recipe is a non-stick pan. If you want, you can also use a cast-iron skillet.
- You need to rest the batter for about 10 minutes to get the texture from potentially rubbery to delicate and tender.
- If you want to prevent your pancakes from tearing when flipping, you need to focus on the timing, the right tools, and try lifting the edge first.
- To keep your pancakes warm while you’re finishing the batch, you can place them in a wire rack in the oven at 200°F. Make sure you put baking sheets between each pancake.
Toppings & Serving Ideas
- One of the most popular toppings for these Swedish pancakes is lingonberry jam, butter, or whipped cream.
- You can also add all kinds of fresh berries on top, like blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, etc.
- When you first roll the pancakes into a plate, you can garnish them with powdered sugar before serving or adding toppings.
- To keep the toppings simple, you can go for powdered sugar garnish and salted or unsalted butter.
- Besides the jam and cream toppings, you can make a savory serving by adding things like smoked salmon, dill, crispy bacon, mushrooms, cheese, etc.
Storage, Reheating & Make-Ahead Tips
- You can store the leftover thin Swedish pancakes in the refrigerator in an airtight container, and they won’t spoil for about 2 to 3 days.
- If you need to freeze the leftovers, you can do so by wrapping them in plastic wrap or placing them in a freezer-safe airtight container and putting them in the freezer.
- When you need to thaw the frozen pancakes, just put them in the refrigerator overnight. Then, you can reheat them in a skillet, microwave, or oven.
- You can also make the batter ahead of time, refrigerate it, and cook the pancakes when you want to serve them.
Troubleshooting & Common Mistakes
- Pancakes Sticking to the Pan: If you’re not using a non-stick pan, this can happen. So, use a non-stick pan and grease it properly with butter.
- Batter Too Thick or Thin: Not measuring the all-purpose flour or the other dry ingredients can lead to a thick or thin batter. Just measure using a kitchen scale.
- Uneven Browning: You need to cook the pancakes on medium heat. But if you find them browning unevenly throughout finishing the batch, lower the heat and adjust accordingly.
- Pancake Tearing: If you don’t know the right flipping technique, your pancakes might tear. Simply loosen the edges before flipping. You can also use your spatula to fold a small section of the edge over onto itself, then slide the spatula under that folded section toward the midpoint of the pancake before flipping fully.
Swedish Pancakes Recipe (Thin, Soft & Lightly Sweet)
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 1 cup All-Purpose Flour
- ¼ tsp Salt
- 1 tbsp Sugar
Wet Ingredients
- 3 large Eggs
- 1 & ½ cups Whole Milk
- 3 tbsp Melted Unsalted Butter
- ½ tsp Vanilla Essence
Equipments
- Skillet
Instructions
Prepare the Batter
- Take a bowl and add 3 large eggs and one tablespoon of sugar.
- Use an electric hand beater to beat the two ingredients until they are light and frothy.
- Add your whole milk, melted unsalted butter, vanilla essence, salt, and all-purpose flour.
- Sift the dry ingredients and beat all the ingredients with your electric beater to mix everything well.
Heat the Pan
- Heat your non-stick pan on the stovetop on medium heat.
- Grease the pan properly with unsalted butter.
Cook the Pancakes
- Pour about ¼ cup of batter into the pan and tilt to make a circle.
- Cook the pancake until the bottom is golden and the edges start to lift.
Flip, Finish, and Enjoy!
- Flip the pancake to cook the other side. Cooking a single pancake should take about 1 to 2 minutes.
- Grease the pan with butter for each pancake and repeat the process.
- Now, you can serve them with whatever toppings you like.
Video
This Swedish pancakes recipe is one of the easiest recipes of all time. It’s a traditional Swedish breakfast that you can also have for brunch or dinner with your family.
If you tried making these delicious pancakes and loved them, leave a comment and share your thoughts. Don’t forget to leave a rating and share the recipe. I’ll wait to hear from you!
Recipe FAQs
What’s the difference between Swedish pancakes and crepes?
The difference between Swedish pancakes and French crepes is that these pancakes are a bit thicker, softer, and fluffier.
What to use for toppings?
You can use any kind of toppings you like, from something sweet to something savory. The most popular ones are butter, cream, and jam.
What pan is best for Swedish pancakes?
The best kind of pan to make these Swedish pancakes is an 8 or 10-inch non-stick pan. But you can also use a cast-iron skillet to make them.
Can I make Swedish pancakes without sugar?
Yes, of course, you can make these Swedish pancakes without sugar if it’s simply your preference or if you have any medical conditions.
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