"Holland's miniature pancakes, puffed in round-mould pans, dusted with sugar and butter, are sold at Amsterdam's street markets. They're embarrassingly easy to eat too many of."
About Poffertjes
Holland's most charming street sweet: miniature, thick-battered pancakes cooked in a special pan with dimpled moulds until they puff into small domes with a crispy base and a pillowy, eggy interior; dusted with powdered sugar and a knob of butter; served by street vendors in paper trays at Christmas markets and the Vondelpark on summer weekends.
Poffertjes, a staple of Netherlands's cuisine
Miniature Pancakes
Poffertjes are the Netherlands' charming little pancakes, cooked in a special pan of small round moulds so they puff into bite-sized domes. Crisp at the base and soft and spongy within, they are served dusted with powdered sugar and a knob of butter. They are market and fair food, sold from griddles in clouds of sweet steam.
The Pan and Batter
The dimpled poffertjes pan gives them their shape, impossible to reproduce in a flat one. The batter is leavened, traditionally with yeast and a little buckwheat flour, which makes them rise and lends a faint nutty flavour. Cooked quickly and turned in their moulds, they puff into light, tender rounds.
How They Are Eaten
Poffertjes come in a small tray, a dozen or more at a time, dusted thickly with icing sugar and dotted with melting butter, eaten with a little wooden fork. The contrast of crisp edge and pillowy, faintly yeasty centre is the appeal. A version with stroop, Dutch syrup, instead of sugar is a sweeter alternative.
Market Food
Poffertjes belong to street markets, parks and Christmas fairs, made fresh on a hot griddle and eaten on the spot. They are Dutch street food at its most accessible and unpretentious, sweet and simple. Easy to eat far too many of, they are best ordered in a generous portion from the start.
What to Expect
The poffertjes arrive in a small tray, sugar dusted and butter melting. A wooden fork is used to eat them. The outside is lightly crisp, while the inside is soft and slightly yeasty. Twelve poffertjes are eaten, and the diner regrets having only ordered twelve.
Why Try It
Poffertjes are Dutch street food at its most accessible, sweet, simple and completely lacking in pretension.
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Insider Tips
The Vondelpark and the Amsterdam Christmas market are the best seasonal locations.
Order a large portion, small portions are never sufficient.
The version with stroop (Dutch syrup) instead of sugar is an alternative worth trying.
