What Kind of Pancakes Do Dutchies Eat?

If you think a pancake should be a fluffy tower covered in maple syrup, the Dutch would like a word with you. Dutch pancakes — pannenkoeken — are their own species: bigger than American pancakes, thicker than French crêpes, and perfectly happy carrying anything from bacon and cheese to apples and powdered sugar.

The classic Dutch pannenkoek

A traditional Dutch pancake is usually enormous. It can easily cover an entire dinner plate, but it remains relatively thin. The batter is simple, typically made with flour, milk, eggs, and a little salt.

Want to make them yourself? This traditional Dutch pancake recipe from Fleur Foodie gives you a good idea of how uncomplicated the basic recipe really is.

But the pancake itself is only the beginning.

Wait... bacon on a pancake?

Absolutely.

One of the biggest differences between Dutch pancakes and the pancakes many tourists know is that pannenkoeken are not necessarily desserts. In fact, savory versions are extremely normal.

Popular combinations include:

• Bacon
• Bacon and cheese
• Ham and cheese
• Cheese
• Mushrooms and vegetables
• Bacon, cheese, and onions

The ingredients are often cooked together with the pancake rather than simply dumped on top afterward.

And then comes one of the most Dutch things imaginable: putting syrup on a bacon pancake. Sweet stroop combined with salty bacon might sound suspicious, but it works remarkably well.

Sweet pancakes are everywhere too

Of course, the Dutch haven't forgotten sugar.

Apple pancakes are classics, often served with cinnamon and powdered sugar. You can also find pancakes with bananas, strawberries, chocolate, whipped cream, ice cream, or combinations capable of turning your innocent pancake into a 1,500-calorie construction project.

Touristy pancake restaurants in Amsterdam take this particularly seriously. At Dutch Pancake Masters in Amsterdam, for example, you'll find traditional ideas alongside much more extravagant creations.

And then there are poffertjes

We cannot discuss Dutch pancakes without mentioning poffertjes. These are tiny, fluffy pancakes traditionally served with butter and a small mountain of powdered sugar.

You'll see them at markets, fairs, festivals, Christmas markets, and tourist attractions. Unlike the big pannenkoek, nobody pretends that poffertjes are dinner. They are basically Dutch permission to eat dessert in the middle of the afternoon.

So, what kind of pancakes do Dutchies eat?

Big ones, small ones, sweet ones, salty ones — and occasionally ones containing bacon, cheese, syrup, and absolutely no concern for international pancake conventions.