Poffertjes are the Netherlands' favourite street snack: mini Dutch pancakes, small, puffy and dusted with icing sugar. With this recipe you can make them at home, with a high protein twist. Instead of a ready-made mix, you use Ultra Fine Oats, Perfection Whey Vanilla and Liquid Egg Whites. That brings each serving to around 37g of protein.
Who says you can't have poffertjes for breakfast? Served with fresh fruit, they are perfect for a weekend breakfast, brunch with friends or a snack after training. The batter is ready in 5 minutes and cooking them is quicker than you think.
HOW TO MAKE PROTEIN POFFERTJES
- Add the Ultra Fine Oats, Perfection Whey Vanilla, Liquid Egg Whites, almond milk, half a banana and the baking powder to a blender. Blend until smooth.
- Check the consistency: the batter should be slightly thinner than regular pancake batter, so it pours easily from a squeeze bottle. Add a splash of almond milk if needed.
- Pour the batter into a squeeze bottle. This makes filling the holes quick and neat.
- Heat a poffertjes pan (no poffertjes pan? see below for alternatives) and lightly grease the holes with Smart Cooking Spray.
- Fill the holes with batter and cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Carefully flip the poffertjes with a fork or skewer and cook for another minute, until golden brown and cooked through.
- Cut the strawberries into pieces and wash the blueberries.
- Stack the poffertjes on a plate, arrange the fruit over and around them and dust generously with icing sugar.
WHAT ARE POFFERTJES?
Poffertjes are traditional Dutch mini pancakes, sold at markets and fairs across the Netherlands. They are traditionally made with buckwheat flour, yeast and milk, and cooked in a special pan with small round holes. This version is quicker: baking powder means the batter doesn't need to rise, and Liquid Egg Whites make them light without having to separate eggs.
- Let the pan get properly hot before you start, so the poffertjes get a golden crust straight away.
- Don't fill the holes to the top. Three quarters full is enough, as they rise a little.
- Flip them as soon as the edges look dry and bubbles appear on top.
- Cook in batches and keep the first poffertjes warm under a clean tea towel.
HOW TO MAKE POFFERTJES WITHOUT A POFFERTJES PAN
No poffertjes pan at home? No problem. You can make these mini Dutch pancakes with what you already have in your kitchen. They will be a little flatter or less round, but they taste exactly the same.
- Regular frying pan: squeeze or spoon small dollops of batter, about 3cm wide, into a greased non-stick frying pan. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes per side over medium heat, just like mini pancakes.
- Mini muffin tin: grease the tin, fill the holes halfway with batter and bake for 8 to 10 minutes in an oven preheated to 180°C.
- Aebleskiver pan: got a Danish aebleskiver pan or a takoyaki pan? It works just like a poffertjes pan, the poffertjes will just be slightly bigger.
POFFERTJES VARIATIONS
Cinnamon Roll
Use Perfection Whey Cinnamon Roll in the batter and dust the poffertjes with a little cinnamon.
Chocolate
Scatter Choco Drops over the warm poffertjes so they melt slightly.
Yogurt dip
Stir a scoop of Flavour Powder Strawberry into Greek yogurt and use it as a dip.
FAQ
How much protein is in these poffertjes?
One serving contains around 37g of protein, including the fruit. Most of it comes from Perfection Whey and Liquid Egg Whites.
Can you make poffertjes without a poffertjes pan?
Yes. A regular frying pan, a mini muffin tin or an aebleskiver pan all work. See above for how to make poffertjes without a poffertjes pan.
What is the difference between poffertjes and pancakes?
Poffertjes are smaller, thicker and fluffier than pancakes. Traditionally they are made with yeast and buckwheat flour and cooked in a special pan with small holes.
Can you store or freeze poffertjes?
Cooked poffertjes keep for 2 days in the fridge. You can also freeze them and warm them up briefly in a pan or microwave. Add the fruit and icing sugar just before serving.
Are these poffertjes healthy?
This version is high in protein and made with oats and banana instead of wheat flour and sugar. Protein contributes to the growth and maintenance of muscle mass. Find more ideas in our guide to breakfast protein.
CONCLUSION
With Ultra Fine Oats, Perfection Whey Vanilla and Liquid Egg Whites you make fluffy mini Dutch pancakes with around 37g of protein in just 15 minutes. A Dutch classic, but high in protein. Want more? Try our banana protein pancakes or our 6 high protein yogurt bowl ideas.
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Sources
- Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 on nutrition and health claims made on foods, Annex: "source of protein" and "high protein" claims.
- EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA). Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to protein and growth or maintenance of muscle mass. EFSA Journal 2010;8(10):1811.
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, FoodData Central: oats; bananas, raw.
