Pancakes (African Style)
African Pancakes — a comforting, rich, tender and tasty pancakes that are a cross between crepe and American pancakes. A great make ahead breakfast topped with either butter, syrup or cinnamon sugar!
Not a Week goes by, in my household ,without making these tender pancakes – they are my son’s favorite breakfast. Who am I kidding, they are mine too!!!- for several reasons; Childhood memories, comfort rich taste and of course, a great make ahead breakfast – Now, tell me you like that!
I started making these pancakes , when I was about 10 years old , with no precise measurements . It always had a different taste each time because in my culture , all you need to know in order to cook are the ingredients . So armed with flour, eggs, milk and oil. I embarked on my pancake venture making pancakes with pride and dedication . At the time , I love it and I knew my pancakes were good.
However, whenever I had an oporturnity to sample pancakes sold at my neighborhood patisserie , It always was spot on- tender and tasty. One day ,I was bold enough to politely ask them for their recipe .The lady making the pancakes looked at me as if something was wrong with me, without saying a word. I learned that great tasting pancakes are , indeed, best left to bakeries and restaurants .
Fast forward to now, after making gazillion pancakes . I now have an amazing recipe , that I use most of the time , with some lessons learn.Whisking the eggs separately and letting the batter rest for at least an hour or more , relaxes the gluten found in flour and makes for some really light and tender pancakes .Also nutmeg and melted butter adds flavor to pancakes.
These tender pancakes are a cross between crepe and American pancakes – a little thicker than crepes but not as thick as American pancakes . They are comparable to South African or Swedish pancakes , I call them African pancakes because to be honest , there is no name for it , other than pancakes . This is the pancake I know from Cameroon , West Africa, where I grew up, with slight variations. I can’t seem to get anything like this in restaurants or maybe it is just comfort food to me , one that has to be homemade.
Deck it up however you like, butter, syrup, cinnamon sugar . My preference fresh fruit on the side and a cup of tea.
Enjoy!!!
Notes;
For a lighter pancakes use 1 cup milk and 1/2 cup water instead of 1 1/2 cup milk
Watch How to Make It
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African Pancakes
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 1 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2- 2/3 cup sugar
- 6 eggs
- 1/4 cup melted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla flavor
- 1/4- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/2 cup oil optional
Instructions
- Sift together flour, sugar,nutmeg and salt; set aside. In a large bowl, beat eggs and milk together with a mixer or by hand . Mix in flour mixture until everything has been incoporated .Finally stir in melted butter.
- Let the batter rest for about an hour or more in the refrigerator or overnight.
- Heat a skillet or a non stick frying pan then lightly coat the hot pan with vegetable oil, cooking spray, or clarified butter.Then pour about a 1/2 cup of batter depending on your fry pan or skillet. Tilt pan so the batter spreads across the bottom of the pan. Cook the pancake for about 2 minutes, until the bottom is light brown.
- Lift with a spatula, turn and cook the other side. Serve hot sprinkle with cinnamon sugar, powder sugar or syrup
Tips & Notes:
- You have to oil the pan for the first pancake, however, you do not have to do the same for the rest.
- For a lighter pancakes use 1 cup milk and 1/2 cup water instead of 1 1/2 cup milk
Nutrition Information:
Make God bless you my sister. Woke up craving for this this morning.
Aww thank you Bamenda Boy
Just made this for breakfast. I do not comment often but im here atleast 3x/week.
Thanks for the recipe 🙂
Hi Fidele! Super excited that you are regular reader and more important that you took the time to share your thoughts with us. Really appreciate it.
I just made the pancakes this morning there are simply extraordinary. I couldn’t stop eating and my kids loved it. I am from Cameroon and have made our pancakes several times but it looks nor taste nothing like this. Thanks for your research and efforts that came up with such great receipe. Thumbs up
28 year old single man here, and your site is my Bible.
I recently discovered it and it’s made my weekends fun.
Now my kitchen isn’t just another room to fill up with books and old screw drivers
Hi William! That is such a sweet thing to say-thanks for taking the time to let me know.AND no more gadgets in the kitchen! Thanks for taking the time to comment.
firsr attempt and nailed them – wonderful recipe! I didn’t add the oil (forgot) and they were fine. I’m not sure what the added oil would do in the recipe. A touch less sugar would also be fine, especially if you wanted to add savory ingredients after they’re finished. They were a bit heavy tasting – I’m also wondering if a little more milk or touch of water would have thinned them out (or perhaps that’s what the oil would have done). All in all, excellent recipe and makes me think of being back in South Africa!
Amy, oil helps to thin it out. You may sub oil with water or milk. Thanks for the feedback! Happy New Year!
I love crepes and these look wonderful. Thanks for the recipe. My next to try. I found it on Pinterest : )
Gail, Let me know how it works for you.Thanks for taking the time to comment.
These are amazing! I’ve been making them every weekend for my husband and I. Sometimes I add cinnamon for a different taste. Still very good and very moist. I’ll continue the tradition even after we’ve had kids.
They are amazing !!!!!!!!!! The best I’ve ever done. Sweet, soft and beautiful smelling. Thank you for this recipe 🙂
Aww, thank you for such a sweet comment!
I wanted to try breakfast a tad bit different today so I looked no further than africanbites. The pancakes turned out perfectly delicious. I used very little syrup which A bit sweet so I’m just going to use a little jam. Either way I can eat it alone with nothing else. Thank you!
Thanks for the feedback Nene.
Hi, am about to try this, never done it before. Just wanna surprise wifey. Hope it goes well. Lol
Eric
Eric, how sweet of you to surprise wifey, let me know how she likes it.
PLS can u teach queens cake tanx
Your pancakes are amazing and very similar to the ones that are made in Austria – we like to eat it rolled up with jam 🙂 I’ll definitely try the trick with the butter..
thanks for sharing
Leni
Leni, the butter makes the pancakes more flavorful . Thanks for commenting.
How many tsp of salt for the pancake?
1/2 teaspoon salt.
Nice! I went to Africa this summer and these look just like the pancakes I had there. Kind of like crepes!
Fawn, they are just like crepes only a little thicker.
We loved these pancakes. We usually make American pancakes, but discovered this recipe as it was part of a homeschooling project. The kids loved it, they enjoyed being able to roll the pancakes but they are thicker than crepes and have more bite. I added a little baking powder. We will definitely make again. Thank you.
Glad to hear this. Thanks for the feedback.
Beautiful!! I have never tried african pancakes. Now I will.
Purabi, Let me know how you like it. Thanks for leaving a comment.