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:
I love
I have had African style pancakes before, but I did not have the recipe. I decided to go to my trusted website (Pinterest) for this recipe. To be quite honest, it was surprisingly good! I used half of the ingredients because I was cooking only for myself, and used both the nutmeg and vanilla extract which pair well together. I would highly recommend this recipe to other. Although, next time I will reduce the amount of sugar considering it was overly sweet for my taste. Overall, excellent breakfast idea.
Hi Juliet! I am glad this was a hit with you. Thank you for the feedback!
Your website is amazing.
Thanks for helping every sister out there
hello.. am just discovering your website and I love it. I really want to make this Nigerian pancake but I want to make it savoury for breakfast, what do you suggest I add or take away from the recipe?
Hello,
You should remove the sugar and 1 or 2 eggs . Then add about 1/3 – 1/2 cup water .
Hi Imma
I basically grew up on pancakes like this in South Africa, so last weekend when I stumbled upon your site, I really loved it and of course saved in as a favorite, and then proceeded to make a batch of these waffles. My 3 kids and some of their friends had then for a late brunch, rolled up and sprinkled with cinnamon sugar on Saturday, and then nagged me to make more on Sunday, which they then had with ice cream.
Guess what? As soon as I have posted this message, I will be getting the batter made for another batch today. I guess this will now be a weekend staple in my home. 🙂
Hi, Shane. Wohooo! Glad it was a hit with the kids. Pancakes and ice cream sounds amazing! Thank you for taking the time to let me know.
Hi, please can you add the ingredients in gram or ounce measurements? I am not familiar with “cup” measurements. Thank you
Try clicking on the metric below post. It is set up in metric.
This just popped up on my Pinterest ‘might likes’! We too love pancakes – ex South Africans! We haven’t tried the recipe yet, but daughter-pancake-maker was very surprised at the 6 eggs? Isn’t that a lot? She uses 1 !! But I guess she’s going to add a bit of nutmeg to the pancake mixture next time!
Would it work without any vsnnila or nutmegs?
Yes it would.
there is only print on your recipe. Can you add share I can email to a friend?
Sorry at the moment I don’t have that function. You can copy the url at the top and email it to them . Thanks!
Please can I add baking powder?
I don’t see why not. It won’t hurt
My wifey shown me your website before dashing for hols. Now I know the truth. Just tried the pancakes (african style). Delicioussssssssssss. Don’t stop Imma. Keep it up.
YESS! Say thank you to Wifey on my behalf. Thanks for taking the time to let me know.
Please I would like to know what is the ingredient called nutmeg as mentioned above. Thanks
It’s a nutty spice that’s use in cooking, often available whole or ground in super markets, depending on location. You can leave it out and just use vanilla flavoring.
Imma I’m so glad i found your website! I made this pancake last night and the hubby love it so much and ask who taught me lol…Thank you for this wonderful recipe!
My pleasure ! So glad to hear this! And thank you for taking the time to let me know.
These pancakes are exactly the same as what we have been making forever. We call them palaćinke. We fill them with jam, preserves or cheese filling. (sweet)
Thanks for sharing !! It’s good to know it’s enjoyed in different parts of the world.
Hi imma am very impressed with your recipes but this caught my eye weeks before .Ijust took sceernshots never knew i coul print happy now its in my documents .This recipe was what inspired my tasty pancakes board on pinterest.All the love from your Kenyan number one fan.
AWESOME! Sending you some love too!
its actually south African pannekoek. (pancakes)
you get them outside super market like in SA, chekkars PicknPay so on.
they aren’t African maybe , more Dutch. hence the Afrikaners.