Pannukakku – the traditional Finnish Oven Pancake – was my Grandmother’s version of comfort food
Finnish pancakes are the main comfort foods I remember from my childhood. Actually, it was pancakes and Finnish cardamom coffee bread, but I never did get my grandmother’s recipe for pulla (coffee bread). I do, however, have Mummu’s recipe for Pannukakku, also known as Kropsua, which I will share with you below.
If you’ve never made Pannukakku, you’re in for a treat. This is a custardy pancake that contains ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen, takes very little time to prepare, and bakes in the oven while you go do something else. My kind of cooking.
Pannukakku is a very adaptable dish. I’ve had this pancake for breakfast, dessert and even as the main course for lunch or supper. It is versatile, delicious and… I guess you could say… soothing. It reminds me of my grandmother… and childhood. Christmas, too. That’s when my mom would make Kropsua… on Christmas morning. Finnish oven pancakes are rich and filling – a little heavy for summer fare – but they are perfect for chilly fall and winter days.
I hope you have a chance to try my Pannukakku/Kropsua recipe and get a taste of this traditional Finnish comfort food for yourself. Who knows, it might even become one of your own family traditions.
My new cast iron skillet worked perfectly for my oven pancake
The week I wanted to try making Pannukakku for the first time in many years, I received two frying pans from Amazon. One was a Plett pan for the small Swedish pancakes, which I’ve reviewed on another page. The other was this 10 1/4 inch pre-seasoned cast iron skillet from Lodge. This was my first purchase of a Lodge product and now I see why they get such great reviews.
How to make Finnish oven pancakes
3 things to be aware of:
(1) Where it says to “whisk” in the flour after using the electric mixer… use a whisk, not the mixer.
(2) Be careful how you pour the batter into the frying pan. The pan is hot and some of the batter could stick on the sides if you don’t pour carefully.
(3) When you place the pan in the oven (middle rack), try not to tip it too much. It’ll send the batter up the sides and you’ll have a lop-sided pancake, like I did.
- Servings: 4
- Prep time: 10 minutes
- Cook time: 20 minutes
Ingredients
- 3 eggs
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 cups milk
- 1 cup unsifted flour
- 1 tsp vegetable oil
- 1 tsp vanilla (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
- Place well-seasoned 9-10″ cast iron skillet in preheated oven for 10 minutes.
- With electric mixer, beat together eggs, sugar and salt in large bowl.
- Beat in milk and (optional) vanilla.
- Gradually whisk in flour until batter is smooth and well-blended.
- Using a potholder, remove preheated skillet from oven and brush with oil.
- Pour in batter.
- Bake in preheated 425 degree oven for 20 minutes or until puffed and golden.
- Remove to wire rack and let stand for 10 minutes. (The pancake will flatten a little.)
- Serve with sugared strawberries or fruit preserves.