What do you want for lunch? Every ones in a while, without processing this question in my brain, I hear myself shouting: Poffertjes! I don’t know if you’ve ever tasted them, but if you like (Dutch style) pancakes you probably are going to love poffertjes.

Poffertjes are a Dutch speciality, served at fairs (kermis) or pancake restaurants but you can also make them yourself. They’re like tiny pancakes, only thicker and sweeter. You can make them with a ready made poffertjes mix but of course I do not recommend this. Like all good food, making your own batter is so much better and tastier and it only takes a minute.

I have a weak spot for all things tiny when it comes to food. If somebody makes a mini version of any food item, I am the sorry person that’s probably going to buy it. I just love bite size food. As a child I developed, in other peoples eyes, weird habits like drinking soda with a tiny spoon and cutting up a mars bar into tiny slices and serve them on a plate. You can analyse this behaviour any way you like, I just like it like that and I am not harming anyone in the process, so I’m sticking to my love for little. So these tiny pancakes are perfect if you feel with me. It’s just a very satisfying way of eating a lot without eating a lot. Not that these tiny circles fall into the healthy food category, with the butter and sugar combo, but they would be naked without them. So if you are going to eat them, you might as well indulge.

Over the years we have ‘perfected’ our recipe to our own taste to make the poffertjes we love.

This is how you make the poffertjes
Now this is a bit of a challenge if you do not have a poffertjes plate. I suggest you take the batter recipe and make pancakes or crepes with it, which works really well. If you can get a hold of a poffertjes plate or pan (the cast iron ones are best, we also have an electric device with changeable, non stick poffertjes and waffle and sandwich plates (Tefal brand), not very authentic, but it works well), then it’s simple: heat the plate, butter the little holes. Squeeze batter (best done with a plastic squeeze bottle) in each of the circles on the plate until filled up to the rim. Bake on one side until firm, then turn with a fork and bake to other side. When nice and golden brown serve hot on a plate with fresh dairy butter and lots of powdered sugar.

PS: I also like mini vegetables like cherry tomatoes and little one person cauliflowers, cress (see previous post), I cheered when celebrations were introduced, I love mini muffins and tiny cookies. But I don’t trust those mini bottles in hotel mini bars and on planes…weird…