Poffertjes are a traditional Dutch small puff pancake with a light, spongey texture.

Poffertjes (little puff pancakes)

Serves 4

1 level tsp instant yeast

1 tbsp milk

1 cup buckwheat flour (100 g)

1 cup flour (100 g)

2 eggs

1 tsp sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1 1/4 cups warm milk (250 ml)

1 tbsp butter

Good quality butter and powdered sugar to serve

1. In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast in the milk. In a separate bowl, combine the buckwheat flour, flour, eggs, yeast, sugar, salt and half the milk. Whisk smooth. Now add the remaining milk and beat again.

2. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and allow to rest for an hour.

3. Melt butter in a frying pan. When it sizzles, add teaspoonfuls of the batter in circular movements to create the mini pancakes. Turn the poffertjes around as soon as the bottom has set, using two forks.

4. Serve the poffertjes with the best quality butter you can find and sieved powdered (icing) sugar.

Tips:

If you happen to have a poffertjes pan (usually a cast iron pan with a dozen or so indentations) please use it but it’s not essential.