Cookware & bakeware · Speciality pan
Poffertjes pan
A flat pan or plate with many shallow round dimples for cooking Dutch poffertjes, small puffy yeasted pancakes.
Specialist · Used on the stovetop · 1 recipe
Photo: Elmschrat, via Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA-4.0)
What it is
A cast-iron or non-stick aluminium plate with rows of shallow, coin-sized hollows, often 15 to 25 in a home pan and many more on market stalls. The shallow dimples give poffertjes their flat base and domed, puffy top.
What it’s for: Cooking lots of small, even pancakes at once, each held in its own hollow.
How to use it
- Heat the pan over medium heat and brush each hollow with melted butter.
- Pipe or spoon in batter to just fill each dimple.
- When the edges look dry, flip each one with a fork or skewer.
- Cook about a minute more until puffed and golden, then serve with butter and powdered sugar.
Good to know
- Tasks
- making poffertjes, cooking mini pancakes
- Cooking methods
- Pan-fried
- Materials
- cast iron, non-stick coated aluminium
- Care and cleaning
- Wipe out while warm. Season cast iron with a thin film of oil; wash non-stick versions by hand and avoid metal scourers.
- Limitations
- Only small pancakes; turning many at once takes practice.
Safety
- The pan and melted butter are very hot; keep the handle turned away from the front of the hob.
If you don’t have one
- Griddle / tawa — Drop small spoonfuls onto a heavy griddle; they will be flatter and less round.
- Æbleskiver pan — Fill the hollows only shallowly.
Equipment guide
How it works: Many shallow, round dimples hold small amounts of batter over even heat. The thick metal cooks each small pancake quickly; they are flipped once with a fork or skewer so both sides brown.
| Material | Good | Watch out |
|---|---|---|
| Cast iron (bare, seasoned) | Very high heat capacity, so it holds temperature when cold food goes in; excellent for searing; oven-safe; lasts generations. | Heavy and slow to heat; heats unevenly on small burners; needs seasoning and drying; long simmering of acidic sauces can strip seasoning and give a metallic taste. |
| Cast aluminium with non-stick | Light, easy release. | Coating wears. |
- Stovetop pan
- Traditional Dutch design, often with dozens of dimples.
- Electric plate
- Even heat with a thermostat.
Buying guidance
Starting out: A non-stick stovetop pan or electric plate.
- Shallow dimples about 4–5 cm across
- Even, heavy base
- Fits your burner
No brands or prices — check current reviews before buying.
Techniques:Pan-frying
Related tools
Recipes that use it
Poffertjes
Dutch · 1 h 35 min · 489 kcal · Contains egg