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Handed down for generations, this homemade Swedish pancakes recipe is the softest, and most delicious. Add a sweet or savory filling!
Grandma Johnson’s Swedish Pancakes
These are Swedish pancakes – not crepes. The Swede side of our family taught us there is a BIG difference (this is Lo’s Great-Grandma Johnson’s recipe).
Crepes are more dense and chewy due to more flour, fewer eggs, and no butter. Swedish pancakes are lighter and fluffier using less flour, more eggs, and butter.
We have these for dinner all the time (not just breakfast), and they are so good, especially with our Buttermilk Syrup Recipe! The whole family loves this recipe so much that we usually double (or even triple the mix).
We make them for holidays and special occasions, but really we find any excuse to make them. We LOVE Swedish pancakes and know that you will too!
WHY WE LOVE IT:
- Sweet or savory. From eggs to fruit to whipped cream the list goes on and on. Any way you have them, this easy breakfast is sure to be a hit!
- Pantry staples. Nothing fancy here. Just a few simple ingredients and a skillet!
- Easy to make. They take a little practice to get that perfect golden color, but after a few tries and seeing how easy they cook, you’ll have this Swedish pancake recipe down in no time.
Ingredients
PREP TIME: 5 minutes
COOK TIME: 30 minutes
- 3 large eggs – Room temperature eggs incorporate better than cold eggs.
- 3 cups milk – Whole and 2% milk work best, but lower-fat milk can be used.
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus more for the pan
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour, sifted – see How to Measure Flour
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- optional syrup toppings – Homemade Buttermilk Syrup, Maple Syrup, Cinnamon Buttermilk Syrup
- optional sweet toppings – fresh fruit, Nutella, jam, Homemade Whipped Cream, or even softened ice cream
- optional savory filling – shredded cheese, eggs, ham, bacon bits, or sausage crumbles
How to Make Swedish Pancakes
- BATTER. Beat 3 eggs and add about ¼ cup milk. Add ½ cup flour with 1 teaspoon salt and 2 teaspoons sugar. Mix in a bowl with beaters or in the blender. Add 3 tablespoons melted butter and ¾ cup milk. Mix in 1 cup flour and 2 cups milk; mix well.
- COOK. Heat a skillet and wipe with some butter or oil when it is hot. Pour a thin layer of batter into the pan and tilt the pan until the batter is spread all over. When edges are bubbled and browned, it’s ready to flip.
- SERVE. Serve warm and add any desired toppings.
What pan to use?
>> For larger Swedish Pancakes, simply use an 8-10-inch pan with a flat bottom and shallow sides so they are easier to flip.
>> For smaller pancakes use a Plett (a frying pan with several round grooves, often 3 inches in diameter). You can make several small Swedish pancakes at one time.
Keep Pancakes Warm
Place a sheet pan in the oven and heat to about 200°F. Roll each pancake and place them side by side in a pan, or stack them on the pan, separating each pancake with parchment paper. Keep warm for up to 30 minutes.
Complete The Meal
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Swedish Pancakes
Ingredients
- 3 large eggs
- 3 cups milk
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus more for the pan
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour, sifted
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
Toppings
- fruit syrup, homemade whipped cream
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, beat eggs until well combined.
- Add milk, butter, flour, sugar, and salt to eggs and mix until smooth.
- Heat more butter in a 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat, or spray the skillet with nonstick cooking spray.
- Pour about ¼ cup batter into the pan and tilt the pan in circles until the batter is spread all over in a thin layer. Cook for 1-2 minutes. When the edges are bubbled and browned, it is ready to flip.
- Cook the other side until golden, about 1 minute, then transfer to a plate. Repeat to make the remaining pancakes, stacking them with a piece of parchment paper between each one to keep them from sticking.
- Serve immediately with your toppings of choice.
Video
Notes
- Sweet: fresh fruit, Nutella, syrup, jam, whipped cream, or even softened ice cream.
- Savory: eggs, ham, cheese, bacon bits, sausage crumbles
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
Separate pancakes with parchment paper, wrap the stack with plastic wrap, and then again with aluminum foil and label. Store in the freezer for up to 4 months. Thaw before reheating. Heat in the oven, microwave, or skillet.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
the swedish pancakes and buttermilk syrup sounds so good.
I am going to try these soon.Have you ever had ligonberries
on them.
Love all your recipes~going to try the Monte Cristo also.
My hubby’s swedish family has definitely had the ligonberries… I haven’t tried them though, but it sounds like I should give them a try! 😀
This recipe looks delicious, what do you use for filling?
You can use whatever you’d like but we like to put in cut up fruit, whipped cream or even ice cream! 😀
Hi, i wanted to make these, but the recipe is gone. Can you post it again please? Thank you =)
Recipe should be back up there now. 🙂
Yay! thank you! Can’t wait to try them =)
Let me know how it goes. We have this a few times a month – it’s a family favorite!!
Should be back. 🙂
Can you use buttermilk instead of milk in this recipe for swedish pancakes?
Thanks for calling them Swedish pancakes not creeps been making them for over65 years every one loves them and yes we do buttermilk syrup especially good when rolled with fresh strawberries and whip cream
That’s my favorite way to eat them, Evelyn… rolled up with fresh strawberries and cool whip with some buttermilk syrup on top – so good!! And yes… you get in trouble at grandma’s if you call them crepes. 😉
My parents were both Swedish Dad born in Sweden , mom both parents born in Sweden they were Swedish pancakes long before I even knew what a crepe wad
I got in trouble for calling them crepes when I had them for the first time at my in-laws (I wasn’t officially in the family then). Now I know better – they’re called Swedish Pancakes, and they are oh-so-good! 😀
Ohh those look so yummy! I LOVE buttermilk syrup! mmm! Congrats on hitting 3,000 followers! wahoo!!
Thanks for sharing those delicious pancakes with us!!!
My husband is from Norway (born and raised!) and his mom shared her recipe with me (which is very similar!). In Norway, these are not eaten for breakfast, but as an evening meal. They are especially good on chilly evenings! We eat them with blueberry jam and sugar. It may sound strange, but the favorite side dish is white pea soup! YUM! The sweet and salty combo is amazing! The key to yummy, yummy pannekaker is LOTS of butter! Put a little bit in the pan before every pancake 🙂
Ah! I come from a Swedish family too, and we eat these every Christmas morning. They are my absolute most favorite breakfast. I blogged about them here last year. We eat our with an orange butter sauce. Can't wait for Christmas!!! 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
omgeez those pancakes look great!!the apple tip is a great trick! You can also use lemon juice too :o)