Alands Pannkaka (Finnish Semolina Pancake)

Alands Pannkaka (Finnish Semolina Pancake)! Alands Pannkaka (aka Aland’s pancake) is a popular pancake in Aland Island (Finland), a baked pancake made with semolina porridge, traditionally served as a snack or dessert with prune jam and whipped cream.

Here you will find an easy-to-follow recipe with step-by-step pictures that will help you make ‘Alands Pannkaka’ easy way at home. If you are bored with the regular pancakes, a very good recipe to make for a nice change. I hope you try this recipe and it becomes one of your favorites, just as it is one of mine.

What is Alands Pannkaka?

Alands Pannkaka, also known as Aland’s Pancake or Ålandspannkaka, is a traditional dish popular in homes and cafés throughout the Åland Islands, a special region in Finland.

The name comes from the name of the island Aland.
Ålands Pannkaka means “Pancake of Åland” = Aland’s Pancakes

*Åland is a group of islands located off the southwestern tip of Finland and has a special status in Finland as an autonomous region.

How Do You Make Alands Pannkaka?

Unlike regular pancakes, you make the batter with semolina porridge and then you bake it in an oven. It puffs up nicely just like “Dutch Babies” and then deflates giving a custard-like center and a chewy crust that forms on the bottom and sides. It gets its distinctive flavor from cardamom and/or lemon zest.

In this recipe, I have used semolina porridge. I just love the taste and the texture of semolina. If semolina is not available, you can also make Alands Pannkaka with rice porridge, just use the same amount of rice porridge instead of semolina.

Ingredients

Here are the ingredients you’ll need. (For the full ingredient measurements, check out the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post)

• Semolina: Semolina is the main ingredient. (Please scroll down for more information)
• Butter: Unsalted butter.
• Eggs: Use room-temperature eggs.
• Sugar: You can use any type of sugar as desired.
• Milk: Use full-fat milk.
• Salt: A pinch of salt adds a nice flavor.
• Cardamom: Use cardamom pods or ground cardamom.
• Cinnamon: Use cinnamon sticks or ground cinnamon.

What is Semolina?

Semolina is a pale-yellow coarse flour ground from typically hard durum wheat and has a sweet nutty flavor. According to Wikipedia, the word Semolina is derived from the Italian word semola, meaning ‘bran’.

It is called sooji in North India and Pakistan, rava in South India, rulang in Sri Lanka, and used to make savory as well as sweet dishes such as porridge, pudding, cake, sweets, and pancakes.

You can buy it in coarse (semolina) and fine textures (semolina flour), however, semolina flour is too fine for this recipe, so be sure to buy coarse semolina. I have not used but it is said that you can also use Cream of Wheat or Farina instead of semolina.

You will need a special pan for baking

As you already know, it’s a baked pancake, so you will need a baking dish or cast-iron pan for baking it, round or square it doesn’t matter. I use a round cast-iron pan (20cm diameter), a circular pie plate would work well, too.

Serving Suggestions

Alands Pannkaka is traditionally made around Xmas time and served with prune jam and whipped cream cold or hot after cutting into slices. You can serve it either as a cold dessert a warm comfort food or breakfast with a cup of hot tea or coffee all through the year.

Just feel free to experiment with the toppings, the possibilities are endless! Any kind of sweet sauce, jam, butter, chocolate sauce, or cheese will be ok. You can even try some fresh fruit also.

More Baked Pancakes

Alands Pannkaka (Finnish Semolina Pancake) Step-by-Step Recipe

Preparation Time: 15min
Cooking Time: 30min
Yield: 1 pancake (20cm)
Serves 4-6

Ingredients

For semolina porridge
400ml milk, adjust as needed
1/2 tsp salt
2-inch cinnamon stick
3 pods cardamom
50g sugar
200g semolina

For pancake batter
200ml milk, warm
3 eggs
2 tbsp butter, melted
50g sugar
2 tablespoon butter, for cooking
A few cubes of butter, for scattering (optional)

NOTE: Making batter in a blender is the easiest and fastest. way. Alternatively, you can also make the batter in a bowl using a hand-held electric mixer or wire whisk.

Instructions

• Gather the ingredients.
• Preheat the oven to 210 C.
• Place the pan/skillet on the middle rack to warm.

Make the Semolina Porridge

• Place milk, salt, sugar, cinnamon sticks, and cardamom pods in a pot.
• Bring milk to boil over medium heat and then lower the heat.

• Gradually stir in semolina, whisking constantly.
• Cook stirring constantly until you have a thick porridge.
• It will take about 2 to 4 minutes.
• Be careful not to burn your semolina porridge and adjust the heat as needed.
• Remove the porridge from heat and let it cool completely.
• Make sure to remove the cinnamon stick and cardamom pods.

Make the Batter

• In a Blender-Blend the eggs, milk, sugar, and melted butter until well blended. Add cooled semolina porridge and blend until you have a smooth batter.
• In a bowl with a whisk-Whisk eggs with sugar until frothy and then stir in the melted butter and milk. Whisk in the cooled semolina porridge until you have a smooth batter.

Bake the Pancake

• When you are ready to bake, take the hot pan/skillet out of the oven using oven mitts.
• Be careful, it is very hot.
• Add the butter immediately and then swirl the pan to melt the butter and coat the bottom and side of the skillet.
• It will help to prevent the pancake from sticking to the sides when it rises and gives your pancake a nice flavor and taste.
• Pour batter into prepared pan, spreading it to the edges.
• You can place a few cubes of butter on the top of the batter if desired.

• Bake in the middle or lower part of the oven for about 30 minutes until the pancake has puffed, set, and is golden brown.
• Make sure to adjust the baking time as needed.
• Simply take a toothpick and insert it into the center of the cake.
• If it comes out clean, it’s done.

Alands Pannakaka is ready!

Serve and Enjoy!

Cut into wedges and serve hot or cold with whipped cream and prune/plum/lingonberry jam.

Alands Pannkaka (Finnish Semolina Pancake) Printable Recipe

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