When Natascha from Natascha’s Palace and Lina from Lin’s Recipes decided to host a pancake challenge, I just had to participate. I simply love pancakes and was happy to try a Greek version known as tiganites. I was also excited because I had never had nor heard of these pancakes. I called my mom and she told me that her mother used to make them when she was growing up. She told me that my yiayia (grandmother) used to make them as a treat when she had extra yeast starter. My mom described them as a pancake leavened with yeast and topped with a honey syrup and nuts. I knew right away they must be a pancake form of loukoumades, which are a Greek doughnut covered in warm honey, nuts, and cinnamon. She told me that in the village they were made with water, but could also be made with milk. She gave me the main ingredients and I experimented a bit. I decided to make mine with milk and water and to make a syrup similar to the syrup made for baklava. After a few tries and a lot of fun trying them out, I came up with a recipe I was happy with. I really can’t believe I have never been introduced to these pancakes. That might be a good thing, because they are dangerous 😉 Honestly, they are incredible. They are slightly crispy on the outside with a soft doughnut texture inside, and then covered with an amazing honey syrup and nuts. These are great for a special occasion or to wow an overnight guest. I hope that you give these a try. Thank you again to Natascha and Lina for introducing me to a dish from my culture that I had not been introduced to. It also brought back some wonderful memories for my mother.
Notes
# 1 Save the leftovers for a snack later. They are just as delicious cold!
# 2 Make the syrup a day or two before and store in the fridge. Warm through when ready to use.
Ingredients
Pancakes
- 2 cups all purpose flour (I use unbleached)
- 1 1/2 tsp. active dry yeast
- 1 1/2 tsp. sugar
- 3/4 tsp. salt
- 1 cup warm water (not hot)
- 1 cup warm milk (not hot)
- Neutral oil for frying
- 1/3 cup chopped pecans or walnuts for topping (optional)
Syrup
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1 cinnamon stick
Instructions
- Sift the flour and then add the sugar and salt and mix well. Set aside.
- Add the yeast to warm water and let sit for a few minutes and then stir to completely dissolve.
- Add the warmed milk, followed by the flour mixture and stir until just combined. Cover with a piece of plastic wrap and let sit for 20 to 25 minutes.
- At this point, you will want to make the syrup. Add the sugar and water to a pot (I use stainless) over medium heat. Once the sugar has dissolved, add the cinnamon stick and boil for 5 minutes. Add the honey and stir well. Return the syrup back to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. The syrup will foam, so place a spoon resting inside the pot to keep it from foaming over. Watch it closely and let it simmer for 20 minutes. Remove the cinnamon stick and keep the syrup warm.
- Add enough oil to cover the bottom of the pan and just cover the bottom of the pancakes (you will need more oil during this process). I use an enameled cast iron 5 qt braiser when pan frying. Heat the oil over medium heat. Get your batter and give it a couple of stirs. It will be sticky and fairly thick. Once the oil is heated enough to hear a sizzle when you drop in a little batter, you are ready to make the pancakes.
- Using a small ladle or cookie scoop, add enough batter to make medallion-sized pancakes. Don't overcrowd the pan. Once the pancakes are golden on the bottom, flip over until golden on the other side. Remove to a dish lined with paper towels to absorb some of the oil. Add more oil to the pan as needed and adjust the heat as the oil cools and heats. Try and keep it as consistent as possible.
- As the pancakes come out and you have removed the excess oil, drizzle them with the warm syrup while they are still warm. Add either chopped pecans or walnuts and enjoy!
Wow! These look delish… crispy outside, donut like inside, eat them warm or cold as leftovers?!? And that cinnamon infused syrup! Perfect!
Thank you so much Jean 😀 They are really amazing, and hard to stop eating!
These look so delicious! I love how you experimented and recreated the recipe!
Thank you Cynthia! My mom doesn’t have any of her recipes written down, so she gives me ingredients and general instructions. It makes it a lot of fun to try and recreate a recipe 😀
Haha it sounds like a yummy puzzle to solve 🙂
Yes, but I had to do a lot of extra walking on the treadmill…lol 😉
Sounds worth it 🙂
It is 🙂 Happy Friday!
Same to you! 🙂
Oh my ! Antonia, these sound fabulous ! I have to make these !!! 🙂
Thanks Lynne! I hope you get a chance to try them out, they are really tasty! I would love to hear what you think 😀
These look delicious! I’m sure I won’t be able to stop with one if I had them in front of me… 🙂
Thank you Ronit 😀 They are hard to resist, and go down way too easy 😉
…donut texture. Um, yes please!
Right? I couldn’t believe how good they were Sadie 😀
Nice Antonia!!!
Thanks Cheryl! Have you had them before? My mom never made them for us growing up. She said she forgot about them until I mentioned it to her.
Yes, my yiayia made them often!
That’s so nice! I wish I had lived near my yiayia.
Ah Antonia she was so lovely-we only spoke in Greek in her home (she and papou) she loved Canaries (yellow ones) and parakeets and sung in Greek to them daily-such a kind gentle soul-I miss her terribly and papou too. He had a handlebar mustache and was so handsome and sweet and tall! With 8 children (4 boys, 4 girls) and 26 grandchildren their home on Sundays was flooded with family, food and love!
What wonderful memories you have. Your yiayia and papou sound amazing. I never had the pleasure of meeting my papou. He passed away before I could ever make it to Greece to meet him. He was very tall just like your papou, which is neat, since most Greek men aren’t. He had blue eyes, and I was the only grandchild with blue eyes too 😀 My yiayia was so sweet, but I only saw her a a handful of times in my life. She only knew Greek, but I managed to teach her a few words in English when she would visit. She was able to come to my wedding and that was the last time I saw her. She passed away a few years ago.
I am so glad she was at your wedding!!!They are just treasured memories Antonia I carry so near to my heart everyday my friend. I have one Blue eyed Uncle (from the 8 siblings of Yiayia/Papou) They use to tease Uncle George he was from the mailman LOL Yiayia fumed at that-LOL
I am too, it was so special to have her there! I completely agree…they are treasured memories! That is so funny. People used to say that to me all the time too…lol! My mom has dark hair and olive skin and I have blue eyes and blonde hair.
I am so glad she was at your wedding Antonia!!!
Yes, me too Cheryl!
These look amazing 🙂
Thank you Freda!
Wow these look so good! Love this Antonia!
Thank you very much Lynn 😀
Wow yummm
They are pretty amazing! I can’t believe I hadn’t had them before!
🙂
Wonderful pancake recipe! So glad you shared it with us!! 😀😀
Thank you Linda 🙂 Have a nice weekend!
You’re welcome Antonia! You too 😀
Can’t say no to pancakes… Looks super soft
Thank you Vidya 🙂
What fun with a pancake challenge. I mean who does not like pancakes!!! Never realized there were so many different kinds 🙂
It really was fun! I know, it is amazing how many kinds there are! I would like to try them all 😀
They look so delicious …..
Thank you Swapna!
These yeasted pancakes look so light and fluffy Antonia! And then syrup and nuts really make these special. I love that you were able to recreate these pancakes based on your mum’s memories growing up. What a surprising connection! 🙂
Thank you so much for the kind words Laurie! I really enjoyed trying to recreate something my grandmother made my mom. It made the process so special 🙂
THey look awesome, and great backstory on learning more about your cultural heritage!
Thank you so much 😀
Antonia,
These looks so yummy! What an accomplishment for you to recreate your grandma’s recipe!
Thank you Sandhya!
These sound fabulous altogether, Antonia – the texture and the wonderful honey syrup. I can imagine what they smell like, too. 🙂
Thank you Millie! It is an amazing combination. I love warm honey and nuts and adding them to something fried makes it hard to resist! The smell is nice, especially when the syrup is cooking 😀
It’s a good thing I’ve not long had my breakfast, or I’d be drooling at that description! 🙂
Too funny Millie! You can tell how much I enjoyed them 😉
Ok….beautiful. To read that this recipe brought back a memory for your mother and that you enjoyed it so much makes me so happy! I love how food can do that! These look absolutely divine and I believe every word of your description of it! xxxxx
Thank you so much Natascha! It was a wonderful experience and I appreciate you introducing them to me 🙂 Thank you again for hosting this challenge!
You’re so welcome, my friend xxxxx
😀
Love this pancake texture.I should try tgis
Thank you Vidya! I hope you get a chance to try them 🙂
Ooh, these look yummy and if they have a syrupy flavour like baklava then they’re sure to be delicious – but yes, very dangerous as you say!!
Thank you Haylee! Yes, they are very dangerous 😉 Have a wonderful rest of your weekend!
I did not know about these and now realize I’ve been missing out all my life!! Delish!!
Mollie
That’s the same way I felt! Thanks Mollie 😀