• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Greedy Gourmet | Food & Travel Blog
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Restaurants
    • Where To Eat in England
      • London
      • Berkshire
      • Essex
      • Surrey
    • Ireland
    • Italy
    • Montenegro
      • Ireland
    • Netherlands
    • Serbia
    • Spain
  • Places to Visit
    • Places to Stay in England
    • France
    • Italy
    • Netherlands
    • Norway
    • Portugal
    • Spain
  • Work With Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Snapchat
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Tips & Tricks
  • Places to Visit
  • Restaurants
  • About
  • Work With Me
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×
    You are here: Home / Recipes by Dish / Baked Goods / Poffert

    Poffert

    20 October 2018 - By Michelle Minnaar
    This post may contain affiliate links.

    FacebookTweetPinYummly
    Jump to Recipe

    Poffert is a traditional Dutch recipe that you might not have come across before, even if you’ve visited the Netherlands. Poffert is a sweet cake, traditionally baked in a bain-marie. Originally from Groningen, it is referred to as Groningen poffert, but in neighbouring Friesland called boffert. In the former region is where I first came across this classic Dutch favourite.

    Slices of raisin bread called poffert with some melted butter

    what is Groningen poffert cake?

    Generally speaking, a poffert somewhat resembles an English pudding or an Italian panettone. It is made out of wheat flour, yeast, milk, eggs, raisins, apple and sugar. Of course, today there are many variations of the poffert cake. Traditionally, you serve poffert as a meal on its own, however, and it works well with tea or coffee.  Raisins are most commonly used but other dried fruit and even nuts can be used. Currants work too! If you are looking for a new cake which is something different, you definitely need to try the poffert.  It was really a pleasure coming across the Groningen poffert during my travels there.

    Travelling to Groningen from the UK is a piece of cake. There is no need to take the ferry and drive for hours. In fact, you can fly to Groningen daily from London Southend Airport with Flybe, operated by Stobart Air. One way tickets are available from only £39.99.

    a sliver Bain marie

    authentic Groningen poffert with top quality tea

    When I visited Groningen, I also had the opportunity to explore the whole area in the northern part of the Netherlands. In the town ofHouwerzijl, I visited the beautiful Theefabriek – a.k.a. The Tea Factory. Not only is the building itself a sight to behold, but its interior is a fascinating place as well. The building itself used to be a church. In 1990, the current owners won the right to buy the building for the symbolic amount of 1 Gulden (around 35p) in a competition. Since then the decommissioned church has undergone some serious reconstruction, leaving the building more beautiful than ever.

    The exterior of Fabrique Tea

    The inside of Fabrique Tea, tables with red table clothes and blue chairs

     

    Shop Tea Fabrique

    A wall of teapots in different shapes and sizes

    De Theefabriek houses a tea shop that sells to private consumers as well as to the retail market. Step inside and admire the abundant selection of teas and tea blends from all over the world. I promise you the smell alone will make you want to buy all the tea you can carry. As a matter of fact, it has more than 250 varieties of tea in stock, so it can be difficult to choose only one type.

    Apart from the magnificent tea store, De Theefabriek also contains a tea room where you can enjoy a brunch, light lunch and, of course, a cup of top-notch tea. They even offer British items, such as cream tea and afternoon tea, complete with scones and cake.

    Another interesting part of De Theefabriek is its tea museum. With a nod to the Netherlands’ colonial past, the tea museum focuses on where and how tea is grown. You can also learn more about the different traditions surrounding tea and how people drink their tea in different countries and cultures. If you are tea lover De Theefabriek is most certainly a must-see destination.

    how to make Groningen poffert

    Not only is poffert an excellent cake to serve at a tea party, but it’s super easy to bake. Traditionally, a poffert is made with equal parts wheat flour and buckwheat flour. If you cannot get buckwheat flour it is possible to bake a poffert by only using standard plain flour. All you need to do is mix all the ingredients to a batter, which you then pour into the pudding mould. You then cook the poffert with a bain-marie and that is really all there is to it.

    Variations of poffert

    The historical recipe version does actually not contain much in terms of ingredients. However, I find that a bit of filling improves the poffert greatly, with the most common one being raisins. As a further supplement to, or instead of raisins, you can also use other kinds of dried fruits. Dried apricots, figs or dried cranberries all make for excellent options to create a good poffert. You can use only one kind of dried fruit or a combination of more, just as you prefer.

    Not only do the dried fruits add a certain sweet and exotic flavour to the poffert, they also lend some texture in the cake.

    Alternatively, you also use dried nuts. Walnuts or hazelnuts are especially good for this purpose.

    Sliced tomatoes, cucumbers and bread for high tea

    Slices of dutch cheese with a red rose on top

    Silver jars of tea

    how to serve poffert Groningen style

    If you want to strictly stick to the tradition, you have to serve the poffert with melted butter plus brown sugar. Sprinkle the sugar on the poffert and drizzle with melted butter as a kind of dressing. Alternatively, dip the cake in the sugar and the melted butter. I know that may sound slightly alarming, but I promise you it is worth all the calories. If you have a sweet tooth but are not keen on the butter you can also serve the poffert with a drizzle of maple syrup on top.

    using a bain-marie baking for the poffert recipe

    If you want to make this poffert Groningen style, you have to make use of a bain-marie. The latter is a water bath that replicates a double boiler system. Basically, the water gradually cooks ingredients over a period of time until the product is cooked. The bain-marie technique is also used when melting ingredients or keeping things warm. You’ll also need to consider making the poffert in a special poffert tin like this one. Alternatively, you can use a pudding steamer.

    Three slices of poffert with a cup of butter

    the best cake recipes to serve with tea and coffee

    If you are looking for more inspiration when it comes to cakes, then you definitely have to try this sugar free angel food cake! It is light, airy and simply amazing. Otherwise, if you are looking for fruitier alternatives, try this cherry bakewell cake.

    If you want something cute and especially appetising, then bake these moist raspberry and white chocolate cupcakes. They are to die for!

    What is your favourite Dutch recipe?

    Print
    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon

    Poffert


    ★★★★★

    5 from 4 reviews

    • Author: Michelle Minnaar
    • Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
    • Yield: 8 1x
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Description

    A poffert is a traditional Dutch recipe from Groningen, calling for the bain marie cooking method. If you want to make poffert Groningen-style, click here.


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 125g (4oz) raisins
    • 3 apples, peeled and chopped
    • 380g (13½oz) flour
    • 8g (⅓oz) vanilla sugar
    • 20g (⅔oz) baking powder
    • 250ml (1 cup) milk
    • 2 eggs

    Instructions

    1. In a large bowl, mix all the ingredients until everything is well incorporated.
    2. Place the batter in a greased pudding steamer and place the lid on the top. If you don’t have a lid, cover the container with a sheet of buttered foil. Press it around the bowl with the fold on top. Tie the foil tightly around the bowl using a long piece of string.
    3. Place the pudding into the steamer set over a saucepan of simmering water, or use a large saucepan with a saucer in the bottom.
    4. Cook for 2 hours.
    5. Serve with sugar and melted butter.
    • Prep Time: 15 minutes
    • Cook Time: 2 hours
    • Category: Dessert
    • Cuisine: Dutch

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 serving
    • Calories: 301
    • Sugar: 20.6 g
    • Sodium: 36 mg
    • Fat: 2.5 g
    • Carbohydrates: 64 g
    • Fiber: 4 g
    • Protein: 8.1 g
    • Cholesterol: 44 mg

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @greedygourmet on Instagram and hashtag it #greedygourmet

    save the recipe to your pinterest board

    Poffert pin

    More recipes you may enjoy

    • Chocolate Courgette Cake
    • Marrow Cake
    • White Chocolate Yule Log
    • Chocolate Orange Brownies
    FacebookTweetPinYummly

    DON’T MISS A THING!

    New recipes, tips & tricks, reviews and giveaways every week!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. melanie stirling

      October 22, 2018 at 11:08 pm

      I love the waffles I had when I was in Amsterdam, they were massive too!

      Reply
    2. Jane Willis

      October 23, 2018 at 2:10 pm

      I suppose it’s cheating a bit but I love Rijstaffel and the couple of times I’ve been lucky enough to visit Holland I’ve headed to the nearest Indonesian restaurant to indulge in a few of my favourite dishes.

      Reply
    3. Leila Benhamida

      October 25, 2018 at 7:25 pm

      I love Bankets, a lovely and sweet pastry with almond.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    4. Lisa Day

      November 12, 2018 at 3:46 am

      Chocolate pastry balls (bossche bollen) are lovely.I’d never heard of them till my sister found a recipe online and she made them.They were really good.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    5. ROBERT MCINTOSH

      November 12, 2018 at 10:51 am

      I always have a soft spot for the croquettes that you can get from the self-service hot food dispensing machines – and the frites mit mayo!

      Reply
    6. Annabel Greaves

      November 12, 2018 at 2:27 pm

      I love Dutch apple pie

      Reply
    7. Rebecca Brown

      November 12, 2018 at 2:39 pm

      I haven’t tried a.lot of.Dutch good but I do love leerdammer cheese!

      Reply
      • Rebecca Brown

        November 12, 2018 at 2:40 pm

        Food, even 😅

        Reply
    8. Deirdre M

      November 12, 2018 at 4:30 pm

      Oh I love the little Dutch pancakes that one gets there!

      Reply
    9. Ruth Harwood

      November 13, 2018 at 8:50 am

      Waffles – had them when in Amsterdam and went back every day of the trip!!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    10. Tanya Deliyska

      November 15, 2018 at 2:13 pm

      My favourite Dutch recipe is Snert.

      Reply
    11. Keith Hunt

      November 18, 2018 at 11:19 am

      Dutch baby pancake

      Reply
    12. Carolyn E

      November 19, 2018 at 4:09 pm

      I don’t know the Dutch name, by tin pancakes stuffed with cheese and mushrooms.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    13. Chris Andrews

      November 23, 2018 at 10:27 am

      What is your favourite Dutch recipe?

      Dutch Apple Pie

      Reply
    14. hannah igoe

      November 24, 2018 at 3:10 pm

      I am not sure I have ever had dutch food so its hard to say what my favourite would be

      Reply
    15. Claire Woods

      November 25, 2018 at 3:52 pm

      Bankets

      Reply
    16. Anthea Holloway

      November 28, 2018 at 9:15 am

      I don’t know any Dutch recipes but I do love apple pie which I think they are famous for.

      Reply
    17. A.E. ADKINS

      November 29, 2018 at 10:46 am

      Open sandwiches, so much prettier and less rye bread

      Reply
    18. Elizabeth Smith

      November 29, 2018 at 11:11 am

      I’m not sure I’ve ever eaten anything Dutch but I seem to remember that a lot of sweet food involves marzipan which would suit me very well!

      Reply
    19. Adrian Bold

      November 29, 2018 at 7:06 pm

      Dutch Apple Pie

      Reply
    20. sharon martin

      November 29, 2018 at 7:46 pm

      i love eating dutch apple pie

      Reply
    21. Kirsteen Mackay

      November 29, 2018 at 8:26 pm

      My favourite dutch recipe are small pancakes

      Reply
    22. Natalie Crossan

      November 29, 2018 at 10:56 pm

      it’s a toss up between dutch pancakes and dutch apple pies

      Reply
    23. Danielle M

      November 29, 2018 at 10:57 pm

      Dutch butter cake

      Reply
    24. kim d

      November 29, 2018 at 11:34 pm

      Dutch apple cake

      Reply

    Make my day! - Share your thoughts... Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

    Primary Sidebar

    Food Photographer & Blogger

    about michelle

    Welcome to my eclectic collection of recipes from all four corners of the world. I hope to inspire you to get into the kitchen and never eat a boring meal ever again. Want to know more?

    More about me →

    Join the
    Greedy Gourmet club!

    Latest Recipes

    • 8 Cinnamon Substitutes
    • Biscoff Blondies
    • Peppermint Crisp Tart
    • 11 Coconut Sugar Substitutes

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About
    • Copyright, Privacy & Disclosure Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Accessibility Policy
    • Cookie Policy

    Services

    • Food Photography
    • Recipe Development
    • Food Videography

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work With Me
    • Media Kit

    As an Amazon Associate and affiliate marketer I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 Greedy Gourmet