Classic South African Cinnamon Sugar Pannekoek
Desserts

Classic South African Cinnamon Sugar Pannekoek

A light and silky crepe traditionally served with a generous dusting of cinnamon sugar and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.

40 minutes Serves 12Shared by gareth

Origin & History

These crepes are a nostalgic staple at South African church bazaars and school fundraisers, often prepared on rainy days.

Adjust servings:
12 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 cups water
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp white vinegar
  • 1/2 cup sugar mixed with 2 tbsp ground cinnamon
  • Lemon wedges for serving

Method

  1. 1

    Whisk the eggs, water, milk, oil, and vinegar in a large bowl until well combined.

  2. 2

    Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt into the wet ingredients and whisk until the batter is smooth and lump-free.

  3. 3

    Let the batter rest for at least 30 minutes to ensure a silky texture.

  4. 4

    Heat a lightly greased non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat.

  5. 5

    Pour a thin layer of batter into the pan, swirling quickly to coat the bottom.

  6. 6

    Cook until the edges pull away and bubbles form, then flip and cook the other side until lightly golden.

  7. 7

    Remove from the pan, sprinkle immediately with cinnamon sugar, add a squeeze of lemon, and roll up tightly.

Top Tips

  • Resting the batter is essential for a soft crepe that doesn't tear.|Use a thin-lipped spatula to help flip the crepes easily.|Keep finished crepes warm by stacking them on a plate over a pot of simmering water.|Adjust the consistency with a splash of water if the batter thickens too much while standing.

Serve with

Traditionally paired with other South African classics:

Community Kitchen

Every South African family has their own version of this recipe — small tweaks passed down through generations. Do you make yours differently? Share your family variation with the community.

Share the recipe

Free email · no account needed

Recipes, braai days and match days — in one email

New South African recipes, SA events near you and every Springboks, Proteas and Bafana fixture with the UK channel. Free.

Email only, unsubscribe any time. Privacy notice

Analytics

We'd like to use Google Analytics to count visits and see which pages get read. It stores an ID on your device. Say no and the site works exactly the same — nothing here affects signing in, the match-day poll or the newsletter, which don't need your permission because they only do what you asked for.

You can change this any time on our cookies and storage page.