Åland Pancake –
A Delicious Tradition
Flavored with cardamom and served with prune cream and whipped cream, Åland pancake is perhaps the most well-known dish from the Åland Islands. The Ålanders themselves appreciate this delicious tradition so much that a few years ago, it was crowned the Åland dish of the century.
Have you ever tasted Åland pancake? It is often served as a dessert or with coffee, but since it is made from porridge, it is quite filling and also suitable as a snack. Actually, Åland pancake can be eaten anytime, both on weekdays and at celebrations. It is served in almost every café in Åland.
Origin in the Archipelago
The Åland pancake likely originated in the eastern Åland archipelago. Initially, it was a dish that was quick to prepare if one had unexpected guests and not much in the pantry. Leftover morning porridge could easily be seasoned and turned into a pancake.
Semolina or Rice Porridge
As with all dishes, there are different variations and several recipes for Åland pancake as well. Some use semolina porridge as the base, while others make the pancake from rice porridge. An important ingredient is cardamom, which gives the pancake its special flavor. At its best, the pancake is a few centimeters thick, soft, and has a beautiful brown surface, which becomes extra delicious if small dollops of butter are added on top before baking. You can bake it in a baking dish, but most commonly, a large pancake is made in a baking sheet.
Prune Cream and Whipped Cream
Åland pancake tastes best directly after baking when it has cooled slightly. A pancake served refrigerator-cold is not as good! Traditionally, Åland pancake is served with a large dollop of prune cream made from dried plums, and plenty of fluffy whipped cream. Nowadays, some replace the prune cream with raspberry or strawberry jam, which also tastes good with the pancake.
A Piece of Cake
You can order a piece of the delicious pastry in cafés and restaurants around Åland and in Mariehamn all year round. Almost everyone who visits the Åland Islands eats at least one piece of pancake during their stay. During the celebration of Åland's Self-Government Day on June 9, Åland pancake is usually served at the square in Mariehamn.
If you’d like to make Åland pancake at home, you can find the recipe below. It is taken from the brochure "The Ålandic Dish of the Century."
Enjoy!
Recipe for Åland Pancake
Ingredients:
1 liter milk
1.5 dl semolina or 1 dl rice
1 dl wheat flour
3 eggs
1 dl sugar
0.5 tsp salt
2 tsp cardamom
50 g butter or margarine
Instructions:
Cook porridge using your chosen grains. Let it cool slightly.
Lightly whisk the eggs and sugar, then mix into the porridge. Add the flour, salt, and the essential cardamom which gives the pancake its delicious flavor.
Spread the batter, about 2 cm thick, in a greased baking dish. Dot with butter.
Bake at 200°C (392°F) until the pancake has a nice colour, about 40 to 60 minutes.
Recipe for Prune Cream
Ingredients:
10 dried plums
5 dl water
1 cinnamon stick
0.5 dl sugar
1 tbsp cornstarch (or potato starch)
Instructions:
Rinse the plums and soak them in half a liter of water for a few hours. Add the cinnamon stick and cook until the plums are soft.
Sweeten with sugar and remove the pot from the heat. Mix the cornstarch with a little water and pour it in while stirring.
Bring the cream to a quick boil and pour it into a serving bowl. Sprinkle a little sugar on top.
