There is something special about having a simple homemade snack that the whole family enjoys. In our home, pancakes are one of our all-time favorite afternoon treats, especially for our little one.
But sometimes, standing beside the stove and frying pancakes one by one isn’t exactly what I feel like doing, especially when I’m busy with other things around the house.
That’s why I love making pancakes in the oven.
Instead of pouring and flipping one pancake after another, I can simply prepare the batter, pour everything into a baking tray, put it in the oven, and wait. No flipping, no frying several batches, and much less time spent standing in front of the stove.
After moving to Finland, an oven-baked pancake also feels very fitting because pannukakku, or Finnish oven pancake, is a familiar treat here. It is different from the fluffy pancakes that many of us grew up eating, but that’s part of what makes it interesting.
And because I love baking, turning a simple pancake into something I can bake in the oven makes the whole process even more enjoyable for me.
This recipe doesn’t require any complicated ingredients either. Most of what you need may already be sitting in your pantry or refrigerator: flour, eggs, milk, a little sugar, baking powder, salt, oil, and vanilla.
So, if you’re looking for an easy afternoon snack, simple breakfast, or something sweet to enjoy with your coffee or tea, here’s my easy oven-baked pancake recipe.
What Is a Finnish Oven Pancake or Pannukakku?
If you’re used to pancakes being round, fluffy, and individually cooked in a frying pan, an oven pancake may look a little different.
A Finnish oven pancake, commonly called pannukakku, is baked as one large pancake in the oven. Once baked, you simply slice it into portions and serve it with your preferred toppings.
For me, that’s one of the best things about it.
You don’t have to stand at the stove watching and flipping every pancake. The oven does most of the work while you prepare the toppings, clean the kitchen, make coffee, or simply wait for your snack to finish baking.
The result is also slightly different from an ordinary fried pancake. Rather than having several small fluffy pancakes, you get one large, soft oven-baked pancake that you can cut into squares or rectangles.
And honestly, anything that makes snack preparation easier while still making the family happy is a win for me!
Easy Oven-Baked Pancake Ingredients
For this recipe, you will need:
- 4 dl wheat flour
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla sugar
- 8 dl nonfat or low-fat milk
- 2 eggs
- ½ dl oil
* A Note About Vanilla Sugar
The original recipe calls for 1 teaspoon of vanilla sugar.
Vanilla sugar is quite easy to find here in Finland, but if you don’t have it available, don’t worry.
I have also used 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract instead, and it works perfectly well for me.
That’s one thing I enjoy about home baking, you can often make small adjustments depending on what you already have available.
How to Make an Easy Oven-Baked Pancake
Step 1: Preheat the Oven
Preheat your oven to 225°C.
While the oven is heating, prepare your baking tray by lining it with baking parchment paper.
Using parchment paper makes cleanup much easier and helps prevent the pancake from sticking to the tray.
There are times when I run out of baking parchment paper, and I’ve found that aluminum foil works just fine, too!
Step 2: Combine the Dry Ingredients
In a large mixing bowl, combine:
- Wheat flour
- Sugar
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Vanilla sugar, if using
Mix the dry ingredients until they are evenly distributed.
If you’re using vanilla extract instead of vanilla sugar, don’t add it yet. You can mix it with the wet ingredients instead.
Step 3: Mix the Eggs and Milk
In a separate bowl, lightly beat the two eggs.
Add the 8 dl of milk and mix until combined.
If you’re using vanilla extract, you can add it to the egg-and-milk mixture at this stage.
You don’t need to beat the mixture excessively. Just mix everything well enough to combine the ingredients.
Step 4: Combine the Wet and Dry Ingredients
Gradually add the flour mixture to the egg-and-milk mixture.
Mix until you have a smooth pancake batter.
Try not to overmix. You only need to combine the ingredients until there are no large pockets of dry flour remaining.
And the other hand, while holding my cute little one. 🙂
Step 5: Add the Oil
Add ½ dl of oil to the batter and gently mix again.
The batter will be much thinner than the batter you may normally use for fluffy pan-fried pancakes, so don’t worry if it looks quite runny.
That’s perfectly fine for an oven pancake.
Step 6: Pour Into the Baking Tray
Pour the pancake batter evenly onto your prepared baking tray.
Make sure the batter is distributed across the tray so that the pancake cooks as evenly as possible.
Then carefully place the tray into your preheated oven.
Step 7: Bake
Bake the pancake at 225°C for approximately 25 minutes.
The exact baking time can vary slightly depending on your oven and the size of the baking tray.
You’ll know it’s getting ready when the pancake has set and the top develops a lovely golden color.
You may also notice some areas puffing up while it bakes. That’s completely normal, and actually one of the fun parts of watching an oven pancake bake!
Once you’re satisfied with the color and the center has set, remove it from the oven.
Allow it to cool slightly before slicing.
There’s something so comforting about the smell of freshly baked pannukakku!
How We Like to Serve Our Oven Pancake
Now comes my favorite part… the toppings!
The pancake itself is simple, which means you can serve it in so many different ways.
We love adding fresh fruits or berries and finishing everything with a little honey or powdered sugar.
You could try:
- Strawberries
- Blueberries
- Raspberries
- Bananas
- Mixed berries
- Sliced apples
- Honey
- Powdered sugar
- Fruit jam
Fresh berries are particularly lovely with this pancake.
You can keep it simple with just a dusting of powdered sugar, or make it more special by adding several fruits and berries.
And, of course, serve it with your favorite coffee or tea if you’re making it for an afternoon snack.
Why I Prefer Baking Pancakes Sometimes
I still enjoy ordinary pancakes, but oven-baked pancakes are incredibly convenient when I’m preparing something for the whole family.
With traditional pancakes, you have to pour the batter, wait, flip, remove the pancake, and repeat the process until all the batter is gone.
With this recipe, I prepare one batter and one tray.
Then the oven takes over.
That’s particularly helpful when you have a hungry little one waiting for a snack!
It also gives me time to prepare the fruit, clean the bowls and utensils I used, or do something else while the pancake is baking.
And because I already enjoy baking, this method feels more natural to me.
Tips for Making Your Oven Pancake
This recipe is very straightforward, but here are a few things I’ve learned that can make the process even easier.
Preheat the oven properly.
Give your oven enough time to reach 225°C before putting the pancake inside.
Use parchment paper.
It makes removing the pancake and cleaning the baking tray much easier.
Don’t worry about a thin batter.
An oven-pancake batter isn’t necessarily going to resemble a thick American-style pancake batter.
Watch it toward the end.
Ovens behave differently, so use the 25-minute baking time as a guide and keep an eye on the pancake during the final few minutes.
Let it rest before slicing.
Give your freshly baked pancake a few minutes to settle after removing it from the oven.
Experiment with toppings.
This is where you can make the recipe your own. Try whatever fruits, berries, jams, or other toppings your family enjoys.
An Easy Recipe for Busy Days
One reason I keep coming back to simple recipes like this is that everyday cooking doesn’t always need to be complicated.
Sometimes, the best family recipes are the ones we can prepare without thinking too much about them.
There are days when I enjoy spending a long time in the kitchen and trying something new. But there are also days when I simply want something homemade, warm, and delicious without making a big mess.
This oven pancake is perfect for those days.
Most of the ingredients are basic pantry staples, preparation is simple, and you don’t need any special baking skills.
Just mix, pour, bake, slice, and enjoy!
Easy Oven-Baked Pancake Recipe
Let’s summarize…
Ingredients
- 4 dl wheat flour
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla sugar or 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 8 dl nonfat or low-fat milk
- 2 eggs
- ½ dl oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 225°C.
- Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
- Mix the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and vanilla sugar in a bowl.
- In another bowl, lightly beat the eggs and combine them with the milk.
- If using vanilla extract instead of vanilla sugar, add it to the wet ingredients.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the milk-and-egg mixture.
- Mix until combined.
- Add the oil and mix again.
- Pour the batter evenly onto the prepared baking tray.
- Bake for approximately 25 minutes, or until the pancake is set and nicely golden.
- Allow it to cool slightly before slicing.
- Serve with fresh fruit, berries, honey, powdered sugar, jam, or your favorite toppings.
In daycare, they also serve pannukakku as a snack, so she’s already familiar with it.
Final Thoughts
Some of the recipes we enjoy most at home aren’t necessarily the complicated ones.
This easy Finnish-style oven pancake has become one of those simple treats that works perfectly when we’re craving something homemade for an afternoon snack.
I love that I don’t have to fry pancakes individually, and our little one gets to enjoy one of our family’s favorite treats.
It is simple, comforting, and easy to customize depending on what we have at home.
And that’s what I love most about baking.
Not everything needs to turn out like something from a professional bakery. Sometimes, a warm homemade pancake straight from the oven, topped with berries and shared with your family, is already more than enough.
If you’ve never tried baking your pancakes before, give this recipe a try.
You might discover that you’ll be making pannukakku more often than you expected!
“Cooking is love made visible.” — Anonymous
“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” — Psalm 34:8
Food has a beautiful way of bringing people together. Whether it’s an elaborate celebration meal or something as simple as an afternoon pancake, what makes it special is often who we share it with.
So bake something, gather around the table, add your favorite toppings, and enjoy the little moments together. ❤️
Have you tried making pancakes in the oven? What are your favorite toppings, fresh berries, jam, honey, powdered sugar, or something else? I’d love to hear your ideas in the comments!
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