Easy Naleśniki Recipe: Your Babcia’s Crêpes Awaits!

The Polish pancake recipe, or nalesniki recipe are thin crepe or pancakes that are light and fluffy. Easy to make, they’re perfect as a sweet or savory treat!

Where Did The Polish Crepes Recipe Originate?

Crepes are popular all over the world. If you compare Polish crepes vs French crepes, you might think they’re very similar or that perhaps Polish crepes originated in France. That’s what many people believe.

Well, although French crepes have been around since the Middle Ages, they have been eaten long before that in different forms. To learn the history of the crepe, we have to understand that it was derived from a pancake.

Scientists have found the remains of something like crepes or pancakes in the stomach of Otzi, the Iceman. So some versions of the pancake were eaten by humans 5300 years ago, in 3300 BC. The scientists concluded that his last meal was wheat pancakes, “along with red deer meat and alpine ibex”.

Jump a few thousand years and you’ll find that the ancient Greeks ate a dish of wheat flour cooked in olive oil over a griddle. Called tagenites, they were often eaten for breakfast.

The Athenians ate something similar made with spelt flour, served with honey or cheese. The Romans ate something called libum that looked like the thick American pancakes.

By the time the Middle Ages came around, most cultures had their own version of crepes or pancakes. The Dutch have pannenkoek, the Germans have crepes, the Finns have räiskäle, and the Greeks have krepa. Spain has krepa, Austria has palatschinken, Russia has blini, and so on.

The modern version of crepes eaten worldwide originated in the French region of Brittany in the 13th century. In this post, I will share with you the traditional Polish nalesniki recipe that is pretty much similar to those in France.

How To Make Naleśniki?

You don’t have to worry about how to make Polish crepes. This nalesniki recipe is really easy to make.

Here’s a video where I am showing how to make naleśniki step by step:

Start by mixing all the flour, eggs, sparkling water, salt, and sugar together. We use a whisk for this, but you can use a hand blender too.

Heat the pan with oil til it’s really hot. After heating, You can add the excess hot oil to the batter and mix it in. This way you won’t need to add much oil while frying.

Make the pancakes as thin as possible while frying them. Watch this video to see how I do it. Keep repeating the steps till all the batter is finished.

Serve hot with sweet or savory toppings!

Tips For Making Thin Crepes

Be ready to throw away the first crepe.

For some mysterious reason, the first crepe is usually falling apart. You can either eat it or throw it away. The second one should look just fine.

Fry them in a very hot pan.

The pan needs to be really hot. Be sure to add a bit of oil every time you pour the batter.

It’s good to make the batter 30 minutes before frying.

Crepes will taste better if you let the batter sit for about half an hour. It’s not necessary, though. You can use this nalesniki recipe batter right away if you want to.

Sparkling water is better than still water.

The sparkles will make the batter more delicate and fluffy, and the nalesniki will be tastier.

Let the batter run down the pan.

If you want to have perfect, thin crepes, hold the hot and greased pan at a 45° angle. Use a big spoon or a ladle to pour the batter on the higher side of the pan. Let it run down, moving the pan a bit to make sure it covers the entire surface. See the video below of how I do it.

Oil the pan before frying every crepe.

If there is too much oil in the pan, pour it into the batter in the bowl.

Turn the crepes while they are light brown.

Don’t wait for them to get dark brown. Turn them while they are still light brown so that they can be flexible and easy to roll or fold.

FAQS About Polish Nalesniki Recipe

How To Pronounce Nalesniki?

Nalesniki is pronounced nah-lesh-nee-kee.

How To Serve Polish Pancakes?

You can either roll or fold these Polish crepes. To roll it, first lather it with a spread of your choice and then roll. To fold it, first lather it with the spread and then simply fold it in half and then quarter it like a triangle.

What To Serve Nalesniki With?

Naleśniki taste great solo (it’s actually the only way my hubby has them). However, you may use various things to fill crepes.

If you want sweet crepes, use:

• jams such as homemade pumpkin orange
• fruit spreads
• marmalade
• Nutella
• fruits
• whipped cream
• sweet cheese (see my full recipe for Polish crepes with cottage cheese)
• any sweet spread
• honey
• fresh fruits such as oranges, pineapple, bananas, papaya or others

If you want savory crepes, use any of these fillings:

• cabbage (see my full Polish croquette recipe)
• minced meat
• ketchup
• cheese
• ham
• veggies
• mayo
• or anything you would put on a sandwich

What Kind Of Frying Pan Should I Use?

It’s best to use a non-stick frying pan or griddle, but if you don’t have those, a regular frying pan will work too. Just add a touch more oil.

Can I Make The Pancakes Sweeter?

Yes, you can add more sugar or a pinch of cinnamon to the pancake batter to make them sweeter.

How To Store Naleśniki?

Nalesniki pancakes should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days or in the freezer for 3 to 4 months. Reheat with butter in the frying pan or microwave before serving.

Can You Make Naleśniki Vegan?

Yes! This is my vegan crepes recipe.

Authentic Polish Nalesniki Thin Crepes Recipe

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