Finnish Pannukakku Squares: Make-Ahead Oven Pancake for Busy School Mornings

Heat the oven to 425°F (220°C) and set a rack in the middle position.

Serves 8

Ingredients

• 4 large eggs
• 2 cups (500 ml) whole milk
• 1 cup (125 g) all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup (150 g) lingonberry or raspberry jam, for serving
• Powdered sugar, for dusting

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 425°F (220°C) and set a rack in the middle position.
2. Whisk the eggs and sugar in a large bowl until pale and slightly foamy, about 1 minute.
3. Pour in the milk and vanilla and whisk to combine, then sift in the flour, salt and cardamom and whisk just until smooth with no dry pockets. A few small lumps are fine.
4. Let the batter rest on the counter for 10 minutes so the flour hydrates and the pancake bakes with a tender, custardy center.
5. Put the butter in a 9x13-inch (23x33 cm) baking pan and slide it into the hot oven for 2 to 3 minutes, until the butter is melted and foaming. Swirl to coat the bottom and sides.
6. Pour the rested batter into the hot buttered pan and bake for 22 to 26 minutes, until the edges are puffed and deeply golden and the center is set but still gently wobbly.
7. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes. The dramatic puff will settle into a dense, custardy slab, which is exactly what you want.
8. Cut into 8 squares. Serve warm with a spoonful of jam and a dusting of powdered sugar.
9. To make ahead, cool completely, wrap the squares individually and refrigerate up to 4 days. Reheat in a toaster oven at 350°F (175°C) for 5 minutes, or microwave 30 seconds for a hand-held school-morning breakfast.
10. In Finland, pannukakku is the weekday answer to a fussy pancake stack: one bowl, one pan, no standing at the stove flipping. It is traditionally baked flat on a sheet pan and served in squares with lingonberry jam, whose tartness cuts the eggy richness the way maple syrup never quite could. Cardamom is the quiet Nordic signature here, and a pinch is enough to make the whole kitchen smell like a Helsinki bakery before the school bus arrives.

Nutrition (estimated, per serving)

• Calories: 245 kcal
• Protein: 8g
• Fat: 9g
• Carbohydrates: 32g
• Fiber: 1g
• Sugar: 16g
• Sodium: 210mg