poffertje

From Dutch poffertje.

poffertje (plural poffertjes)

1. singular of poffertjes
   • 1890 November, Anna Eichberg King, “A Legend of Old New York”, in The Century Illustrated Monthly Magazine, volume XLI / new series, volume XIX, number 1, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co.; London: T[homas] Fisher Unwin, published 1891, pages 49, column 2 (section III), and 51, column 1 (section IV):

     The kitchen walls were covered with a precious array of brass pots and pans, waffle-irons, poffertje pans; […] There were poffertje and waffle booths, booths for gin, cider, and Schiedam schnapps, pipes and tobacco, calico and glass beads, household ware and toys; […]

   • 1935 October 7, Janet P. Johl, “Wilhelmina and the Poffertjes”, in The Christian Science Monitor, volume XXVII, number 264, Boston, Mass.: The Christian Science Publishing Society, page 10, columns 3–4:

     “Good afternoon, Mynheer,” she bowed politely, “would you care for a poffertje?” […] “I shall come past here every day and you shall bake me a poffertje, and tell me how you are doing. […]” Every day the burgomaster came for his poffertje.

   • 1960, Charlotte Adams, “[Holland] Poffertjes”, in The SAS World-Wide Restaurant Cookbook: Restaurants and Recipes from the Far Corners of the World, New York, N.Y.: Popular Library, published November 1961, →LCCN, page 125:

     To make it as they do one should have a poffertje pan and I have discovered, to my sorrow, that they are not imported to this country. […] (In case you have a poffertje pan, spoon the mixture into the greased holes until just about level. […]) Otherwise, place about a tablespoonful of batter for each (U.S. style!) poffertje on a greased griddle.

   • 1991, Sue Thomas, “Datablock D”, in Correspondence, London: Gollancz, published 2019, →ISBN:

     She took a fork and picked up a poffertje. It slid into her mouth leaving greasy white footsteps on her chin and lips.

   • 2004, Robert Elmer, chapter 4, in The Duet: A Novel, Colorado Springs, Colo.: WaterBrook Press, →ISBN, page 28:

     “Care to sample a poffertje?” As one of the teens held out a pastry-loaded plate, the bakery smell drifted up to tickle her nose.

   • 2008, Natalie Sullivan, chapter 20, in Blissful Thinking: The Astonishing Predictions of My Psychic Landlady: A Novel, Bloomington, Ind.: iUniverse, →ISBN, page 190:

     “I have some distant relatives who are Dutch.” / “Really?” I asked, excitedly. / “Yup, and I’ve got a poffertje recipe to prove it!”

   • 2010, Luke Comer, part III, in The Magic Cheese, [Morrisville, N.C.]: [Lulu.com], →ISBN, page 9:

     He tucked into the syrup covered poffertje, closing his eyes with satisfaction but just then he pulled something out of his mouth.

   • 2013 October, Wolfgang Jeschke, translated by Ross Benjamin, “Transitions”, in The Cusanus Game, New York, N.Y.: Tor Books, →ISBN, book 4, page 429:

     In one hand a paper cup of coffee, in the other a poffertje, he hurried over to me. “Did you hurt yourself?” he asked, shoving the poffertje in his mouth, licking off his fingers, and helping me to my feet.

   • 2017, Emily Wight, “Rye Poffertjes”, in Dutch Feast, Vancouver, B.C.: Arsenal Pulp Press, →ISBN:

     [I]f you can’t find a poffertje pan, approximate the shape by dropping small rounds of batter into a frying pan instead. […] Set lightly greased poffertje pan on medium heat. […] Working in batches, spoon batter into individual poffertje molds and cook for about 2 minutes per side, until golden.

   • 2019, Lucy Ellmann, Ducks, Newburyport‎, Norwich, Norfolk: Galley Beggar Press, →ISBN:

     […] I could get a nineteen-cake skillet, nineteen’s the next size up, 19 cake, but Mommy bought this poffertje pan, puffers, more OJ, […] it looks a lot like a poffertje, but what do I know, flapcakes, griddlecakes, English muffins, waffles, Swiss steak, “Dribble with syrup if desired,” […]

   • 2023, Jessica Walton, chapter 5, in Stars in Their Eyes, New York, N.Y.: Graphix, Scholastic Inc., →ISBN, page 91:

     Come on. Let’s go before you turn into a giant poffertje. / You say that like it’s a bad thing. I want a poffertje factory where I can chew poffertje-flavored chewing gum! / And lick poffertje flavored wallpaper! / And fall into a river of melted butter, with poffertjes and icing sugar floating on top!

From poffen +‎ -er +‎ -tje, named because of their puffy appearance.

• IPA^(key): /ˈpɔ.fər.tjə/, (Netherlands) [ˈpɔ.fər.cə]

• Audio

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• Hyphenation: pof‧fer‧tje

poffertje n (plural poffertjes)

1. (chiefly plural) A small Dutch puffed pancake, a baby pancake.

• → English: poffertje