Food

Guide For Making Czech’s Yeasted Pancakes or “Lívance”

Pancakes are a breakfast staple for many families. And for the Czechs, lívance is one of the most loved sweet treats. It may taste and look different from the regular pancakes you are probably used to. So if you want to learn more about this Czech pancake, you have come to the right place. 

Lívance: Czech’s Yeast Pancakes

Lívance are yeasted pancakes. They are small and circular patties made from a slightly runny pancake batter. Unlike the American-style pancakes that use baking soda or baking powder for it to rise, Czechs use yeast for the lívance. The lívance recipe that you can use from https://palacinky.org is different from the soft and fluffy pancakes that you are used to. 

Yeast pancakes are commonly enjoyed as a sweet dish in the Czech Republic. These pancakes are smaller as they are cooked in a pan with four circular wells. They are cooked in butter and can be topped with fruit and a dollop of sour cream. This pancake will not be complete without a sprinkle of powdered sugar. 

Making lívance may require a bit more time for preparation. But the flavor surpasses those of regular pancake recipes.

Cooking Lívance for the First Time

If you have never cooked lívance before, you will need this guide to make your first try a successful one. 

Ingredients:

  • Warn whole milk
  • All-purpose flour
  • Fresh or active dry yeast
  • Granulated sugar
  • Eggs
  • Pinch of salt
  • Unsalted butter for frying
  • Powdered sugar or cinnamon sugar (for garnishing)

Instructions for Cooking:

Preparing the Batter:

  • Add yeast to warm milk in a mixing bowl. 
  • Whisk in flour, sugar, a pinch of salt, and room-temperature eggs.
  • Mix all ingredients until well combined. 
  • Cover the bowl with a plastic wrap or kitchen towel for 40 minutes. 
  • Leave it covered until the batter doubles in volume. 

Cooking the Yeast Pancake:

  • Grease a large frying pan with butter or oil.
  • Once hot enough, scoop in a ladle of the batter and create a small circle of pancakes (about 7 cm in diameter). This is easier to achieve if you are using a pan with wells. 
  • Cook pancakes on medium-low heat until golden brown.
  • Flip and repeat. Each side should cook for about 1 minute. 

Yeast Pancake Serving Suggestion

The lívance pancakes are meant to be sweet. The pancake can be served coated with cinnamon sugar or just powdered sugar. You can also decorate the top with your preferred jam, fruit, or sweetened sour cream. Others prefer to have it with plum butter. Finish it with a sprinkle of crumbled tvaroh and powdered sugar.