Moroccan Style Pancakes with Orange Honey Syrup (Baghrir)

Meet my new favorite pancakes!!

Baghrir are a type of Moroccan crepe or pancake made with semolina flour (the same flour used for cous cous and many types of Italian bread and pastas). The batter for baghrir is made entirely in a blender and then allowed to rest for about thirty minutes before cooking.

The pancakes are cooked on a skillet just like American-style pancakes, with one big difference--no flipping!

Cooking them on only one side makes for a bubbly crumpet or English muffin-like top that is perfect for absorbing butter, syrup, or any other toppings.

In Morocco, baghrir are typically made into large, thin crepes and served either with butter and honey, or rolled around sweet or savory toppings. I like to make my baghrir a bit smaller, and serve them as a stack topped with butter and a sweet orange blossom-scented honey syrup. A handful of fresh berries adds a little extra color and natural sweetness!

Moroccan baghrir batter is made with a mix of both yeast (you can use instant dry  yeast) and baking powder, which helps create all the wonderful nooks and crannies. Another cool thing about this recipe is that it is vegan--no eggs, milk or butter in the recipe at all! The honey and butter on top isn't vegan, but you can easily swap in your own favorite toppings as desired.

I shared this recipe on one of my recent TODAY Show segments as part of a Moroccan-inspired brunch party menu I created to go along with the book club read, The Other Americans by Leila Lalami. (SUCH a good book, btw. I really recommend it!)

I also really recommend giving this recipe a try! Note that if you can’t find semolina flour, you can use bread flour or all-purpose flour, though the texture will be slightly different. Stores like Whole Foods carry semolina flour in the baking aisle, and you can also find it online on Amazon. (Affiliate link)

Let me know if you give these wonderful pancakes a try!

Moroccan-Style Pancakes Recipe with Orange Honey Syrup (Baghrir)
Yields 15 – 20 pancakes

Ingredients
1 cup semolina flour
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 ½ teaspoons dry active yeast
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon sugar
2 ½ cups warm water (approx. 100 degrees F)

For the syrup
1 cup honey
1 cup water
zest of 1 orange, cut into strips
1 teaspoon orange blossom water (optional, or substitute rosewater)

Vegetable oil for frying

To serve: Butter, pomegranate seeds or raspberries

Directions
Combine semolina, all-purpose flour, yeast, baking powder, salt, sugar, and warm water in a blender and puree until smooth and evenly combined (about 1 minute). Batter will be thin and pourable. Let batter sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.

While the batter rests, make the syrup: Combine honey, water, orange zest, and orange blossom water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and let simmer uncovered for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.

Make the pancakes: Heat a griddle or heavy skillet (such as cast-iron) over medium heat. Brush with vegetable oil. Working in batches, pour 1/4 to 1/3 cup batter per  pancake, leaving 1-2 inches between each one. Let cook 3-5 minutes on one side, until the top develops bubbles and looks dry to the touch. Do not flip. Repeat with rest of batter.

Serve pancakes stacked hole-side up, with honey syrup and pomegranate seeds or berries.