When your kitchen smells of saffron, cardamom, and rose water, something special is happening. That’s the moment when my Khanfaroush – Persian Saffron & Cardamom Pancakes are not far away. These golden Persian pancakes are soft on the outside, moist on the inside, and full of warm oriental flavors. Made with a mix of rice flour and wheat flour, they bring a festive feeling straight to your brunch table.

Perfect for Valentine’s Day or Easter brunch, Pancake Day (February 17), Mother’s Day, a cozy birthday brunch, or Christmas brunch, pancakes simply belong on the table. But honestly? They taste like happiness on any Sunday.

WHAT ARE KHANFAROUSH?

Khanfaroush are traditional Persian saffron and cardamom pancakes from the Persian Gulf region, with roots in the United Arab Emirates (Khanfaroosh, Khannfaroush oder خنفروش).

Traditionally, they are fried like small donuts in plenty of oil.
But I prefer a lighter pancake version, cooked in just a little coconut oil. The result?

• Fluffy
• Juicy
• Not heavy at all

Still full of flavor.

PERSIAN PANCAKES FOR BRUNCH (AND BEYOND)

You can enjoy Khanfaroush in many ways:

• with fresh berries
• dusted with powdered sugar
• drizzled with date syrup
• sprinkled with sesame seeds

In our home, we keep it simple: powdered sugar and love 💛
The mix of sweet pancakes and slightly sour fruit or sweet berries is unbeatable.

These pancakes are the highlight of any Easter brunch, and a small culinary journey to the Persian Gulf. You can also bake them in a heart shaped pancake pan and serve on Valentine’s Day. 

DAIRY-FREE PERSIAN PANCAKES

One special thing about this recipe:
👉 No milk at all.

The batter is made with lots of eggs, which makes the pancakes soft and rich.

• Rice flour gives a light, slightly crispy texture
• Saffron adds a beautiful golden color
• Cardamom and rose water bring that classic Persian aroma

IMPORTANT TIP – DO NOT SKIP

Let the batter rest for at least 30 minutes.

This step is essential.
It allows the flour and starch to absorb the liquid, making the batter smooth and easy to work with.
Before frying, always stir the batter well once more.

CAN YOU STORE KHANFAROUSH?

Yes! (If there are any left — which rarely happens 😉)

You can keep them for up to 2 days.
Just warm them in the toaster, and they taste almost like fresh from the pan.

KHANFAROUSH – PERSIAN SAFFRON & CARDAMOM PANCAKES

Ingredients (15 pancakes)

1 tsp saffron threads*, finely ground

6 eggs

55 g fine sugar

120 g rice flour*

75 g wheat flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tbsp rose water*

1 tsp cardamom*

1 pinch of salt

powdered sugar, for dusting

coconut oil*, for frying

HOW TO MAKE KHANFAROUSH

1. Grind the saffron

Crush the saffron threads finely using a mortar.

2. Prepare the batter

Beat the eggs and sugar until creamy.
Add rice flour, wheat flour, baking powder, rose water, cardamom, saffron, and salt.
Mix until smooth.

3. Let the batter rest

Cover and let it rest for 30 minutes.
Stir well again before frying.

4. Fry the pancakes

Heat 1 tablespoon coconut oil in a non-stick pan over medium heat.
Add 2–3 tablespoons of batter per pancake.

When small bubbles appear on the surface, gently flip once.
Do not flip too early and do not flip too often — patience makes them juicy!

5. Serve warm

Drain briefly on kitchen paper.
Serve immediately or keep warm in the oven.

Perfect with berries, date syrup, sesame, or just powdered sugar.

A LITTLE EXTRA INSPIRATION

If you love Persian breakfast, also check out:

• Kaka Kadu Halvai – Gluten-free persian pumpkin pancakes
• Persian breakfast with date omelet and date spread

🌸 I wish you a wonderful Valentine’s Day and lots of joy enjoying this oriental treat.

Befarmayid

Susan 🤍

The items marked with * are affiliate links, referral links. If you buy through this link, I get a small commission. The price stays the same for you and you can easily support my efforts. A big thank you ♥♥

Have you cooked this or maybe another delicious recipe of mine? Feel free to leave me a comment below. If you tag your picture on Instagram with @labsalliebe  and use the hashtag#labsalliebe, I won’t miss a post and will be happy to leave you a comment as well. Can’t wait to see your creations.

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