Apam Balik – Peanut Pancake (Malaysia)
This Apam Balik recipe brings one of Malaysia’s most beloved street food desserts right into your home kitchen. Often called the Malaysian Peanut Pancake, Apam Balik is a comforting yet playful treat—crispy at the edges, soft in the center, and filled with crushed peanuts, sugar, and butter that melt into pure sweetness. Featured on Global Street Eats with Devan Rajkumar, this dessert is a perfect example of Southeast Asian ingenuity: simple ingredients transformed into something extraordinary through texture, aroma, and flavor.
This Apam Balik Recipe from Global Street Eats with Devan Rajkumar re-creates the magic of Malaysia’s beloved Peanut Pancake street food. Fluffy and golden, this Malaysian Apam Balik Recipe balances crisp texture with sweet, nutty filling.
The Inspiration
In Malaysia, Apam Balik is more than dessert—it’s nostalgia. Sold at hawker stalls and roadside markets, it’s the kind of food that connects family generations and travelers alike. Known for its distinctive half-moon shape and crunchy peanut layer, this snack captures the vibrant multicultural essence of Malaysian cuisine.
Devan Rajkumar, traveling through Malaysia for Global Street Eats, was instantly captivated by how effortlessly the pancake bridges cultures: part crêpe, part waffle, fully Southeast Asian in spirit. “There’s beauty in the simplicity,” he explains. “You’re watching a vendor make it in under five minutes—spread, sprinkle, fold—and then you take that first bite: sweet, salty, nutty, buttery perfection.”
When preparing this Apam Balik Recipe, rest the batter so the yeast activates fully. That’s how the authentic Malaysian Peanut Pancake Recipe gets its soft interior and crispy rim.
Ingredients
Pancake Batter:
- 1 ½ cups (180 g) all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp (3 g) baking soda
- 1 tsp (3 g) instant yeast
- 2 tbsp (25 g) sugar
- ½ tsp (3 g) salt
- 1 egg
- 2 cups (470 ml) milk
- Butter for greasing the pan
Filling:
- 1 ½ cups (213 g) unsalted roasted peanuts
- 1/3 cup (66 g) granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp (28 g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
To Finish:
- ½ cup jam of your choice (optional)
- Sweetened condensed milk (optional)
Methods
- Add the egg, milk, flour, baking soda, instant yeast, sugar, and salt to a blender and blend until combined. Leave the batter to rest for 1 hour or place in the fridge overnight.
- If placing the batter in the fridge, allow it to come up to room temperature for 30 minutes before proceeding.
- Add the peanuts, sugar, and butter to the bowl of a food processor and pulse until the peanuts are chopped and the mixture has the consistency of a crumble topping.
- Warm a medium (8 to 12 inch) skillet over medium heat. Use a paper towel or brush to wipe a thin layer of butter onto the skillet. Pour in 1/3 of the batter and tilt the skillet to coat evenly. Cover with a lid and allow to cook for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the top of the pancake has started to firm up. Do not flip the pancake.
- Uncover the skillet and top the pancake with 1/3 of the peanut mixture. Cover the pan again and continue to cook for another 2 minutes, or until the bottom of the pancake has browned (use a spatula to check).
- Flip one half of the pancake over onto the other half to form a sandwich. Transfer the pancake to a cutting board and slice in half.
- Repeat to make 2 more pancakes.
- Warm the jam slightly if using in a small saucepan or microwave and serve in a ramekin for dipping or drizzled over the pancakes. Or drizzle with sweetened condensed milk.
Serving Suggestions
Nothing captures the joy of Malaysian street food quite like a warm plate of Apam Balik. It’s dessert, snack, and comfort all in one. Serve it piping hot with coffee or tea for breakfast, as a mid-afternoon indulgence, or sweet ending after a spicy dinner.
For presentation, stack the folded pancakes on a platter, drizzle with condensed milk, and scatter extra crushed peanuts on top—the glossy sheen and crunch look irresistible.
Pair it with tropical fruit slices for a bright, balanced finish. Whether served at a family brunch or shared with friends, each bite tells a story of Malaysia’s melting pot culture—Chinese-inspired technique meets Indian spice and Malay warmth
Final Thoughts
This Apam Balik Recipe reflects everything Global Street Eats celebrates: the artistry of everyday cooking, the creativity of local vendors, and the soul of Southeast Asian cuisine. With Devan Rajkumar guiding the way, you’ll master a dessert that’s more than a pancake—it’s a sensory journey through the streets of Kuala Lumpur or Penang, from the fragrance of roasted peanuts to the caramelized sweetness that lingers after every bite.
Fluffy yet crisp, buttery yet nutty, it’s the kind of street food that defines Malaysia: comfort and joy folded neatly into one perfect half-moon.
Try this Apam Balik Recipe at home to experience one of the best Malaysian street food desserts ever featured on Global Street Eats.