Onam Pancakes - Stuffed with Coconut and Jaggery

Fluffy pancake batter cooked until golden and crispy, packed with a filling of freshly grated coconut and jaggery. They are a simple snack to make but very delicious and perfect for Onam or any time of the year.

This recipe will either go down very well or be rejected immediately. In saying this I must clarify, I love traditional recipes and desserts but sometimes a little fusion hurt no body and it can refresh an otherwise older looking tradition. This recipe is a combination of many recipes, unniyappam (because of the shape, the ingredients have nothing to do with it), kozhukatta (not for the rice flour but for the coconut jaggery filling) and the flavors of payasam with cardamon and cashews. Reading this makes it sound ridiculous but I promise you it is exceptional. Before we get to the recipe let us understand a thing or two about onam.

What is Onam celebrated for?

Onam commemorates Vamana (the fifth avatar of Hindu deity Vishnu) and the generous daitya king Mahabali. According to the Hindu legends, after Indra (the king of the devas) is defeated by Mahabali (the king of the asuras), the devas ultimately seek refuge in Vishnu, who agrees to restore Indra to power.

What are the 10 days of Onam?

The festival is celebrated for 10 days and this year it started on 6th Sept 2024 and will end on 15th Sept 2024. During this time, everyday has a different significance and flowers are put outside the house and inside, feasts are prepared, the house is cleaned etc. Traditionally the meals are served on a banana leaf and consists of at least 20 dishes.

What are pancake bombs?

Pancake bombs is basically pancake batter cooked in an unniyappam/mini pancake pan. The batter is cooked on one side, before stuffing with a freshly grated coconut and jaggery filling that is studded with finely chopped cashews and seasoned with vanilla, cardamon and salt. More batter is added on top and the pancake in turned in the mould to cook – creating a small round ball like shape. This can be done with any pancake batter and filling as well. I like stuffing the batter with chocolate and peanut butter as well.

What ingredients are needed to make pancake bombs?

To make the pancakes we need flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, egg, sugar, butter milk, vanilla, butter. To make the filling we need freaky grated coconut, jaggery, salt, cashew nuts and cardamon powder.

What equipment is needed to make pancake bombs?

For the batter we need a mixing bowl, whisk and spatula. I have used a knife to cut the jaggery and the cashew nuts. I have mixed the filling in a small mixing bowl. The pancakes are cooked in an unniyappam pan and I have used a chopstick to help me turn them.

How to make pancake bombs?

To make the pancakes we start by mixing the wet ingredients in a bowl until smooth. Add the dry ingredients and whisk until combined, the batter must be lumpy but you shouldn’t see dry pockets of flour. Set aside. To make the filling we finely grate/cut the jaggery and transfer to a mixing bowl. Add the chopped cashews, grated fresh coconut, vanilla, salt and cardamom. Mix together until well combined. Get your unniyappam pan and brush each cavity with a little oil place it on medium heat. Add 2 tbsp of batter into the cavities. Add a little of the filling mixture into the center and top each once with little more pancake batter making sure the filling is covered. Allow this to cook for 2 minutes covered with a lid or until you see bubbles on the edges of the batter. Using a wooden chopstick or skewer push the edges of the pancake batter down to flip the bombs ensuring the raw batter is now touching the base and the cooked side is on top. Cook for 1 minute more and remove from the heat. Repeat until all the batter is used, if you have extra filling leftover, enjoy it with vanilla ice cream or over toast as well.

Serving and storing these pancake bombs?

These pancake bombs are best served warm. I would suggest storing the leftovers in air tight containers in the fridge as the fresh grated coconut can go bad easily. When ready to eat, warm them in the microwave for 15 seconds and enjoy.

Looking for more recipes to make on Onam?

Now that we have covered how to make this pancake bombs with coconut and jaggery filling, you can have a look at the recipe video on my socials but let’s get to it. Don’t forget to follow along for more fun recipe inspiration.

If you try this recipe out, don’t forget to share it with me on pinterest & instagram so I can see how it turned out. I’d love nothing more than to chat with you on your cooking/baking.