German Pancakes - Dutch Babies

German Pancake, Dutch Baby

German Pancake Wedge

Scrumptious!  Bring this spectacular breakfast or brunch dish to the table as soon as it comes out of the oven for a lot of oohs and aahs!  A German Pancake is a cross between a soufflé and an omelet - it is a light, airy pancake with sides.

Learn all about Eggs and how to cook them, and for more great brunch ideas, check out my Brunch Recipes.


Makes 4 to 6 servings:

6 eggs, room temperature
1 cup milk, room temperature
1 cup sifted bread flour or all-purpose flour*
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

5 tablespoons butter
Freshly squeezed
lemon juice
Powdered or confectioners sugar

*Bread flour is a high-protein flour. The high protein helps the pancake rise. All-purpose flour may be substituted but the results won't be as spectacular.

 


Makes 2 to 4 servings:

3 eggs, room temperature
1/2 cup milk, room temperature
1/2 cup sifted bread flour or all-purpose flour*
1/8 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon

7 teaspoons butter
Freshly squeezed
lemon juice
Powdered or confectioners sugar

*Bread flour is a high-protein flour. The high protein helps the pancake rise. All-purpose flour may be substituted but the results won't be as spectacular.
 


Instructions:

1.  Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. NOTE: It is very important that you preheat your oven. Place oven rack on the middle rack of your oven. Place a large, heavy ovenproof frying pan or a cast-iron skillet (I like to use my 10-inch cast-iron skillet), in the oven until hot and sizzling. While pan is heating, prepare your batter.

NOTE: Use a shallow pan, not more than 3 inches deep (pie pans, cast-iron skillets, oven-proof fry pans, baking dishes, paella pans). Like I said before, I prefer using a cast-iron skillet or pan because it acts as a heat reservoir, retaining the heat and distributing it evenly.
 

 


heating cast-iron frying pan in oven

melting butter in cast-iron frying pan

2.  In a large bowl, beat the eggs until light and frothy; add milk, flour, vanilla extract, and cinnamon; beat for 5 minutes more. The batter will be thin, but very smooth and creamy.

Using a pot holder, remove the hot skillet from the oven; add the butter; tilting the pan to melt the butter and coat the skillet.

pouring batter in hot cast-iron pan

3. Pour the prepared batter into the hot skillet, all at once, and immediately return the skillet to the oven.

 

cooked German Pancake

4.  Bake approximately 20 to 25 minutes or until puffed and golden brown (bake until the pancake puffs up around the edges - it may puff irregularly in the center).

 

 

German Pancake wedge5.  Remove from oven and serve immediately. Either bring the pancake to the table in its pan or slide it onto a serving plate. Once out of the oven, the pancake will begin to deflate.
 

6.  To serve, cut into serving-size wedges and transfer to individual serving plates. Top with your favorite topping and serve immediately. For a classic German Pancake/Dutch Baby, sprinkle with freshly squeezed lemon juice, and dust the top with powdered sugar.
 

Topping Ideas:
Sifted powdered (confectioners) sugar
Fresh applesauce with a dash of cinnamon
Crushed pineapple, drained
Whipped cream and sliced fresh strawberries
Syrups (maple, your favorite fruit syrup, or honey)
Canned pie filling, cold or warm

 



Comments from readers:

I just wanted to write and tell you that I had been searching for a few years for this recipe as I was always told of the amazing pancakes I used to have every Sunday at a friends were a form of waffle. Well I decided to do a search for images and put waffles in and nothing looked like the mysterious food I used to eat. I figured what the heck I will put pancakes in the search. Then I seen your picture of the pancakes and I knew they had to be them! Well I got all the ingredients last week, including the cast iron skillet, and intended on making them this weekend which I have just done about 20 minutes ago. They were delicious!! Not as poofy as I remember, but I did the 2 to 3 serving in a 10-inch skillet and used all purpose flour. Anyway just wanted to say thank you for the amazing easy-to-follow recipe and beautiful pictures. This will be a regular weekend recipe for our family! - Brandi Abernethy, Ontario, Canada