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German Pancakes (Dutch Baby)

Photo Credit
Sam Jones/Quinn Brein
Written By: The Old Farmer’s Almanac Editors The Almanac Editors and Staff
Category
Quickbreads, Coffee Cakes
Course
Breakfast & Brunches
Preparation Method
Bake
Sources
Best Recipes from New England Inns

German Pancakes—also called Dutch Baby pancakes—are a light, delicate, golden, eggy pancake which puffs up in the pan while it bakes in the oven. Only five ingredients!

Serve with maple syrup or lemon wedges and powdered sugar. Some folks like to add strawberries or bananas. It’s a versatile breakfast dish.

If you wish, you can also adapt this recipe by adding a teaspoon of cinnamon, nutmeg, and/or vanilla for flavor.

Ingredients
3 eggs
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sifted flour
1/2 cup milk
2 tablespoons melted butter

Instructions

  1. Lightly beat eggs with a wire whisk. 
  2. Add salt to flour. Add flour mixture and milk to eggs in 3 or 4 portions alternately, beating well after each addition. 
  3. Add melted butter and beat well. 
  4. Pour into 2 well-buttered cast-iron or metal pie pans. Bake at 400 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until puffed and light brown. 
  5. Serve immediately, with lemon wedges, melted butter, and confectioners sugar.

About The Author
The Old Farmer’s Almanac Editors

The Old Farmer’s Almanac Editors

The Almanac Editors and Staff

Under the guiding hand of its first editor, Robert B. Thomas, the premiere issue of The Old Farmer’s Almanac was published in 1792 during George Washington’s first term as president.Today, the Almanac...
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Comments

<span>Betty</span> Mon, 11/06/2023 - 12:12
Which size cast iron pan?
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Tue, 11/07/2023 - 09:51

Hi, Betty. You could use two 8-inch cast iron pans. If you don't have that size, you can use pie plates.

 <span>Sherry</span> Tue, 04/13/2021 - 15:12
I slice and partially cook apples in the butter in a cast iron on the stove top. Then I place it in the oven while I mix my ingredients in a blender minus the melted butter which is already in the cast iron. Then I pour my mixture over the apples and bake for 17 minutes at 425. My family loves them cooked this way! I also do bananas but don't pre-cook them. I always have my cast iron preheated before adding my mixture. I also melt my butter in the skillet after the oven reaches the temperature.
<span>Jeannette</span> Tue, 04/13/2021 - 10:33
Do you have to use Cast Iron ? I don't have a cast Iron Skillet anymore. What can you use instead?
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Thu, 04/15/2021 - 13:57

Hi, Jeannette. You can use any oven safe pan for this recipe. Enjoy!

 <span>Ano Ny Mouse</span> Sun, 02/09/2020 - 12:12
Although the recipe is called either Dutch Baby or German Pancake, it's NOT how Germans make theirs. German will do it much more like the French in that the batter is poured into the pan, cooked on the stove top, then filled with either sweet or savory filling, rolled up and eaten. Or cooled down, cut into strips to make Pancake soup by adding the strips to broth / clear soup of your choice.
<span>Kathy Hensley</span> Sun, 02/09/2020 - 11:08
I have been making these for years after having them at a restaurant. I add a teaspoon of sugar, sometimes two and squeeze fresh lemon juice into the batter, which is a very thin batter. I only use one pan, cast iron is fine and bake for approximately 20 minutes. I also serve them with strawberries and bananas with strawberry syrup, delicious.
<span>Paul A</span> Sat, 06/08/2019 - 14:09
You show a cast iron skillet in your example. Most recipes I've seen heat the skillet on top of the stove, pour in all of the batter, than finish in a preheated oven. At least provide alternative directions to do this.
<span>Lois</span> Tue, 04/02/2019 - 18:27
That was supposed to be “flour,” not “floor!”
<span>Lois</span> Tue, 04/02/2019 - 18:25
Is the floor plain or self-rising? I know salt is added, which makes me think it is all-purpose (plain), but some recipes call for extra, and this doesn’t call for baking powder, which makes me think it is self-rising!!