Dutch Baby Pancake

A decadent Dutch Baby Puff Pancake is made with milk, eggs, sugar, flour, and vanilla, and baked in a cast iron skillet in the oven until it puffs up and becomes a golden brown. This German pancake recipe is a delicious and easy breakfast dish!

When I was growing up, we called them puffed pancakes. I either made pancakes, waffles, crepes, or German pancakes every single Saturday. It was a tradition in our family to have a lazy breakfast after finishing chores.

Dutch Baby Pancake

I loved to sit on the floor while my eyes were glued to the oven door, watching in amazement as the puffed pancake would billow and puff up in the oven. Every time it was a little bit different but I still gazed in wonderment about how it all worked.

So now I have a home filled with a husband, four kids, and a dog and it’s Sunday morning and I hear my kids scrambling around downstairs looking for something to eat.

I know what is coming next.

They run through my bedroom door and ask THE question, “Mom, what’s for breakfast?” My eyes are barely open. I am pretty sure I am still half asleep and I really just want to crawl back into bed and hide under the covers.

But I know they aren’t looking for cold cereal! They want something warm, comforting, and most importantly homemade.

This is it!  Dutch Baby Puff Pancake (also known as German Pancakes) is my go-to breakfast for those lazy Sunday mornings before we rush off to church. It’s always number one on their wish list when they want something covered in a massive amount of powdered sugar and syrup.

This baked vanilla custard-like pancake miraculously puffs up when baked in the oven. It has a creamy souffle texture and makes whipping up breakfast on the weekend so easy! 

What is a Dutch Baby Pancake or German Pancake?

A Dutch baby pancake, sometimes called a German pancake can be considered to be a large popover. Dutch babies are baked in the oven, rather than fried. They are generally thicker than most pancakes and rise in the oven like a souffle and call for no leavening agents, like baking powder.

German Pancakes are made with eggs, flour, sugar, milk, and vanilla.  According to Wikipedia, “a classic basic batter incorporates a third of a cup of flour and a third of a cup of milk per egg.”

A Dutch Baby is baked in a hot cast iron skillet or metal pan and deflates soon after being removed from the oven. A Dutch Baby Pancake is generally served with freshly squeezed lemon, butter, powdered sugar, fresh fruit, or syrup.

It’s so simple. You literally throw in some milk, eggs, sugar, vanilla, flour, and salt into a blender. You whiz it up and pour it into a skillet or baking dish with lots of melted butter (because EVERYTHING is better with butter).

Place the skillet in the oven and watch in wonderment as it rises and puffs.

It puffs up so beautifully in the oven and quickly deflates as you remove it from the oven. But you are left with a custard like souffle pancake that melts in your mouth!

That is it. I told you it was easy. No flipping pancakes. No refilling the waffle maker. It’s a pour and go breakfast and a definite crowd-pleaser. It’s a cross between a warm, comforting custard and a fluffy pancake.

German Pancakes Ingredients:

What ingredients are needed in German pancakes? This Dutch Baby recipe calls for simple ingredients you may already have in your pantry and refrigerator.

•  Butter
• Eggs
• Sugar
• Vanilla
• Whole Milk
• Flour
• Salt

Dutch Baby Toppings Ideas:

Now the fun part is deciding what to put on this Dutch Baby Puff Pancake. The options are endless. My youngest girl LOVES to dump half of the powdered sugar shaker and a heavy dollop of whipped cream on her piece (she’s never met a candy she didn’t like). My oldest daughter prefers to keep it light and fresh with hers covered in fresh strawberries and blackberries.

My two boys think that maple syrup rules the universe so they basically let the Dutch Baby Puff Pancake take a swim in syrup. No matter what toppings you choose, this makes an ideal breakfast for a lazy Sunday morning.

Top your Dutch Baby or German Pancake with a variety of toppings, such as:

• Fresh berries (Strawberries, Raspberries, Blueberries, or Blackberries)
• Fresh Peaches
• Bananas
• Powdered sugar
• Maple syrup or Buttermilk Syrup
• Whipped cream
• Lemon zest (or a squeeze of fresh Lemon Juice)

How to make the Best Dutch Baby Oven Pancake:

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Place the butter into a skillet or baking dish and place it in the hot oven to let the butter melt while you whip up the oven pancake batter. When butter is melted, carefully remove the pan with an oven mitt.
2. In a blender, whip up the remaining ingredients — eggs, milk, flour, sugar, salt, and vanilla. Swirl the batter over the melted butter and place it back in the oven.
3. Bake until the pancake begins to puff up and become fully cooked. The Dutch Baby or German Pancake is done when it has puffed up and developed a golden brown color. The edges should be crisp, and the center should be set. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean. Remove from the oven and serve immediately. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and top with your favorite toppings. 

Popular Breakfast Recipes:

Best French Toast Recipe

Strawberries and Cream Stuffed French Toast

Goldie’s Best Buttermilk Pancakes

Sweet Cream Ricotta Pancakes

A sprinkle of powdered sugar, some freshly whipped cream, and tart berries on this Dutch Baby Puff Pancake and you look like you have been working for hours in the kitchen.

Happy Baking, my friends! xoxo