Dutch Baby Pancakes taste like Crepes but in pancake form. The batter puffs up to form a billowy crust with a custard-like center. We also included instructions for making a Berry Dutch Baby and even a Double Dutch.
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A dutch baby (German pancake) is simple to make but is truly special. Watch the video tutorial and see the magic that happens in the oven. My husband and kids love this and always ask for seconds.
Dutch Baby Video Tutorial
We love special breakfasts on weekends and holidays, from Poached Eggs to Quiche and Ricotta Pancakes (a family favorite). If you love breakfast as much as we do, this Dutch Baby recipe is a must-try.
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What is a Dutch Baby Pancake?
A dutch baby pancake is sometimes referred to as a puff pancake, a dutch puff, or a German pancake. It is essentially a large popover or Yorkshire pudding with a custardy base and crisp tall edges. It is typically served for breakfast.
Ingredients for German Pancakes
- Eggs – Eggs make this rise. To quickly bring eggs to room temperature, place in a bowl of warm water for 5 minutes.
- Whole milk – to bring milk to room temperature, microwave for 15 seconds.
- Flour – we use all-purpose flour
- Sugar – 1 Tbsp makes this lightly sweetened
- Vanilla Extract – we love homemade vanilla
- Pinch of salt – to balance the flavor
- Pinch of nutmeg – optional but nice
- 3 Tbsp butter – softened or melted. We use unsalted.
How to Make Dutch Baby Pancakes
- Preheat Oven. Place pan into the oven to preheat at 425˚F for at least 8 minutes.
- Blend Batter. Add ingredients to the blender and blend until smooth, scraping down the jar to catch any stuck flour.
- Butter the Pan. Melt softened butter into the skillet and brush butter up the sides of the skillet.
- Add Batter. Pour all batter into the center of the pan.
- Bake. Immediately return to the oven and bake 16-18 minutes, until puffed and browned at the edges.
Tools you will need
- 10” oven-safe skillet – use cast-iron or seasoned stainless steel
- Hot Mitts – to transfer the preheated skillet in and out of the oven
- Blender – any type of blender will work.
- Spatula – to scrape down the sides of the bowl
Common Questions
Dutch Baby pancakes are derived from German Pancakes. The name “Dutch” was coined by Manca’s Cafe (1900-1950), a restaurant in Seattle. The owners’ daughter mispronounced the German word “Deutsch” which means German and it was originally served as 3 small (baby) pancakes, hence the name, “Dutch Baby.”
You can whisk the ingredients together in a bowl and whisk vigorously until well blended. You can also use an electric hand mixer.
It needs to be an oven-safe skillet or casserole. We use a 10″ cast iron or stainless steel pan, or even a deep pie dish for a dutch baby pancake. Use a 9×13 casserole to make a double dutch.
Dutch baby needs a generous amount of butter on the bottom and sides of the pan to prevent sticking and allow the sides to rise properly.
This is likely because your ingredients were not at room temperature. Also, a blender helps to achieve a super smooth consistency.
Serve With
Dutch baby pancakes should be served right away or they lose their dramatic puffed appearance, so have your toppings ready. We love to serve these with:
- Powdered Sugar – a.k.a. confectioners sugar
- Fresh fruit – seasonal berries or sliced stone fruit
- Strawberry Sauce – homemade and so easy
- Honey Butter – whipped with cinnamon and honey
- Raspberry Maple Syrup – blended with real raspberries
Make-Ahead
Dutch baby pancakes are best eaten fresh but you can make the batter ahead of time and refrigerate until ready to make the pancake. Give the batter quick whisking just before using it. For safety, avoid pouring cold liquid into any glass bakeware.
To Make a Berry Dutch Baby
To add berries, add batter into the skillet then scatter 1 cup of berries (raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, or sliced strawberries) around the center of the pan. Bake the pancake as directed.
For an Apple Dutch Baby: Make an apple filling like we did for Apple Turnovers and sprinkle it over the top of the dutch baby batter before baking.
Doubling the Recipe
You can double the recipe making it a “Double Dutch.” Preheat the oven to 425˚F and preheat a 13×9 casserole dish. Remove hot casserole and add 4 Tbsp melted butter, brushing the bottom and sides with butter. Pour in batter and bake 20-23 minutes or until puffed and browned at the edges.
More Breakfast Ideas
If you love this Dutch Baby, then you won’t want to miss these breakfast favorites.
- Breakfast Burritos – make ahead and freezer friendly
- Buttermilk Pancakes – easy and so soft
- Blueberry muffins – bursting with fresh blueberries
- Pumpkin Pancakes – fluffy with great pumpkin flavor
- Banana Bread – so good with your morning coffee
- Green Smoothie Bowl – energizing to jump-start your day
Dutch Baby (German Pancakes) VIDEO
Ingredients
- 3 large eggs, at room temperature (put in warm water 5 minutes)
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup whole milk, at room temperature (microwaved 15 seconds)
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- Pinch of nutmeg, (optional)
- 3 Tbsp unsalted butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425˚F. Place an oven-safe skillet such as cast iron into the oven and let it preheat for at least 8 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in the jar of a blender, combine eggs, flour, milk, sugar, salt, nutmeg, and vanilla, and blend 30 seconds on high speed until smooth, scraping down the sides of the blender halfway through to make sure all flour is incorporated.
- Carefully remove the pan from the oven using hot mitts. Add 3 Tbsp butter to the hot pan and swirl to coat bottom and sides of the pan. The butter should sizzle.
- Add batter to the buttered pan then bake for 16-18 minutes or until pancake is puffed and golden brown at the edges.
- Carefully remove the pan from the oven with hot mitts and serve pancake right away.
Nutrition Per Serving
Filed Under
Omg I used to make this as a kid (home economics) and loved it! So did my grandmother and she kept my recipe. Before she passed she gave it to me and of course I lost it. Thank you for sharing this! My kids think I’m a gourmet “baker” now. Love the addition of the fruit!
Aww, that’s the best! Thank you so much for sharing that with me. I’m all smiles
Natasha,
My daughter and I made this this morning! It was truly delicious and everything we did according to the recipe worked 👍
I did substitute milk with outley and it still puffed up and tasted amazing.
We did the Double Dutch with berries in the middle and even though I was VERY generous with the berries, adding more than the recommended cup, it still worked. Even my ‘I don’t like to try new things’ husband had thirds 😀
Great work and great results on your part!!
Thank you for that wonderful feedback, Natalya!
My Dutch baby does not puff up , it’s flat. What am I doing wrong ? Christine
Hi Christine, it’s hard to say without being there. I would recommend reading through all the steps and ingredients, making sure nothing was altered from ingredients to processes.
For the Dutch pancake
Can I use almond milk and almond flour
Thank you
Sandra
Hi Sandra, I haven’t tested that substitution to advise. If you experiment, I would love to know how you like that.
For the Dutch pancake
Can I use almond milk and almond flower
Thank you
Sandra
Hi Sandra, I haven’t tested it with almond milk or flour, to say for sure. Let me know if you experiment with almond flour.
Hi Natashas,
I have been trying to make the Dutch Baby Pancake and when I bake it only rises up about 1 inch or so. I did it twice and the same thing. I did every thing your recipe said to do. The second time I add more butter and the same thing. Also I use a 10 inch cast iron skillet and butter it very good. Can you tell me what I’m doing wrong here.
Thanks, John
Hi John, are you fully preheating the skillet in the oven at the temperature listed? Putting the batter in a blazing hot skillet is key. Also, make sure you aren’t doing any egg substitutions since the egg is what activates the rise.
I used to make these pancakes all the time. Then they just didn’t rise. Tried your recipe this Sunday. It was perfect. Back on the menu for Sunday mornings. I put some apple pie filling on top before baking. Delicious. Thank you for bring back a favorite to this family.
You’re welcome, Kathy! I’m happy you enjoyed that.
Hi Natasha!
I have a 8 inch skillet. How can I adjust to the recipe to fit?
Please let me know as soon as possible!
Thank you 🙂
Hi Rachel,I haven’t tried it in an 8″ so you will have to experiment, but I think it could still work to use the same amount. It will have a slightly thicker base.
I often here you say you will leave in the notes I scrolled down and do t see where…you said I’ll leave in notes my favorite cast iron skillet please clear that up it’s frustrating
Hello Susan, the notes that I mentioned is in the description field below the YouTube video. This is the 10” cast iron skillet that I used. You may check all the other tools that I used in the description below the video.
WOW! This is my German grandmother’s recipe! When I saw the title I assumed it was going to be something else but this is it! She used to put apple sauce and cinnamon on top. I can still make it from memory. Thanks for the memory!
You’re welcome, Peter. I’m sure your grandmother’s recipe was awesome too!
Natasha! My new BFF! Another winner! I used a 12 in iron skillet and 2% milk. I feared it would stick, but I worried for nothing! I was surprised by the flower it became. I should’ve taken a picture! Maybe unintended? My husband often orders the DB when we go out to brunch. He was very happy! Now, with your help, I can make it at home!
Wow, I would have loved to see the photo. Feel free to share photos of your creation next time on our Facebook page or group so others can see them too. Thanks for sharing that with us, Eileen!
Can you do stuffed crust pizza
Hi Salma, good idea. Thank you for your suggestion!
I made this today and came out perfect with the strawberry sauce 😋
Yay, fantastic! Thanks for sharing, Lin.
Hi Natasha! I have Tried many of your recipes and my wife and I love them all! I surprised her this morning with the Dutch Baby Pancake and it turned out pretty good. We almost finished the whole thing! Not sure how to post pictures here. Thanks so much for all your fun recipes and you.
That is such a sweet gesture, I’m sure you made your wife very happy. I’m glad I was able to help using this recipe! Feel free to share photos of your creation on our Facebook page or group so others can see them too.
Natasha my Dutch Baby did not rise up on the sides and had a few larger humps in the middle of all things. I used an immersion blender so wondering if that was the issue. I also spread the melted butter on the sides of the cast iron skillet and maybe that didn’t work well as it couldn’t climb up the sides. Do you have any suggestions?
Hi, make sure to fully preheat your pan and I found that it makes all the difference when I brush the hot butter up the sides of the pan just before adding the batter and pour the batter right into the center of the pan. Also, make sure to use enough butter. The pancake needs enough butter to ‘float’ on so it doesn’t get caught on the pan and has the flexibility to expand.
Thanks for your reply. Your recipes have made me a huge fan. I always dive into your recipes as they are delicious and always turn out successful. You’re doing amazing!
I made my first one this morning. It was wonderful, I love your videos and recipes
So great to hear that, Rex. Thank you!
Loved it!
I made this last night. I cannot believe how easy and delicious it was! Thank You
Hi Terry, you are very welcome! Thank you so much for your wonderful review and feedback. Love it!
Question: Can I use non-fat (skim) milk?
I never have full fat milk and don’t want to have to buy it for the small amount needed in the recipe.
Thanks
Hello Naomi, I haven’t tried that yet to advise but I think it’s worth experimenting with. Please share with us how it goes if you try it!
Just made this recipe, so good. My teenage son devoured it. I think it will become a favorite! So easy but elegant! Thanks Natasha, we enjoy your recipes.
Wow, that is awesome! I’m happy to know that your son found his new favorite.