Dutch Baby or German Pancakes Baked in Oven - Video Recipe (2024)

German or Dutch Baby Pancakes make for a simple, quick hot breakfast … or lunch or dinner. I mean what is better than a baked pancake with tall, crispy edges and a tender, custardy bottom?

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If I'm honest, we eat them all the time. They are our go to last minute meal plan. 5 ingredients, 30 minutes and so, so, so delicious.

The German Pancake sometimes called a "Dutch Baby" is really just one big, giant pancake. German or Dutch Baby pancakes are especially great for serving on holiday mornings or for a weekend brunch.

If you are looking for other brunch inspiration you've got to check out our favorite gooey Cinnamon Rolls, Buttermilk Waffles, Sheet Pan Breakfast Pizza or yummy Bran Muffins!

Jump to:
  • 🥘 Ingredients
  • 🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions
  • 🍽 How to Serve
  • 🥗 Side Dishes
  • 📋 FAQ's
  • 📖 Recipe

🥘 Ingredients

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  • Eggs
  • Flour
  • Milk
  • Salt
  • Vanilla
  • Butter

🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions

Blend or Whisk Eggs

Firstly, use a blender or hand mixer to mix your eggs. You will knowthe eggs are ready as soon as the yolks and whites have been combined. At this point the egg mixture will appear bright yellow or lemon colored. Then add milk your salt and vanilla to the blender.

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Measure Flour

Secondly, add your flour to the blender and mix till smooth. The first thing to remember here is to measure your flour properly. There is a right and wrong way to measure flour.

I grew up grabbing a measuring cup, sticking it in the flour container then scooping out what I needed and leveling off the top. But this is NOT the right way to measure flour.

Measuring that way can totally ruin a recipe. Scooping flour directly from the container compacts it into the measuring cup ultimately giving you more flour than was originally intended.

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The proper technique for measuring flour is to place your measuring cup on a flat surface. Using a smaller measuring cup or spoon, fill the measuring cup with small scoops or spoonfuls till full. Gently level off the measuring cup.

For more exact measurements the most pro of chefs measure flour by weight for an exact amount every single time. Once you have the flour measured mix the batter together in the blender till smooth.

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Prepare the Pan

Then once the batter is ready it is time to prepare the pan. Firstly, melt that butter in the microwave.

The butter needs to be HOT when the batter goes in, so let it go for at least a minute. This helps the pancake to rise properly before the flour has a chance to weigh it all down.

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So after hot and melty, add butter to the pan tilting it all around to make sure the bottom is nice and coated. After that there should be extra butter in the bottom of the pan. Do not discard!

In particular this butter is super important for cooking the center of the German or Dutch Baby Pancakes. The steam created from the butter and eggs heating up is what gives your pancake everything it needs to rise up and get all puffy.

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Prepare the Oven

Being sure to NOT preheat the oven, place the casserole dish in a cold oven. This is key for an even cook and for giving time for the pancake to rise. If the oven is pre-heated, the edges will cook quicker and as a result the center will not have as much opportunity to rise and get fluffy.

So be sure to leave the oven off until ready to put the pan on the rack. Then place it in the middle of the oven.

Bake the Pancakes

After placing in the oven let the pancakes bake for 30 minutes. When you open the oven they will be tall and fluffy. After pulling from the oven they pancakes will fall or deflate. Don't worry that is exactly what they are supposed to do!

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🍽 How to Serve

There are many ways to dress up this decadent breakfast treat. If you are able to exercise a little extra self control, try sprinklingwith powdered sugar and servethe traditional way with Meyer lemon juice.

Or you can try it my favorite way, slathered in Costco's berry syrup.And if neither of those is striking your fancy give Dallin's way a try, dressed in peanut butter and maple syrup.

I've also seen others enjoy it with fresh fruit, nutella, butter, or sprinkled with cinnamon.Above all, truly the best advice I can give you, is just to follow your heart and ENJOY!

BAKED ZITI

PARMESAN RANCH CHICKEN

SAUSAGE PIEROGI SOUP

PUMPKIN MUFFINS

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🥗 Side Dishes

One of our favorite things to make alongside German Pancakes are smoothies! Smoothies like our best ever Green Smoothie are a great way to add in some fruit and greens.

Some of our other favorites would be our Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie, Watermelon Chia smoothie and delicious Orange Mango smoothie.

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📋 FAQ's

Can you substitute whole wheat flour for white flour?

I've tried this before and it isn't a good idea. All I can say is that weird things happen. Traditionally whole wheat flour makes much denser baked goods. A dense baked pancake is no bueno. Especially a dense German Pancake.

It pretty much defies the entire purpose of what you are trying to achieve here with your baked breakfast. If you are set on only using whole wheat flour, this may not be the recipe for you.

Can I substitute butter for cooking spray?

No, No, NO! The butter is crucial here. It is doing way more than just creating a non-stick environment for your baked pancake.

The hot melted butter assists in the lift process for this dish. Do not skip this step. I repeat. DO NOT skip the butter, you will be sad if you do.

Why is it called German Pancakes?

It is the Americanized version of the German Apfelpfannkuchen. It would also be in the same family as a Yorkshire pudding or popover. So where did this dish get it's nickname? Is it a German dish or not? The name "Dutch Baby" actually came about by mistake.

These pancakes were originally served in a diner in Seattle in the early 1900s. The owner's daughter struggled to pronounce Deutsch, (the German word for German) and instead pronounced it Dutch.

Both her father and customers thought it was adorable and the name just kind of stuck. So whetheryou know these pancakes as German or Dutch Baby, I think we can all agree, this dish is a gift from the gods.

How are German Pancakes different than American Pancakes?

German pancakes use a whole lot more eggs and no added leavening agent. German Pancakes are also baked in the oven to a golden perfection. Whereas the traditional American pancake uses baking soda or powder to help it fluff up and is cooked on a hot stovetop or grill and is much fluffier when done.

📖 Recipe

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German Pancakes (Dutch Baby Pancakes)

Yield: 8

Prep Time: 8 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 38 minutes

Bake in the oven for breakfast, brunch or dinner, these golden brown pancakes are hot and puffy on top with a yummy custardy bottom.

Ingredients

  • 7 eggs
  • 1 cup spooned flour
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 3 tablespoons butter

Instructions

    1. Add eggs, flour, milk, salt and vanilla in blender. Mix until well combined. *see note about measuring flour properly
    2. Melt butter in microwave and when hot pour into the 9x13 casserole dish. Making sure to coat both bottom and edges.
    3. Immediately pour batter into the casserole dish with butter and place on the middle rack of a cold oven.
    4. Close oven and set temperature to 375° and bake for 30 minutes. **see note about avoiding preheat of oven
    5. Serve while hot with dusted powdered sugar and lemon juice or whipped cream, fresh fruit and syrup.

Notes

  • Instead of scooping flour out of the container or bag with a measuring cup, (so that it becomes slightly compacted) spoon flour into the measuring cup till filled to ensure a more accurate measurement.
  • Whole milk is preferred but not necessary if not on hand. Any variety will work.
  • DO NOT preheat the oven. Placing the casserole dish in a cold oven allows the edges and center of the pancakes to cook a little more evenly. If oven is preheated, edges will cook quicker and the center does not have as much opportunity to rise and get fluffy.
  • Do not be alarmed if pancakes seem to grow while in the oven. It will inflate significantly while baking and then immediately "wilt" after pulling out of the oven. It is supposed to do this.
Nutrition Information:

Yield: 8Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 178Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 177mgSodium: 374mgCarbohydrates: 14gFiber: 0gSugar: 2gProtein: 8g

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Dutch Baby or German Pancakes Baked in Oven - Video Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between German and Dutch pancakes? ›

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.

Why don't my German pancakes puff up? ›

There are two main culprits to flat, sad Dutch baby pancakes: Your oven wasn't hot enough. The hotter your oven, the more puffed your Dutch baby pancake will be. Make sure to preheat the oven for at least 10 minutes before baking the batter.

How are German pancakes different from American pancakes? ›

How are German Pancakes different than American Pancakes? German pancakes use a whole lot more eggs and no added leavening agent. German Pancakes are also baked in the oven to a golden perfection.

Why are German pancakes called Dutch babies? ›

While these pancakes are derived from the German pancake dish, it is said that the name Dutch baby was coined by one of Victor Manca's daughters, where "Dutch" perhaps was her corruption of the German autonym deutsch. Manca's Cafe claimed that it owned the trademark for Dutch babies in 1942.

What is another name for a Dutch baby pancake? ›

Though “Dutch baby” is a frequently used moniker when referring to this giant pancake, it has also been referred to as a German pancake, a puffed pancake, a baked pancake, a Bismarck and even a giant Yorkshire pudding due to its resemblance.

What are the two types of Dutch pancakes? ›

America has its famous fluffy and stacked pancakes, and the Dutch have pannenkoeken and poffertjes.

Do you have to use a cast iron skillet for a Dutch baby? ›

The pan doesn't have to be cast iron; you can use any oven-safe pan or baking dish of a similar size. I've even done them in a pie dish!

Why is my Dutch baby so flat? ›

If the pancake was a little flat it is most likely that either the oven or the skillet (or other pan) was not hot enough. If the pan isn't hot enough then the liquid does not heat up and create the steam quickly enough and so the flour will cook through and set before the pancake can rise.

Why did my Dutch baby fall? ›

Why did my Dutch baby fall? If your Dutch baby does not rise, a few factors may be the culprit. The ingredients were too cold, the mixture wasn't mixed well (either too much or too little), the pan wasn't hot enough, or you needed more butter.

What do Germans eat with pancakes? ›

We love to serve German pancakes with homemade pancake syrup and powdered sugar, but many people like them served with fresh squeezed lemon, butter or fruit toppings.

What is another name for German pancakes? ›

A Dutch baby (or Dutch baby pancake), is also known as a German pancake, a Hootenanny, a Dutch puff, or a Bismarck, and is simply a large American popover. A large Yorkshire pudding shares a lot of similarities with a Dutch baby. A Dutch baby is usually baked in the oven.

What is the difference between Yorkshire pudding and Dutch baby pancake? ›

The Dutch Baby has sugar added to the batter, whereas the Yorkshire Pudding has none. The Yorkshire Pudding is usually cooked in beef fat or oil, while the Dutch Baby is cooked in melted butter.

Why are Dutch pancakes so good? ›

Dutch pancakes are traditional and worldwide famous, and there is a reason for that. They come with a topping of your choice or just plain. And it is the topping that makes the pancakes in a pancake restaurant so special.

Is a Dutch baby the same as a pannenkoeken? ›

The “Dutch Baby” was developed by Seattle restaurateur Victor Manca in the early 1900's. While the dish doesn't look like a traditional Dutch pancake known as a Pannenkoeken, it was derived from a style of German pancake.

What is the difference between Dutch and French pancakes? ›

French Crepes and Dutch Pancakes are built with 3 basic ingredients: flour, milk and eggs. The only difference between the two are that a French Crepe is considerably thinner as its batter uses twice as much milk. Dutch Pancakes are often mistaken for the more commonly known 'pancake', called Dutch Babies.

What is the difference between Swedish pancakes and American pancakes? ›

Regular pancakes are fluffy thanks to baking powder or baking soda giving them lift; Swedish pancakes, while thin, have a dense, egg-heavy batter with no baking powder or baking soda. They are more flat, more chewy, and less absorbent of whatever toppings you put on them.

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