Dutch Baby aka German Pancake -Puffy Oven Pancake Recipe! {VIDEO} (2024)

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Dutch Baby is a hybrid of a pancake, a popover, and a crepe baked in the oven until puffy. Sometimes called a German Pancake, the batter includes milk, flour, eggs, sugar and butter for an easy breakfast!

We make this Dutch Baby recipe for breakfast multiple times a month, topped with berries, powdered sugar and syrup. Also known as the German pancake, our family calls it "Bumpy Cake," passed on from my sister's tradition. I prefer to make this in my cast iron skillet, but you can use a 9x13 baking pan or large casserole dish just as well. Either way, this is one of the best and easiest breakfast recipes out there!

Is it Dutch Baby or German Pancake?

After researching the historical reference, I found the original recipe developed from German origins, however, my family typically calls it Dutch baby or bumpy cake. Whether you call this Dutch baby, German pancake, bumpy cake, Bismarck, or Dutch puff, it is all the same.

Ingredients for Dutch Baby

(full printable recipe at end of this post)

We like to focus on recipes with simple and accessible ingredients from the grocery store or already in your pantry. Below are the ingredients to make German pancake in a cast iron skillet.

Here's what you need:

  • Flour (2 cups)
  • Milk (2 cups)
  • Eggs (6 large)
  • Butter (2 tablespoons)
  • Sugar (2 tablespoons)
  • Vanilla (2 teaspoons)
  • Salt (1 teaspoon)
  • Toppings (syrup, powdered sugar, berries)

You can get creative with the toppings. We typically serve this for breakfast so keep with fresh berries, syrup and powdered sugar with a side of bacon. However, there are savory Dutch baby recipes out there I'd love to try for dinner!

How to Make a Dutch Baby

Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the step-by-step recipe and video on how to make this Dutch baby recipe. The general steps are as follows:

  1. Place pan in oven while preheating to 425°F.
  2. Blend all ingredients, minus the butter.
  3. Once oven is preheated, remove hot pan and coat with melted butter.
  4. Pour batter into pan.
  5. Bake 25 minutes.
  6. Turn off oven and let set in oven for 5 more minutes.
  7. Remove from oven, serve with toppings.

What Makes a Dutch Baby Rise?

During the countless times I've made this recipe over the years, I tested different methods and measurements to ensure a puffy rise. Here are a few of my best tips to give your Dutch Baby the best puff.

  • Heat pan in the oven while oven is preheating. Pouring the batter into a hot pan ensures a nice puffy rise!
  • Use room temperature eggs. Eggs can rest for 5 minutes in a bowl of hot water to quickly get to room temp.
  • Warm the milk. Heat the milk in a microwave for 30 to 45 seconds.
  • Keep the oven door closed. Do not open the oven door during baking!
  • Let the Dutch baby stay in the oven for 5 minutes after you turn off the heat.

I also like to have a crispy crust on my German pancake, so I let the melted butter stay in the hot pan for a few seconds to brown before pouring in the batter.

Do I Have to Use a Cast Iron Skillet?

No! You do not have to use a cast iron skillet! You can also bake this German pancake in a 9x13 baking dish or any large casserole pan. Metal pans may puff the pancake more than Pyrex or ceramic dishes, but I can tell you I used to use my Pyrex dish for this recipe very often. You can see in my photo above that it puffs up just fine!

Or, maybe you want to try baking them in individual ramekins!

How to Eat German Pancake

As far as toppings, you can use your favorite pancake toppings like butter, powdered sugar, fresh fruit, maple syrup, jellies and jams. As a breakfast side, we love eating these next to bacon or sausage links.

Whether you make the pancake in a cast iron skillet or a 9x13 casserole dish, you slice into individual pieces for serving. In a cast iron, we slice into wedges. If baking in a casserole dish, we slice into squares.

More Pancake Recipes

  • Pumpkin Spice Pancakes
  • Birthday Cake Pancakes
  • Easy Crepe Recipe

Made this recipe? Leave a star rating and tag me on social media @seededtable so I can see. I love hearing from you!

Recipe Card

Dutch Baby aka German Pancake -Puffy Oven Pancake Recipe! {VIDEO} (6)

Print Recipe

4.64 from 25 votes

Dutch Baby aka German Pancake

Dutch Baby is a hybrid of a pancake, a popover, and a crepe baked in the oven until puffy. Sometimes called a German Pancake, the batter includes milk, flour, eggs, sugar and butter. Requires just 5 minutes of prep. Cut into slices to feed your family an easy delicious breakfast!

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Cook Time30 minutes mins

Total Time35 minutes mins

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: American

Keyword: dutch baby, dutch baby recipe, german pancakes, oven pancake

Servings: 8 servings

Calories: 244kcal

Author: Nikki Gladd

Ingredients

  • 2 cups flour
  • 2 cups warm milk
  • 6 large eggs , at room temperature
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter , melted
  • toppings (syrup, powdered sugar, berries, etc.)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 425°F. Place 12-inch cast iron skillet (or 9x13 baking dish) in oven while preheating.

  • Mix all ingredients, except the butter, in a blender for 30 seconds; set aside.

  • Once oven is preheated, remove hot pan from oven. Pour in melted butter and swirl pan to coat bottom and sides.

  • Pour batter into the pan. Bake for 25 minutes (do not open the oven yet!). Turn off oven and let rest 5 more minutes before opening oven door. Remove and slice to serve.

  • Serve hot with toppings such as powdered sugar, syrup, fresh berries, etc.

Video

Notes

  • Nutritional values are an estimate only based on only a pancake slice without toppings.
  • To bring eggs to room temperature quickly, let set in a bowl of hot water for 5 minutes.
  • Warm milk in microwave for 30 to 45 seconds.
  • Make sure to not open the oven door until done!
  • If you do not own a blender, you can blend ingredients with a whisk.

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 244kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 153mg | Sodium: 371mg | Potassium: 166mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 389IU | Calcium: 95mg | Iron: 2mg

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Dutch Baby aka German Pancake -Puffy Oven Pancake Recipe! {VIDEO} (2024)

FAQs

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.

Why don't my German pancakes puff up? ›

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.

What's the difference between German and American pancakes? ›

The difference between German and American pancakes is that German pancakes use more eggs than American pancakes and no leavening agent. German pancakes are also baked in a shallow dish (like a roasting pan or cast-iron skillet) while American pancakes are cooked on a griddle.

What makes Dutch pancakes different? ›

What's the difference between a Dutch pancake and an American pancake? A Dutch pancake is usually larger and much thinner than the thick and fluffy American pancakes. If you order a Dutch pancake at PANCAKES Amsterdam, you will get a delicious thin pancake with a diameter of 32 centimeters.

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

To those in the know, a Dutch baby really is just a large, puffy pancake, while Yorkshire pudding is a savory side dish that has graced meat-heavy meals in England for centuries. Yet, some people tend to confuse the two as being the same, owing to a similarity of ingredients and appearance.

Why is my Dutch baby so eggy? ›

If you would like the inside of the finished dish to be a little less "egg-y" then cut the number of eggs down to 3, and many many reviewers also found that just 3 Tablespoons of butter worked better for them.

What country makes the best pancakes? ›

France – Crêpes

You can't possibly make a list of the world's best pancakes and not include France. Crêpes are unavoidable throughout the country. There are two main types of French crêpes – sweet ones (crêpes sucrées) and savoury ones (crêpes salées). Savoury crêpes are commonly known as 'galettes'.

What are French pancakes called? ›

Crêpes are an ultra-thin pancake common in France that can be made sweet or savory, typically rolled or folded with a variety of fillings from jam or Nutella to ham and cheese to seafood.

Why do restaurant pancakes taste better than homemade? ›

Restaurants use better quality ingredients

Restaurants tend to use real, farm-fresh eggs and real milk when making their pancakes, which as you might guess, adds to a richer, higher-quality eating experience.

What is the secret of amazing pancakes? ›

Don't over-mix the batter - As mentioned in the recipe you only want to mix the batter until it just comes together. Lumps are okay! Over mixing will develop too much gluten in the batter leading to tough, chewy pancakes.

What is the difference between Dutch baby and clafoutis? ›

Rather than a pancake, a clafoutis is more like a flan or a tart. The batter is also thin but uses more eggs and sugar than a Dutch baby and is whisked rapidly until it's fluffy (or you can use a blender hack for the dreamiest clafoutis).

What's the difference between a Dutch baby and a pannekoek? ›

Both Netherlands-style Pannenkoeken and Dutch Baby pancakes make a wonderful breakfast option as the batter can be made the night before and, in the case of the Dutch Baby, the pancake is baked in the oven, making it a relatively hands-off recipe.

What is a pancake in Dutch slang? ›

A pancake, just a typical Dutch dish. But it's also something you can call someone. An Ajax-fan (Ajax is the biggest football club in the Netherlands) made this one nationally popular in the 2000's when he called one of the most famous Dutch players, Marco van Basten, a pannenkoek.

What is pancake day called in Germany? ›

Pancake Day Around The World

In Germany, for example, it's called 'Fastnacht' meaning 'Eve of the Fast', and in Iceland it's called 'Sprengidagur', meaning 'Bursting Day'. In France and some other parts of the world, the festival is called 'Mardi Gras', from the French phrase meaning 'Fat Tuesday'.

Are Dutch baby pancakes from the Netherlands? ›

A Dutch baby pancake is sometimes referred to as a German pancake, a Bismarck, or a Dutch puff. It is derived from a pannenkoek which is a type of pancake that comes from the Netherlands.

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