A Dutch Baby is a light, fluffy, not-too-sweet alternative to pancakes. This simple recipe is sure to please all of the breakfast-lovers in your house.
My breakfast-loving sweetheart grew up in Chicago and his favorite breakfast place was the Original Pancake House. One of their signature dishes is a Dutch Baby (sometimes called a German Pancake) and the first time he took me to visit his home town we headed there so I could try one. It was unlike anything I had ever had, it was huge and puffy, the edges were crispy and the center was soft. It is very similar to a popover and is prepared simply with no syrup or heavy sauces, just powdered sugar and fresh lemon wedges squeezed over top right before you eat it.
When we got home from Chicago I tried to work out how to make it, and it couldn’t be easier. You only need four ingredients; eggs, milk, flour and butter. You mix the eggs, milk and flour together to make a batter and you put the butter in a cast iron pan and let it melt in a hot oven.
Once the butter is melted and the pan is nice and hot, you pour the batter in and let it bake for 20 minutes.The batter puffs up and gets golden brown around the edges, it’s a pretty impressive-looking breakfast! My favorite part is that I don’t have to stand over the stove flipping pancakes for everyone. I just pop it in the oven and make the rest of our breakfast while it bakes.
My guy doesn’t like a super-sweet breakfast so I just sprinkle the Dutch Baby with powdered sugar and slice up a few lemon wedges to squeeze over it, but you can also serve it with fresh fruit, a fruit compote, or even syrup.
If you are making it for a big group, or don’t have a cast iron pan, you can use a casserole dish. Depending on the size of the dish you may need to double the recipe but other than that it cooks up just like it was in a cast iron pan.
Next weekend try making a Dutch Baby, you won’t be disappointed!
Ingredients
- ¾ cup flour
- ¾ cup milk
- 3 eggs
- 2 tbsp butter
Instructions
- Place butter in a cast iron pan.
- Put the pan in oven and preheat to 425 degrees.
- While the oven is preheating mix the other ingredients in a bowl using a whisk.
- When oven is preheated and the butter is melted pour in the batter.
- Bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove from oven and sprinkle with powdered sugar.
- Add your toppings and serve.
Gail Giltner says
Maybe I followed the recipe too close because I put the butter in the skillet put the skillet in the oven to preheat to 425 and I ended up with a skillet full of burned butter? Did I miss something? Help?? P.S. I tried to leave 3 stars anytime you press the star area all five light up and you can’t change it so I didn’t mean to leave no stars
Julie Kotzbach says
Hi Gail! if the butter is burning I’d preheat the pan, then add the butter, and once it’s melted and a little bubbly move forward with the recipe. Different ovens preheat at different rates and that can affect the butter. Hope this helps!
Brooks says
You never say what size cast iron skillet!
Julie @Real Housemoms says
We’ve made this recipe in a 9-inch and 11=inch skillet and both work great. 🙂
Snoopy64 says
Long before the Original Pancake House opened in Portland, OR. 1953 to be exact, I’m talking in the 20’s.. my German grandmother was making making Dutch Babies.. they are not and never were German pancakes.. they are called babies because they are small, almost like a pop over, a German Pancake is big, almost too big for one to eat alone… Dutch Babies are are individual, you can eat one or two..or three…because they are so good.. but please stop calling them German Pancakes…
Howie says
The Original Pancake House called them German Pancakes. I remeber going in 1961 and until 1964 when we moved away. My Father’s good friend from Tampa U always ordered it. The waitress who served it would fold it for him into a big square. Later on, they stopped serving it and it became a special order item.
Garnet Hall says
What size cast iron pan did you use?
Kat & Mel says
I used a 10 inch cast iron pan for mine, but slightly smaller or larger will work just fine.
KMP says
I was thinking of adding vanilla & cinnamon to give it more of a French toast taste. Would that affect the rising?
Kat & Melinda says
I haven’t done it before but I don’t think it would be a problem.
Cat says
Can i make this with apple pie filling?
Kat & Melinda says
Sure, you can put any kind of pie filling on top.
Ashley says
Can you use almond milk?
Kat & Melinda says
I have tried it with almond milk and it just doesn’t rise the same way. It still tastes good though!
Ashley says
Thanks! Also, what if I just use a regular skillet and not cast iron? Thank you 🙂
Kat & Melinda says
As long as it can go in the oven to bake it doesn’t matter what kind of pan you use. I have used stainless steel, cast iron and even a glass casserole dish. They all worked 🙂
heather @french press says
the Original Pancake House was our families favorite too, and my gram always got the dutch baby with berries – yours looks perfect!
Kat & Melinda says
Thanks so much Heather!
Donna Arrington says
Gee, I thought the original pancake house was unique to las Vegas. We had two but one caught on fire. Had my first dutch baby in Minnesota. Love the recipe
Sue T. says
This looks wonderful ! Would really appreciate knowing what size skillet you suggest ??
Thank You So Much !
Kat & Melinda says
Sue, I used a 9″ skillet but I have used an 11″ skillet also and it didn’t make much of a difference.
Deb says
What if you don’t have a cast iron pan. Can you use a stainless or all clad?
Kat & Melinda says
Yep, you can use anything that can go in the oven. I have even used a glass casserole dish!
Kristina and Millie says
Oh man this sounds and looks so scrumptious!! I will definitely have to give it a try! Thanks ladies!
Kat & Melinda says
Thanks girls!