Dutch Baby Pancakes, also known as German or Puff pancakes, is like a combination of a crepe, a pancake, and a popover, all in one. It’s a wonderful breakfast or brunch treat. If you are craving more pancakes, try my buttermilk pancakes.

Overhead of Dutch Baby Pancake in Pan

What are Dutch Baby Pancakes?

Dutch Baby Pancakes are plate-sized pancakes that puff up while being cooked and are a little thinner and lighter than a traditional pancake. They are cooked in a hot, oven-safe skillet or pan, so there is no need to get out a griddle and get batter everywhere. And, speaking of the batter, it is combined in a blender or food processor for a smooth texture.

Pouring Dutch Baby Pancake Batter into Hot Pan

Dutch Baby Pancakes Ingredients

Eggs and Milk: Make sure the eggs and milk are at room temperature. The eggs, along with the milk, create steam to cause the pancake to rise. There is no leavening agent in the recipe.

Flour: All-purpose flour is what we used in this recipe.

Sugar: Use granulated sugar in the batter. But, when serving, sprinkle confectioners’ sugar on top to sweeten up this already slightly sweet pancake.

Vanilla: Vanilla extract adds a little sweetness to the batter.

Butter: You can use salted or unsalted butter in this recipe. I used salted butter.

Dutch Baby Pancakes Batter

The first thing to do is make the batter for the pancake. For best results, the batter should rest for 20-25 minutes after blending. Resting gives the flour time to absorb the liquid better, resulting in a better texture. Combine the room-temperature eggs, milk, flour, sugar, and vanilla in a blender or food processor. Set it aside as you heat up the skillet. If you don’t have a blender, you can mix the batter by hand. But, you may not get out all the lumps.

Dutch Baby Pancake Right Out of the Oven

How it Looks Directly Out of the Oven – Puffy and Beautiful!

Why Is My Dutch Baby Flat and Dense?

If your Dutch baby did not puff up, here are a few troubleshooting tips for making the perfect Dutch baby pancakes:

  • Cold Pan: Be sure the pan is heating up in the oven while the oven is preheating. The pan should be hot when adding the batter.
  • Not Enough Butter: Coat the hot pan with plenty of butter. That is crucial for a fluffy and puffy Dutch baby pancake.
  • Overmixing the Batter: Blend the batter just until the ingredients are incorporated. Overmixing the batter can cause the gluten in the flour to overdevelop, leading to a dense pancake.
  • Batter Not At Room Temperature: Ingredients that are not at room temperature can cause the batter to be too dense. Make sure all ingredients, including the eggs and milk, are at room temperature before making the batter.
  • Pan Too Small: Using a pan that is too small for the amount of batter can result in a dense pancake. Make sure to use a 9-10 inch diameter pan for the best results.
Hand Picking up Dutch Baby Pancake

How to Serve Dutch Baby Pancakes

As I stated, this breakfast, brunch, or anytime treat can be served in a variety of ways. The easiest way to serve this would be to sprinkle a little confectioners’ sugar over the top of the pancake after you take it out of the oven. Cut it into pieces to share.

Another option would be to serve the Dutch Baby Pancake with a variety of toppings. Add your favorite syrup, fresh fruit, jam, preserves, cinnamon, sugar, peanut butter, Nutella, etc. And, don’t forget the homemade whipped topping! I consider one of the 9-inch pancakes as two servings, but to be honest, I could eat the entire thing.

Dutch Baby Pancake with Fresh Fruit

More Breakfast Recipes

4.95 from 18 votes

Dutch Baby Pancakes

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Resting time 20 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Dutch Baby Pancakes, also known as German or Puff pancakes, are like a combination of a crepe, a pancake, and a popover.

Ingredients

  • 3 large eggs, room temperature
  • ½ cup (122.5 g) milk, room temperature
  • ½ cup (62.5 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • ¼ cup (½ stick / 57 g) butter
  • confectioners' sugar, for dusting

Instructions

  • In a blender, combine eggs, milk, flour, sugar, and vanilla. Mix just until all ingredients are incorporated. Let the batter rest as you preheat the oven and heat up the skillet.
  • Place a cold, 9-inch oven-safe skillet into the oven. Preheat the oven, with the skillet, to 425°F.
  • Once the oven is preheated, carefully remove the hot skillet from the oven and add butter.
  • After the butter has melted, pour the batter into the skillet and place it back into the oven to bake for 20 minutes.
  • Serve warm, dusted with confectioners' sugar.
  • Optional toppings: syrup, fresh fruit, cinnamon, sugar, peanut butter, jams, etc.

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Meet Amanda Rettke

Amanda Rettke is the creator of I Am Baker, and the bestselling author of Surprise Inside Cakes: Amazing Cakes for Every Occasion – With a Little Something Extra Inside.Over the course of her 15+ year blogging adventure, she has been featured in and collaborated with the Food Network, New York Times, LA Times, Country Living Magazine, People Magazine, Epicurious, Brides, Romantic Homes, life:beautiful, Publishers Weekly, The Daily Mail, Star Tribune, The Globe and Mail, DailyCandy, YumSugar, The Knot, The Kitchn, and Parade, to name a few.

Reader Comments

  1. I have been making these as special treats for years. So easy but look like a million bucks! I ALWAYS serve with lots of lemon wedges and powdered sugar.

  2. But… wouldn’t putting butter in a pan… & putting the pan in a cold oven… & preheating the oven to 425°… end up BURNING the butter???

    1. Hi, Maureen! I work with iambaker and am happy to help with questions. No, it did not burn the butter. Have a great day!

  3. Made this pancake this morning and enjoyed the thorough directions as much as the pancake! Thanks for sharing this as it might become a favorite fun breakfast treat for a while. I used a pie plate made with high sides for Dutch crumb pies so it heated well and cooked beautifully. Your directions were spot on. Thanks Amanda. (Did brown the butter but was perfectly fine tasting- for those who asked)

  4. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS RECIPE, AMANDA!!!!I made this for my husband’s Birthday Breakfast and served it with your Apple Pie Filling Apples and Maple Syrup. He LOVED it!
    Easy to follow recipe and delicious results!

  5. I just love your recipes. Love the Baileys Cake, its a winner around here and all our friends…lol. Wondering if you could send me the recipe on the Dutch Baby Pancakes, my printer don’t work right now. Thank you.

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