Home » Breakfast and brunch recipes » Dutch baby recipe (German pancake or Dutch puff)
|

Dutch baby recipe (German pancake or Dutch puff)

Tall, puffy sides and an eggy center are what makes this Dutch baby recipe a winner. Baked in a hot oven, the pancake puffs up with golden brown, crispy edges. Also called a Dutch puff, or a German pancake, this delicious breakfast treat is very easy to make and the batter comes together in less than 5 minutes.

I’ll give you variations and substitutions where I can, plus helpful tips and tricks for success. Read on for this info as well as the recipe. If you’d like to skip straight to the recipe, use the jump to recipe button at the top of the post.

You may also be interested in my lemon ricotta pancakes and my banana pancakes recipes. For ease of browsing, you can find all of my breakfast recipes in one place.

Dutch baby pancake recipe in a cast iron pan with powdered sugar, blueberries and strawberries.

Why you should make this recipe

  • Quick and easy – This Dutch puff pancake looks impressive, but it is actually very easy to make. The batter comes together quickly in a blender, then is added to a hot pan.
  • Showstopper – The edges of the pancake rise tall and golden brown, making for quite a presentation at the breakfast table.
  • Versatile – I like to serve mine with lemon and berries, but you can serve it with syrup, a warm berry compote, or you can eat it plain!
German pancake in cast iron skillet dusted with powdered sugar. There is a bowl of berries in the background.

Dutch baby recipe

If you’ve never made a Dutch baby recipe before, let me be the first to tell you that you are in for a real treat. This puffy pancake is not fluffy like traditional pancakes, but custardy like a Yorkshire pudding.

There are no leaveners in the batter, giving this pancake an eggy center, similar to a crepe.

Overhead photo of a Dutch baby pancake in a skillet with powdered sugar, blueberries and strawberries.

The batter is blended up in a blender, or mixed by hand, then it hits the hot pan and begins to cook immediately, giving you the tall, crispy, golden brown edges.

Ingredients

One of the best things about making a Dutch baby is the ingredient list. Pantry basics that you very likely have in the kitchen already.

Ingredients for Dutch baby pancake on white background.
  • Milk – I use whole milk, but you can use any milk that you prefer.
  • Flour – All purpose flour is the standard, but I’ve heard from readers who’ve used gluten-free flour successfully.
  • Butter – I prefer unsalted butter, but if you use salted butter, omit the salt from the recipe.
  • Eggs – Along with the flour, eggs are the backbone of this recipe.
  • Sugar – A couple of tablespoons of sugar give this Dutch baby a bit of sweetness.
  • Lemon – Lemon zest adds great flavor to the batter.

How to make this Dutch pancake recipe

Here’s a quick summary of how to make a Dutch baby. Please see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full recipe. 

Step by step photo instructions showing how to make a Dutch pancake recipe.
  1. Prep – Preheat oven to 410°F // 210°C.
  2. Add all of the ingredients, except the butter, to a blender and blend until smooth.
  3. Melt butter in a hot pan, make sure it doesn’t burn.
  4. Pour batter into the hot skillet and bake.
Baked Dutch baby pancake in a skillet, puffed and golden.

Serve the Dutch baby pancake immediately. It will slowly begin to deflate when it is removed from the oven.

Dutch baby recipe FAQ’s

Can I make this ahead of time?

No. It will start to deflate a bit shortly after you remove it from the oven, so a Dutch baby is not a make ahead recipe.

Can I freeze it?

Yes! You can freeze this Dutch baby recipe after it is baked. Store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Can you make a Dutch baby without a cast iron skillet?

If you don’t have a cast iron pan, you can bake it in a heavy oven proof skillet, or a glass pie plate, if you don’t have either.

German pancake in cast iron skillet, dusted with icing sugar. There are blueberries and strawberries in the foreground.

Variations and substitutions

  • Spices – Add in a pinch of nutmeg instead of lemon zest.
  • Lemon – A bit of lemon zest in the batter goes really well with the lemon butter glaze for serving.
  • Vanilla – A splash of vanilla also makes a wonderful addition to the batter.
  • Almond milk – Swap dairy milk for almond milk, if desired.

Serving suggestions

Serve the Dutch baby hot from the oven in the pan (place on a trivet or folded dishtowel, so you don’t ruin the table), dusted with powdered sugar. I like to serve it with a sweet and tart lemon glaze, and fresh berries.

Another option would be warm maple syrup, or a berry compote.

Versatile Workhorse!
Lodge 10 in. Pre-Seasoned Skillet
$34.25 $19.90

This cast iron skillet comes pre-seasoned, so you can use it straight away.

If you don't have a cast iron skillet in your arsenal, consider getting one. You'll quickly discover why cooks love them so much.

They retain heat and distribute that heat more evenly than any other pan I've ever used.

Affiliate link, I may earn a commission from your purchase. Your price is unaffected.
03/18/2024 03:40 pm GMT

Helpful tools and equipment

  • A 10″ cast iron skillet is incredibly useful. It is probably one of the most used pans in my kitchen.
  • Compact blender for smaller spaces – This blender is great for smoothies as well as blending up pancake batter.
  • Vitamix blender – This is a newer version of the blender I used to make the recipe.

Please share

If you love this recipe, please give it 5 stars!

Photo of Dutch baby pancake in cast iron skillet for Pinterest.

I hope you love this Dutch baby recipe as much as we do! Please consider rating and/or commenting.

Your shares help this site to grow and I appreciate it so much. Do you know someone who would like this? I’d love it if you would share it on Facebook or pin it to your favorite recipe board.

Yield: 4 servings

Dutch baby pancake recipe

Recipe card image for Dutch baby pancake recipe.

This Dutch baby recipe is a stunning, golden brown puffed pancake baked in the oven.

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

Dutch baby pancake

  • 2/3 cup milk // 160mL, room temperature
  • 3 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2/3 cup flour // 80g
  • 2 tbsp. sugar
  • 1/4 tsp. fine sea salt
  • 1 tsp. grated lemon zest, optional
  • 1/2 tsp. vanilla, optional
  • 3 tbsp. butter

Lemon glaze

  • 2 tbsp. very soft unsalted butter
  • 4 tbsp. powdered sugar (Also called icing sugar or confectioners sugar)
  • 1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice

Instructions

  1. Place a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 415°F / 210°C.
  2. Place a 10" cast iron pan in the oven to heat while making batter. (You could also use a heavy-bottomed frying pan or a pie plate.) Let the pan heat in the oven for at least 5 - 10 minutes. It needs to be hot.
  3. Add milk, eggs, flour, sugar, salt, and lemon zest or vanilla, if using, to a blender. Blend until well combined and very smooth. Scrape down the sides of the blender jar, if necessary, to incorporate all of the flour. (You can also mix by hand, if preferred.)
  4. Open the oven door and place the butter into the hot pan. When the butter has melted (watch it, so it doesn't burn), remove the skillet from the oven and carefully pour the batter into the hot pan. Immediately place the pan back into the oven.
  5. Bake for 20 minutes, then lower the oven to 325°F / 160°C and bake for an additional 5 minutes, until puffy and deep golden brown. (Do not open the oven while baking!)
  6. While Dutch baby is baking, make lemon glaze, if desired. Place butter, powdered sugar and lemon juice in a bowl and stir with a fork until well combined and smooth. Set aside until serving.
  7. Remove from the oven, dust with powdered sugar, and cut into 4 wedges. Serve immediately, with berries, syrup or with lemon glaze. Pancake will deflate slightly after removing from the oven.

Notes

  • You may be tempted to crack the oven door open and peek at the progress of your Dutch baby. Don't do it. Trust me. If you open the oven, you'll let the heat out and your pancake may not rise and set as tall as you'd like it to.
  • The pancake will deflate shortly after being removed from the oven, so make sure everyone is ready to eat!
  • A pinch of nutmeg instead of lemon zest is also a delicious option!
  • I've been eating these puffy pancakes since I was a kid. We always had them with a delicious lemon glaze that was spread on the warm pancake, or we'd dip pieces of the pancake into the glaze. It is ridiculously good. The pancake itself isn't overly sweet, so the glaze goes well with it.
  • You can add more or less lemon juice to the glaze, depending on your personal preference.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 332Total Fat: 19gSaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 181mgSodium: 288mgCarbohydrates: 32gFiber: 1gSugar: 17gProtein: 8g

Nutrition information calculated by a third-party company as a courtesy. It is intended as a guideline only.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

Buy me a coffee? If you ever wondered how you can lend a hand, show a little support or just say “thanks” for the recipes? You can “buy me a coffee” to help me keep the free recipes coming.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a delicious day 🙂

new signature

Questions? Send me an email, I’m happy to help. I’d love to send you weekly tips and recipes, so you can get updates about what’s happening in the kitchen!

Hello! All photos and content are copyright protected. Please do not use my photos or recipe (other than for personal use) without prior written permission. Thank you!

Originally published 5/11/12. Most recent update 2/21/24.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *