Dutch Baby

A Dutch Baby, also known as a German pancake, puffs up beautifully like Yorkshire pudding. Made with a batter of flour, eggs, sugar, butter, and milk and baked in the oven.

By
Stephanie Stiavetti
Stephanie Stiavetti
Stephanie Stiavetti
Stephanie is the Founder of Fearless Fresh Online Cooking School, the author of Melt: the Art of Macaroni and Cheese, and a classically trained pastry chef.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Updated April 17, 2023
Stephanie Stiavetti
Dutch Baby in a Cast Iron Skillet

Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

I'm a huge pancake fan. When I was little I would have happily forgone every other food in favor of pancakes, but unlike the other kids I knew, I never really liked syrup. I always preferred my pancakes plain, or with the addition of fresh blueberries or mashed up bananas added to the batter before it hit the griddle.

Occasionally my mom would indulge us by tossing in a handful of chocolate chips, which, at that young age, was just about the most exciting thing ever.

In my naive little breakfast world, I was happy. But as I grew up, I was introduced to a whole new world of adult pancakes—recipes that broke away from the standard, super-sweet trap of maple syrup and celebrated the flavor of the pancake itself, something I'd always held in the highest regard.

Dutch Baby
Elise Bauer

I was seduced by crepes, soufflé pancakes, and buckwheat flapjacks fried in bacon fat. My all-time favorite, though, became the Dutch baby.

What Is a Dutch Baby?

For those new to the concept of a Dutch baby, it's a pancake that is baked in a single sizzling-hot skillet that has been prepared with a tablespoon or two of butter.

The sides of the pancake rise high above edges of the pan, creating a light, puffy crust with a tender, eggy middle. Sprinkled with cinnamon and lemon juice, the Dutch baby makes a wonderful breakfast for both kids and adults.

Dutch Baby in a Cast Iron Skillet

Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

Optional Toppings for Dutch Baby

From the Editors Of Simply Recipes

Dutch Baby

Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 30 mins
Total Time 35 mins
Servings 2 to 3 servings
Yield 1 pancake

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons butter

  • 2 large eggs, at room temperature

  • 1 large egg white, at room temperature

  • 2/3 cup milk, at room temperature

  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar

  • 1/2 cup +  2 tablespoons all purpose flour

  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

  • Sifted powdered sugar

  • Splash lemon juice

Special Equipment

  • 1 (10-inch) cast iron skillet

Method

  1. Preheat the oven and the cast iron skillet:

    Preheat the oven to 400°F. Put a 10-inch cast iron skillet into the oven and heat for at least 8 minutes.

  2. Melt the butter:

    Melt 3 tablespoons of butter in a saucepan or in a microwave. Of the 3 tablespoons, one tablespoon will be for the batter and two for the pan.

  3. Make the batter:

    In a blender, put the eggs, egg white, milk, 1 tablespoon of the melted butter, sugar, flour, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt.

    Blend until you have a smooth, creamy batter. This should take about 30 seconds.

    Be sure to scrape down the sides of the blender carafe with a rubber spatula if necessary.

  4. Pour the butter, then the batter into the hot skillet:

    Carefully remove the very hot skillet from the oven. (Watch out, the handle is HOT! Make sure to use a thick pot holder so you don't burn your hands.)

    Pour the remaining 2 tablespoons of melted butter in the pan and swirl to coat the bottom of the pan.

    dutch-baby-method-1
    Elise Bauer

    Gently pour the batter into the hot skillet, making sure not to splatter batter all over the sides of the pan.

  5. Bake:

    Carefully return the pan to the oven and bake for 20 minutes. The Dutch baby will puff up around the edges, even to the point that the sides will obscure the center.

    dutch-baby-method-2
    Elise Bauer

    Simple Tip!

    It's a wondrous sight to behold when watching through the oven window! Do not open the door to peek, though, as opening the oven door even a crack while baking may cause your Dutch baby to fall.

  6. Remove from the pan and cut into wedges:

    Once the Dutch baby is done baking, remove the skillet from the oven (again, take care, the handle is HOT) and use a thin spatula to gently coax the pancake onto a large plate. It may fall slightly once removed from the heat, which is totally normal.

    To serve, cut into wedges and sprinkle with powdered sugar (and more cinnamon if you wish) and a splash of lemon juice. Great topped with berries or fruit!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
366 Calories
18g Fat
41g Carbs
11g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 2 to 3
Amount per serving
Calories 366
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 18g 23%
Saturated Fat 10g 48%
Cholesterol 221mg 74%
Sodium 295mg 13%
Total Carbohydrate 41g 15%
Dietary Fiber 1g 3%
Total Sugars 20g
Protein 11g
Vitamin C 1mg 4%
Calcium 104mg 8%
Iron 2mg 12%
Potassium 184mg 4%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.