This Dutch baby recipe is a giant puffed pancake baked in a skillet, then topped with fresh fruit and whipped cream. An easy and decadent brunch or breakfast option that’s perfect for feeding a crowd!

Whenever I’m hosting a brunch, a serve a variety of sweet and savory options including lemon sour cream waffles, bacon and egg casserole, baked donuts, and this simple yet satisfying Dutch baby pancake.

A Dutch baby puffed pancake in a skillet, topped with berries and whipped cream.

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I get tired of standing at the stove flipping endless amounts of pancakes. This Dutch baby is one giant pancake that bakes in the oven – no flipping required! It’s a show stopping addition to any menu that’s sure to get rave reviews. You can top it with any type of fruit you have on hand, or even a drizzle of chocolate sauce for a delicious finish.

What is a dutch baby?

A Dutch baby is essentially a giant sweetened popover that’s baked in a skillet. It’s also sometimes called a German pancake, puffed pancake or Dutch puff. It’s said that the Dutch baby originated in the 1940’s in a cafe in Seattle, Washington and it was adapted from the German version of this dish.

Eggs, milk, sugar and flour in a blender.

How do you make a dutch baby pancake?

The batter for this pancake is made in the blender and consists of eggs, sugar, flour, milk and vanilla extract. Everything gets mixed until a smooth batter forms. The next step is to pour the batter into a pan that’s been coated in melted butter. Let the pancake bake in the oven until golden brown, then you’ll be ready to eat!

A blender full of pancake batter.

Tips for Dutch baby pancake

The pancake will puff up impressively when it first comes out of the oven, but will quickly deflate after that. Don’t be discouraged when that happens as it’s all part of the process!
You can serve your puffed pancake with maple syrup, a sprinkling of powdered sugar, or even with Nutella.
Change up the flavor of your pancake by sprinkling a cup of fresh fruit over the top before it goes into the oven. The fruit will bake into the batter, I often do this with blueberries, raspberries, apricots, peaches and apples. You can also sprinkle chocolate chips over the batter before it bakes.
I find that this pancake is best served fresh from the oven. If you need to reheat it later, you can warm it through at 300 degrees F.
Looking to feed a crowd? You can double the amount of batter and cook it in a 9″ x 13″ pan, then cut into squares and serve.
You can make individual sized puffed pancakes by mixing the butter into the batter, then pouring the batter into a greased muffin tins.

A puffed pancake in a skillet.

Once you try this pancake, you’ll find yourself making it on a regular basis! Standard pancakes are delicious and all, but there’s just something special about pulling an impressively puffed up pancake out of the oven. It’s a must-have for a leisurely weekend breakfast.

A slice of Dutch baby pancake topped with berries and whipped cream.

More breakfast recipes

5 from 7 votes

Dutch Baby Recipe

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AuthorSara Welch

This Dutch baby recipe is a giant puffed pancake baked in a skillet, then topped with fresh fruit and whipped cream. An easy and decadent brunch or breakfast option that's perfect for feeding a crowd!

Time

Prep Time10

Cook Time20

Total Time30

Course Breakfast, Brunch

Cuisine American

Serves servings

Ingredients

▢ 4 large eggs
▢ 1 cup milk (I use 1%)
▢ 1 cup all purpose flour
▢ 1/4 cup granulated sugar
▢ 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
▢ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
▢ 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
▢ fresh berries and whipped cream for serving
▢ mint sprigs for garnish optional

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F
Place the eggs, milk, flour, sugar, salt and vanilla into the blender; blend until thoroughly combined
Heat a 10-inch cast iron skillet or non stick pan over medium high heat. Add the butter and melt.
Pour the batter into the skillet. Put the pan in the oven, and bake until browned, puffed and cooked through, about 20-25 minutes.
Top with berries and whipped cream. Garnish with mint if desired, then cut into wedges and serve immediately.