This Dutch baby pancake recipe is a childhood favorite of mine. Dutch babies are German pancakes made in one large cast iron skillet or two to three smaller cast iron skillets. These eggy German pancakes are delicious as a base for adding a wide variety of additional flavors, from sweet to savory!
Easy Cast Iron Skillet Dutch Babies
Try this recipe out and thank me later; there is no need for a mixer or anything special to make Dutch babies from scratch. They are quick, fun to make, and truly addictive!!
My mom made these for me as a child, and they are my number #1 pancake breakfast to make any day of the week! This recipe is as tried, tested, and perfected as they get after 40 years of delightfully puffy pancakes!!
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The Dutch Baby, despite its name, isn't Dutch at all. It's derived from the German word 'Deutsch,' meaning German. Originating in the Pennsylvania Dutch region, this pancake is a delightful fusion of German and American culinary traditions.
Over the years, the Dutch Baby has become a beloved breakfast treat in many American households. Its dramatic rise and fall in the oven make it a spectacle, turning a regular breakfast into a special occasion!
🥘 Dutch Baby Pancakes Ingredients, Notes & Substitutions
The beauty of the Dutch Baby lies in its simplicity. The eggs create the pancake's airy texture, and the spices can create both sweet and savory pancakes.
- 4 large eggs (at room temperature)
- ⅔ cup non-fat milk (the lower the milk fat, the more your pancake will rise)
- 1 pinch salt
- ⅔ cup all-purpose flour (sifted, or you can use a fork to loosen the flour up)
- 4 tablespoon butter (to melt in the cast iron skillet)
🔪 How To Make Dutch Babies
Start by placing a 12-inch cast iron skillet into the oven while preheating to 475°F (245°C/Gas Mark 9).
In a medium to large mixing bowl, beat the room-temperature eggs until light and fluffy.
Add the milk, vanilla extract, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon then stir to combine.
Whisk in the flour gradually until all of the flour is incorporated and the batter is smooth.
Remove the heated cast iron skillet from your preheated oven, reduce the oven temperature to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) and add the butter into the skillet.
Melt the butter, making sure to swirl the butter throughout the pan and along the sides so that the entire surface is coated to prevent the Dutch Baby from sticking. Pour all of the batter into the hot skillet and then place the skillet back into the oven. Bake for 12-15 minutes until puffy, bubbly, and a light golden brown.
Typically the Dutch Baby will rise above the sides of the cast iron skillet, until removed from the oven when it will deflate (like a souffle). Also, if it appears that your Dutch Baby is still 'wet' in areas, it is most likely pooled butter as long as the rest of the Dutch Baby looks done.
Remove the Dutch Baby from the oven and serve immediately. Top it with confectioners sugar and lemon, fruit, or your favorite syrup or jam. Enjoy!
*The lower the fat percentage in the milk used in this recipe, the higher the Dutch Babies will rise - so try it out with low-fat or non-fat milk!
📖 Recipe Card
Dutch Baby Pancake Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 large eggs (at room temperature)
- ⅔ cup non-fat milk (the lower the milk fat, the more your pancake will rise)
- 1 pinch salt
- ⅔ cup all-purpose flour (sifted, or you can use a fork to loosen the flour up)
- 4 tablespoon butter (to melt in the cast iron skillet)
Optional Sweet Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 pinch nutmeg
- confectioners sugar & lemon (to taste when serving, if desired)
- fresh berries (optional, for serving)
- maple syrup (optional, for serving)
Optional Savory Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon fresh chives (chopped, optional stir-in)
- 1 pinch ground black pepper
- ham or bacon (cooked, chopped -stir-in or as a topping when serving)
- mushrooms (sauteed - stir-in or as a topping when serving)
- cheese (shredded cheese, cheddar, swiss, monterey jack, mozzarella, etc are all tasty stir-ins or toppings)
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Instructions
- Before starting your batter, place a 12 inch cast iron skillet in the oven while it preheats to 475 degrees F (245 degrees C).
- In a medium or large mixing bowl, beat the room temperature eggs until light and fluffy. Add milk, vanilla extract, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon then stir to combine. Whisk in the flour gradually until the batter is smooth.
- Remove the cast iron skillet from your preheated oven, reduce the oven temperature to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) and melt the butter in the cast iron skillet. Be sure to swirl the butter in the skillet to coat the bottom and sides with the melted butter.
- Pour all of the batter into the hot skillet and place in the oven. Bake the Dutch Baby for 12-15 minutes, or until puffy (typically above the sides of the skillet) and bubbled. The Dutch Baby will be a light golden brown when cooked, and may have some areas that appear 'wet' but that is usually pooled butter.
- Remove from the oven and serve immediately. Top with confectioners sugar and lemon juice, fruit, or your favorite syrup or jam.
Notes
Nutrition
Micah says
Very very good! Halved the recipe and baked it in a small cast iron skillet, served with a fresh strawberry compote. Thank you!
Lynn says
WE LOVED DUCH BABY__________ it's SOOOOOOOO GOOD!!! Sending to faming
Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says
It's a long-standing childhood favorite that my mom made for me, lots of love for these pancakes!! So glad you enjoy them too!