German Pancakes Recipe - Beautiful Life and Home (2024)

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Get this classic recipe for German Pancakes! Made in the oven with just a few simple ingredients, your family will love this fun breakfast! Dairy-free, gluten-free, and sugar-free recipe for German Pancakes included!

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This is my mom’s recipe for German Pancakes. She actually lived in Germany for two years, so I’m going to claim that this recipe is authentic 🙂

When I was researching German Pancakes to write this post, I came across some very interesting questions on the internet!

This one was my favorite:

“Can German Shepherds eat pancakes?” Ha ha! I’m afraid I do not know the answer to that question, but my guess would be yes.

I will attempt to answer as many other questions here as I can that I feel would be helpful for you.

If you just want to know how to make them, go ahead and scroll down to my step-by-step tutorial.

Otherwise, here are all your burning questions about German Pancakes, finally answered 🙂

Today’s Freebie!

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Where are German Pancakes from?

It turns out that German Pancakes (also known as Dutch Babies) are neither from Germany or the Netherlands. They are in fact an American invention and were invented in Seattle, Washington at a restaurant. “Dutch” may have been a mispronunciation of the word “Deutsch,” referring to “German.”

What are German Pancakes?

German Pancakes are basically a large popover made either in a large pan or a large skillet. (When in the pan, they are called German Pancakes. In the skillet, they are called Dutch Babies).

They are baked in the oven rather than cooked on a stove.

What Makes German Pancakes Rise?

German pancakes use no leavening such as baking powder or baking soda. They rise because of the large amount of eggs in them. You can actually watch them quickly rise in the oven as they bake!

A follow-up question I found was, “Why are my German Pancakes flat?” As soon as you remove them from the oven, they start to deflate. The once-puffy center sinks down completely, and only the sides and edges remain high. Although this is somewhat disappointing, there is no getting around it. The result still tastes delicious!

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Can you freeze and reheat German Pancakes?

Yes! If you want to freeze any leftovers, wrap individual pieces in plastic wrap and freeze.

When you want to reheat them, unwrap and place in a foil-covered baking pan. Place in a 350-degree oven for 10-15 minutes, until reheated.

If you simply want to reheat leftovers that have been stored in the fridge, you can pop them in the toaster oven or even the microwave for about 20 seconds. But if you use the microwave, be sure to eat it right away. A reheated German Pancake will become rubbery as it cools if it’s been reheated in the microwave.

What to serve with German Pancakes

Basically, if you can serve it with regular pancakes, you can serve it with German pancakes. Fruit, syrup, whipped cream–even Nutella!

Growing up, we ate it with applesauce and syrup poured over the top. Yum!

Gluten-free, Dairy-free, Sugar-free German Pancakes

Yes! Let’s do it all at the same time!

Typically, recipes for German Pancakes don’t contain any sugar to begin with. Any sweetness is obtained by the toppings you put on.

I personally add a little sugar to my recipe to give it just a hint of sweetness. If you want to do the same but don’t want to use actual sugar, you can use xylitol, stevia, monk fruit, or another type of sugar substitute. But stay away from aspartame and saccharine!

To replace the wheat flour, I use a mixture of brown rice flour and tapioca flour.

To replace the dairy, I use Earth Balance Organic Buttery spread and unsweetened almond milk.

Scroll down to get the recipe!

(If you are allergic to eggs, I am sorry. There is no egg substitute that will work for this recipe. You do need to use actual eggs).

For a great sugar-free topping, be sure to try my Sugar-free Whipped Cream!
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Ingredients for German Pancakes

  1. 6 eggs
  2. 1 cup of milk
  3. 1 cup of flour
  4. 1/4 teaspoon of salt
  5. 2 tablespoons of sugar (optional)
  6. 1/2 teaspoon vanilla (optional)
  7. 1/4 cup (1/2 a cube) of butter

How to Make German Pancakes

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.

Get out a blender and add the eggs, milk, flour, and salt. (If using sugar and vanilla, add those as well).

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Blend on low speed for about thirty seconds. Stop and scrape down the sides of the blender if necessary.

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Now just drop 1/4 cup of butter into a 9×13 pan and put it in the oven. Stay nearby and turn on the oven light.

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As soon as all the butter has melted (should only take about two minutes), remove the pan from the oven and carefully pour the batter from the blender into it.

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Return to the oven and bake for exactly 18 minutes, without opening the oven door.

Once the time is up, remove from the oven. It will be very puffy!

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Wait about five minutes for the German Pancake to fully deflate.

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You can either add toppings to the whole pan (if you plan on serving it all right away), or let people add their own toppings to their individual servings.

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Slice into eight squares and serve warm.

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Today’s Freebie!

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Yield: 8 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 18 minutes

Total Time: 28 minutes

Classic German Pancakes (or Dutch Babies) made in your oven with just a few simple ingredients.

Ingredients

  • 6 large eggs
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 Tablespoons sugar (optional)
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla (optional)
  • 1/4 cup butter (half a cube)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.
  2. Add all the ingredients except the butter to a blender. Blend on low speed for 30 seconds. Stop to scrape down the sides if necessary.
  3. Put 1/4 cup of butter into a 9x13 baking dish. Place in the 400-degree F. oven. Turn on the oven lights and watch the butter. When it has completely melted, remove the pan from the oven.
  4. Carefully pour the batter from the blender into the pan and put it back in the oven. Set the timer for 18 minutes. Do not open the oven to check the pancake while cooking! This will make it fall.
  5. After 18 minutes have passed, remove the pan from the oven. The pancake will be very puffy, but will deflate.
  6. Wait about five minutes for the pancake to fully deflate. Then cut into eight pieces and serve with your toppings of choice.
Nutrition Information:

Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 190Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 157mgSodium: 181mgCarbohydrates: 17gFiber: 0gSugar: 3gProtein: 7g

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Yield: 8 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 18 minutes

Total Time: 28 minutes

Make this classic German Pancakes recipe without wheat, dairy, or sugar!

Ingredients

  • 6 large eggs
  • 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
  • 1/2 cup brown rice flour
  • 1/2 cup tapioca flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons xylitol or monk fruit sweetener, or three packets of Truvia/Stevia (optional)
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla (optional)
  • 1/4 cup Earth Balance Organic Buttery Spread

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.
  • Add all the ingredients except the Earth Balance Organic Buttery Spread to a blender. Blend on low speed for 30 seconds. Stop to scrape down the sides if necessary.
  • Put 1/4 cup of Earth Balance Organic Buttery Spread into a 9x13 baking dish. Place in the 400-degree F. oven. Turn on the oven lights and watch the spread. When it has completely melted, remove the pan from the oven.
  • Carefully pour the batter from the blender into the pan and put it back in the oven. Set the timer for 18 minutes. Do not open the oven to check the pancake while cooking! This will make it fall.
  • After 18 minutes have passed, remove the pan from the oven. The pancake will be very puffy, but will deflate.
  • Wait about five minutes for the pancake to fully deflate. Then cut into eight pieces and serve with your toppings of choice.
  • Nutrition Information:

    Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
    Amount Per Serving: Calories: 182Total Fat: 11gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 140mgSodium: 178mgCarbohydrates: 15gFiber: 1gSugar: 0gProtein: 6g

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    German Pancakes Recipe - Beautiful Life and Home (2024)

    FAQs

    Why are my German pancakes not fluffy? ›

    Why Didn't My Dutch Baby Puff Up? Like popovers and Yorkshire pudding, the thing that gives Dutch babies their signature puff is steam. In order for that steam to work the pancake into its signature peaks and valleys, you need two things: enough air in a well-developed batter and a piping-hot pan and oven.

    What is a German pancake made of? ›

    What are German Pancakes? German pancakes, often called Dutch Baby pancakes are baked pancakes made from eggs, milk, flour and vanilla. The pancakes are baked in a metal or cast iron pan, puff up in the oven and then fall as they cool.

    What makes a Dutch baby puff? ›

    As it bakes the batter puffs up, in a similar way to a Yorkshire pudding or a popover. The recipe doesn't contain any chemical leavening as the milk and eggs create steam that causes the Dutch Baby to rise.

    Does adding more baking powder make pancakes fluffier? ›

    Top tips for fluffy pancakes

    Don't be tempted to add more than the recipe suggests, as too much baking powder will make pancakes taste soapy. Alternatively, you could use self-raising flour, which will add to the amount of raising agent in the recipe and potentially make your pancakes fluffier.

    Does milk instead of water make pancakes better? ›

    1. Use Milk/ Alternative Milk Instead Of Water. Even though the mix may call for water, you can easily substitute that for an alternative milk (I like oat milk). You may have to add a dash more due to the difference in consistency, but it'll taste so much better!

    What makes a German pancake rise? ›

    In particular this butter is super important for cooking the center of the German or Dutch Baby Pancakes. The steam created from the butter and eggs heating up is what gives your pancake everything it needs to rise up and get all puffy.

    Does baking soda make pancakes fluffier? ›

    Baking powder, like baking soda, is a chemical leavening agent made with sodium bicarbonate (aka baking soda) plus a weak acid, such as potassium bitartrate. Baking soda is essential for baked goods, but baking powder is really what makes pancakes and biscuits rise and become so super fluffy.

    What is the key to making fluffy pancakes? ›

    5 Tips for Fluffier Pancakes
    1. Allow the Batter to Rest. A good rule of thumb when you're wondering how to make fluffy pancakes is to let the batter rest. ...
    2. Beat the Egg Whites. Separate your yolk from the egg white then beat to create a fluffy pancake. ...
    3. Don't Over Mix! ...
    4. Wait for the Bubbles. ...
    5. Follow a Good Recipe.
    Dec 1, 2019

    What's the difference between German pancakes and regular pancakes? ›

    German pancakes use a lot more eggs and do not use any kind of leavening agent, like baking powder or baking soda, to puff up the pancake. Regular pancakes have a thick batter that's fluffier when cooking if done. German pancakes are more dense in the shallow center and like a popover on the edges.

    What is another name for German pancakes? ›

    A Dutch baby pancake, sometimes called a German pancake, a Bismarck, a Dutch puff, Hooligan, or a Hootenanny, is a dish that is similar to a large Yorkshire pudding.

    Why is my Dutch baby eggy? ›

    If you would like the inside of the finished dish to be a little less "egg-y" then cut the number of eggs down to 3, and many many reviewers also found that just 3 Tablespoons of butter worked better for them.

    What is another name for a Dutch baby pancake? ›

    A Dutch baby (or Dutch baby pancake), is also known as a German pancake, a Hootenanny, a Dutch puff, or a Bismarck, and is simply a large American popover. A large Yorkshire pudding shares a lot of similarities with a Dutch baby. A Dutch baby is usually baked in the oven.

    How do Dutch babies sleep? ›

    Many Dutch parents emphasize rest and regularity for their infants. 8-Month-old Dutch babies slept 1.67 h more than U.S. babies. They also showed a more mature pattern of Quiet Sleep. The differences correspond to parental beliefs and practices.

    What is the key to making the best pancakes? ›

    Making good pancakes depends on three key factors: mixing the batter to the right consistency, heating the griddle properly and recognizing when to turn the cakes. Whether making pancake batter from scratch or from a packaged mix, stir it just enough to moisten the dry ingredients.

    What not to do when making pancakes? ›

    Don't let the lumps fool you into overmixing!
    1. You ignore the heat during cooking. If you are not using an electric skillet, you must pay attention to the heat when you start cooking the pancakes. ...
    2. You've been using the wrong pan. ...
    3. You flip your pancakes too soon. ...
    4. You don't fully preheat your pan.

    What makes pancakes fluffy and rise? ›

    Pancakes and waffles typically both contain baking soda, which causes them to rise. As soon as the baking soda is combined with the wet ingredients (which contain an acidic ingredient, like often buttermilk), it starts producing carbon dioxide gas bubbles that cause the batter to rise.

    How does Gordon Ramsay make perfect pancakes? ›

    Gordon Ramsay's recipe

    Whisk the egg whites “*ntil foamy”. MiX all the other ingredients in a second bowl, then fold in the egg whites. Grease a pan with butter and use a medium heat, ladle in the batter to cook until bubbles form (around 5-6 minutes) and then flip and cook for around 2 minutes.

    References

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