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This Dutch baby recipe is a quick and easy breakfast for special occasions all year. Just blend, bake, add toppings, and devour the puffy pancake that tastes like a popover and a crepe!
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What is a Dutch baby?
A Dutch baby is an oven-baked pancake, or German pancake, made with a simple batter of eggs, flour, milk, sugar, vanilla, and salt. It resembles a popover in texture and flavor, and also doesn't use a chemical leavener. Once baked, it's topped with sweet or savory ingredients and is often enjoyed for breakfast or brunch.
Why you'll love this recipe
The Dutch baby pancake is unique, delicious, and guaranteed to impress. In fact, it's so elegant, you think it would be difficult to make, but it really is as easy as whisking, pouring, and baking. In the oven, the batter bakes into a golden brown, puffy pancake that welcomes endless combinations of toppings.
Ingredient notes
- Milk: Use any dairy milk or non-dairy milk, depending on your preference. Whole milk will give the richest flavor, but any type works well.
- All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure and thickness to the batter, helping the pancake hold its shape as it bakes.
- Eggs: Bind the ingredients together and help the pancake rise, creating its signature airy and puffy texture.
- Vanilla Extract: Optional but adds a subtle sweetness and warmth to the flavor. A little goes a long way!
- Sea Salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the pancake by balancing the sweetness.
- Butter: Prevents sticking and creates a beautifully golden, crispy texture while adding a rich flavor.
The toppings I included for this recipe include fresh fruit, powdered sugar, and maple syrup. Visit the Dutch baby toppings section below for more sweet or savory topping ideas.
How to make a Dutch baby
Enjoy these step-by-step photo instructions. Get the printable recipe below, which includes instructions to bake the Dutch pancake in a conventional oven or air fryer oven.
Start by placing your unheated, oven-safe skillet or baking dish in the oven on the center oven rack. Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit or air fryer oven to 400°F.
While your bakeware is preheating, use a mixing bowl to whisk together milk, flour, eggs, vanilla, and salt until well-combined. Allow your Dutch baby batter to rest 5 minutes.
Carefully remove the hot skillet from the oven, add butter, and swirl to coat the bottom. Pour batter into the hot skillet and bake about 15 minutes in a conventional or 10 minutes for an air fryer, until cooked through and golden brown.
Carefully transfer the skillet to a trivet on a heat-safe surface.
Now the fun part! Add your favorite toppings (see recipe footnotes for ideas), serve, and watch it get demolished! The German pancake is so good, you'll want to make it on repeat!
Dutch baby toppings
Sweet toppings
The classic Dutch pancake topped with stone fruit and berries, powdered sugar, and maple syrup will never disappoint, especially during summer. Winter season fruits such as pears, persimmons, and even apple pie filling will satisfy equally. You'll also love nutella or chocolate ganache as sweet toppings for just about any fruit.
Savory toppings
The Dutch pancake is a delicious vehicle for smoked salmon, cream cheese, and everything but the bagel seasoning. Or, serve the fluffy pancake topped with crispy bacon, baked asparagus, and an easy hollandaise sauce or homemade pesto. Add an elegant touch with cheeses such as burrata, goat cheese, or whipped feta.
Do I need a cast iron skillet?
No. In fact, you can make a Dutch baby pancake without a cast iron skillet by using any oven-safe baking dish made with heat safe materials such as ceramic or glass. You can use the same recipe instructions, including preheating the pan.
Do I need a blender for Dutch pancakes?
Actually, no. While a countertop blender or food processor does offer a convenient blending method, it's not a requirement to make this recipe. In fact, a wire whisk is all you need to blend the batter ingredients, as you'll see in my photos.
Serving ideas
The Dutch pancake is a popular entree for breakfast and brunch. It pairs nicely with crispy smashed baked potatoes, and this ultra moist banana bread recipe. A helping of steel cut oats or crostini will always compliment the elegant pancake, especially for special occasion breakfast. It basically goes with everything – even a charcuterie tray!
I'd love to answer your questions in the comments section below. Or tag me on Instagram with your own Dutch baby creations. xo Traci
📖 Recipe
Best Dutch Baby Recipe
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Video
When scaling the recipe 2x or 3x, the gray ingredient note stays the same. Adjust quantities accordingly.
Ingredients
- ½ cup Milk, any fat percentage (I used 1% milk)
- ½ cup All Purpose Flour
- 2 Eggs
- ½ teaspoon Vanilla
- ¼ teaspoon Sea Salt
- 1 tablespoon Butter
- Toppings, *see recipe footnotes
Instructions
See air fryer instructions in footnotes
- Place a cast iron skillet in a cold oven, then preheat to 450°F. This ensures the skillet heats gradually and safely.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together MILK, FLOUR, EGGS, VANILLA, and SALT until smooth.
- Let the batter rest for 5 minutes.
- Carefully remove the skillet and add BUTTER, swirling it around to coat the surface. Pour the batter into the buttered skillet.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, depending on your level of brownness. The center should be fully cooked through.
- Serve your Dutch baby warm, straight from the warm skillet or transfer to a serving platter.
- Garnish with your favorite toppings like fresh fruit, maple syrup, or powdered sugar. (See footnote for more topping ideas)
Equipment
- wire whisk or blender
- 10-inch cast iron skillet or preferred oven-safe bakeware
- oven or air fryer oven
JB says
If you’re thinking about making this, you won’t be disappointed. In fact, we don’t make it often enough lol. It’s just too easy, even for a non-cook guy like me and it always looks impressive.
Rosalee Adams says
would love to make this but I am not only wheat, dairy but egg intolerant.
I can use GF flour and oat milk but wonder if I
can make this with egg replacement?
The Kitchen Girl says
Hi there! I've never tried that but I think it's totally worth a shot. Let me know if you give it a go! Enjoy!
Lisa says
Hi Traci,
My family loved this Dutch Baby. My husband especially raved about it when I made it for dinner tonight. I doubled the recipe and used my huge cast iron skillet. I added blackberries, bananas, and Asian pears. It disappeared very quickly. I will be making it again soon! Thank you.
The Kitchen Girl says
Yay Lisa, I'm so glad you tried it out! Now I want this for dinner too LOL. Thanks so much for the feedback and I'm happy you enjoyed. Cheers!
Harlan says
I love Dutch pancakes and used to make them the way you describe but, for medical reasons, have had to go on a low carb diet. Do you think this recipe would work with almond flour? Have you tried it that way? Thanks
The Kitchen Girl says
Hiya! I haven't tried them like this and tbh I'm not sure what the outcome will be. Let me know if you end up testing it. Could be a fun experiment 🙂 Thanks and enjoy!
Kristy says
Love Chef Laura has a Paleo Apple Cinnamon Dutch Baby that is made with almond flour. I have yet to try it, but thought I would pass on the info.
R Thomas says
Dutch baby really is the perfect brunch recipe. I love how easy it comes together and it's even quicker in my air fryer oven. While it bakes, I chop the fresh fruit. It's so quick and just so delicious!
The Kitchen Girl says
Yayyy! I'm glad you're enjoying the recipe. I think it's my favorite weekend breakfast. Thanks for taking the time to leave feedback 🙂
Jeff says
There isn't an easier, more elegant breakfast than this Dutch baby recipe. Wow! It impresses me every time I make it. Thanks for another winner KG!
The Kitchen Girl says
I 100% agree with you 🙂 I'm glad you love it as much as I do. Thank youuuu!
Lin Welsh says
I came across this recipe a long time ago but it was called a “puff pancake “ . I fix it with an apple filling with a scoop of ice cream or whipped cream. It is alway nice and puffy, but when I slice it, it falls. Is it supposed to do that?
The Kitchen Girl says
Hi Lin, a Dutch baby pancake usually puffs up in the oven and deflates when you take it out or when you cut into it.
Rahul @samosastreet says
This looks so delicious and dramatic at first !! But the recipe is super easy to follow. Thanks for sharing the recipe Traci
wendy roscamp says
In the UK your pancake is known as a Yorkshire pudding , Omit the vanilla
and serve as a savoury with roasted meat usually a Roast Beef joint, roast potatoes a selection of steamed veg and lots of gravy made from the juices of the meat, very popular for a Sunday lunch
The Kitchen Girl says
Yep, we've had a savory dutch baby already in the works and coming to the blog soon 🙂 Can't wait!!! Thanks for stopping by
veenaazmanov says
Loved that it is baked. All the toppings look yum. Best breakfast platter to make my day special.
The Kitchen Girl says
Indeed! This breakfast will make any day special 🙂 Thanks Veena!
Julia says
This was the fluffiest Dutch baby pancake I have ever tasted! I used maple syrup as you suggested and fresh fruit, and totally loved it:)
The Kitchen Girl says
Haha nice! It sooo reminds me of French toast. So glad you enjoyed it 🙂 Thanks for letting me know!
Sara Welch says
What a great way to start my day; looking forward to enjoying these for breakfast tomorrow! Looks too good to pass up!
The Kitchen Girl says
Thanks, Sara! Glad you can enjoy these
Beth says
This is so delicious and yummy! My kids loved this recipe! I will definitely be making this again!
The Kitchen Girl says
Awesome, Beth! Yes, I love it when the kids sign off on a fruit-filled breakfast Thanks for the feedback
Anjali says
I had no idea how easy it was to make a dutch baby pancake!! These turned out to be absolutely delicious and are going to be a regular in my breakfast rotation! 🙂
The Kitchen Girl says
Awesome, Anjali! I felt the exact same way about the dutch baby after my first time making it LOL. So glad you can enjoy this breakfast recipe. Cheers!
Gina says
One of our favorite "special" breakfasts! Love the curled, crispy edges the most!