Growing up my family didn’t do many baked breakfasts. We weren’t the pancake or waffle crowd, it was more bacon and eggs for us.
So when we head for our friend’s mountain cabin, it’s all about what we’re going to eat. Dutch Babies is a traditional breakfast that my friend Sherrie has made for her kids for years, and once I got a taste of it’s sweet but custardy goodness, it was like a whole new world appeared.
The puffed pancake with crispy edges rounding out the eggey-custard-gooey-ness, with a light sweetness from a sifting of powdered sugar and a tart note from fresh squeezed oranges (or lemons if you like it tart) is a must-have whenever we head to the hills.
photo > foodiecrush
Sherrie combines her egg mixture in a blender, and depending on how many she’s cooking for, will use a cast-iron skillet, a 9 X 12 casserole dish or sometimes a Corning baking dish. It doesn’t matter so much what you bake it in, just make sure that you pre-heat the baking dish and butter in the hot oven before adding the batter—so that when you add the batter it sizzles a bit and has a head-start in crisping up.
When right out of the oven, the Dutch Baby looks like a giant popover but will deflate after it sits for a couple of minutes. Don’t worry, you didn’t mess up, it’s supposed to come back down to earth.
photo > foodiecrush
A couple of Dutch Baby tricks I learned from an old issue of Cook’s Illustrated:
- Use skim or non-fat milk to make the batter crisp and light (they also sub 1/4 cup of flour for cornstarch for added crisp)
- Using an ordinary skillet with sloping sides gives an even rise
- Brush the inside of the cooking vessel with veggie oil to prevent sticking, then add in the butter for flavor.
And now for a few variations:
photo > The Moonlight Baker
On a smaller scale than the tradtional Dutch Baby, The Moonlight Baker‘s Lemon Scented German Pancakes topped with blueberries and blackberries are similiar in texture and flavor, but portioned for one. The secret to Kim’s recipe? Fresh ingredients so the simplicity shines through.
photo > Karmic Ktichen
A self-professed bacon lover, Karmic Kitchen‘s takes the traditional recipe for dutch babies and adds a super spin with self-contained eggs and bacon strips in Mini Dutch Babies with Bacon and Eggs. Genius individual servings.
photo > Cooking With My Kid
Cooking With My Kid’s German Apple Pancake is the perfect example of Rebecca’s knack for creating tasty food kids are begging to try thanks, to the custard-egg-flavor topped with sweet apples and powdered sugar. And maple syrup of course.
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Bev Weidner says
I have GOT to figure out a way to crawl into this post and eat my way out.
DEAR. LORD.
heidi says
Start eating Bev!
Kaitlin says
My family was a pancake family, but I’ve never had a dutch baby before. It looks so tasty!
Emily says
Holy cow, these look amazing!
Annalise says
It’s been a while since I made a dutch baby, I think it’s time to remedy that. Your photos have my mouth watering!
heidi says
Coming from a fellow shutterbug, thanks for the compliment!
Leatrix says
Your’s is a point of view where real inceglilente shines through.
kelley says
Mmmmm, I love dutch babies. It was the first thing I ever learned to make on my own. Your pictures are nothing short of amazing. Seriously.
heidi says
Ah, thanks Kelley. How old were you when you first cooked them? My first baked good was Snickerdoodles when I was in 4-H wayyyy back in the day. And no, I did not grow up on a farm.
Sasha @ The Procrastobaker says
Ace post! ive never had a duch baby, but i know whole-heartedly i would love it :) such pretty photos and a lovely writing style indeed
heidi says
Thanks Sasha, you should definitely give them a try.
Marissa says
I’m a pancake breakfast girl, but only on occasion, I’ve never heard of a “dutch baby” before. The photos are tugging at my taste-buds making me salivate.
Marla says
I have never had a Dutch Baby, but now I certainly know I need to!
Heidi @ Food Doodles says
Those look delicious! I love dutch babies. I’ve tried an apple version and a savory version but I haven’t tried one with orange wedges to squeeze over the pancake like your first picture, that looks so yummy :D This posts reminds me to make one again soon, they’re always a hit with the whole family! I loved all your tips, thank you!
heidi says
Thank you for commenting. And of course, great name :)
Robin says
Do you know of a good gluten free flour mix for this recipe?
I’d love to try a Dutch Baby. Looks amazing!
heidi says
As a matter of fact, Panamint Handmade posted her gluten-free version to me on Twitter http://panaminthandmade.squarespace.com/blog/2011/5/2/apple-dutch-baby.html
She uses millet flour and arrowroot flour. Glad I had an answer for you.
Robin says
Yay!!! Thank you! Thank you! :)
Holly says
Looks divine… beautiful photos! I know what we’ll be having for breakfast this weekend…
heidi says
Maybe I can make them for you sometime :) XOXO
Amy Robison says
I randomly thought of you today and thought I’d check out your food blog. This looks so tasty. I’m making it tonight for dinner. I love breakfast foods for dinner. They taste better at night for some reason. Anyway I hope you’re doing well, and I look forward to trying more delicious recipes you post, assuming you don’t let me down with this one. :)
Maureen says
I see photos of these and think, “I have to make one of these soon,” and then I never do. It looks fantastic!
Jay says
Ohh…I feel like reaching out n have a taste now..:P
first time here…amazing space you have..
fantastic recipe collection ..
Am your happy subscriber now..:)
do stop by mine sometime..
Tasty Appetite
Fuji Mama says
Now I’m craving Dutch Baby so bad it’s not even funny!!
Becky at Vintage Mixer says
Your dutch baby looks amazing Heidi! And I love all of the tips you gave. I’ll have to give this recipe a shot soon!
Willa Lane says
DEAR. Thank you! It was the first thing I ever learned to make on my own. Those look delicious!
Amy says
These look delicious. I add sugar, vanilla and sprinkle with brown sugar. :)
Cindy says
I made these this morning, and while they tasted good, they didn’t look anything like the photo. They were just flat (after sinking as they were supposed to) and not cake-like at all.
heidi says
Hi Cindy, the size of cooking vessel will determine how high your dutch baby rises. I used a 1 1/2 quart Corning Ware baking dish for this photo but have used 9 X 12 baking dishes which flattens them out. Make sure the pan and butter is really hot so it climbs the sides of the dish. Good luck.
marla says
Back for more…
ksantoro says
This sounds like the Dream Cake that our hostess made at a bed and breakfast in Ottawa. It was wonderful with a little powdered sugar and blueberries sprinkle over it.
Sarka says
Now that looks like a real Sunday breakfast :-)
Robin says
Hi,
I’ve made this multiple times and I LOVE it.
– I’ve used gluten free flour and almond milk as substitutes as well and it has worked.
-I’ve used less butter and gotten away with it as well.
Thanks for this recipe!
GS test demo says
Craving > Dutch Baby for Breakfast | foodiecrush
Diane says
FYI – The links to the “Cooking with My Kid” and “German Apple Pancake” did not work for me and gives the appearance to me as if the site no longer exists.
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Jessica Pate says
Have you tried to make this as chocolate? Or any other flavor? If so, how did you go about doing so?
JL says
I don’t see a recipe for the Dutch baby! I am so confused. Where is the recipe you make?