These German pancakes (aka fluffy pancakes) are a family favorite recipe that’s perfect for breakfast, brunch or breakfast-for-dinner. My kids always get so excited when we make them!
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Dutch Baby Pancakes
We love to make these together as a family. They are so simple and my kids love to help. They also like to help me make blender crepes, ricotta pancakes and biscuits and gravy.
This German pancake recipe is one of our family’s favorites! My mom would always make them growing up and we all loved them. Now I make them with my kids and they always get so excited when we have them.
They are so light, fluffy and are baked to perfection. They taste extremely delicious topped with candy syrup, maple syrup, jam or cinnamon sugar. It really doesn’t get any better than that. Yummy!
What is a German Pancake?
German pancakes (also known as fluffy pancakes or Dutch baby pancakes) are baked in the oven until they puff up. The batter is typically made with flour, eggs, sugar and milk. A German pancake has a thicker and fluffier consistency than a regular pancake, however they do fall a little as they cool. Common toppings are syrup, fruit or powdered sugar.
How to Make German Pancakes
This recipe is SO easy to make! I personally think baking German pancakes in the oven is a lot easier then cooking regular pancakes on the stove. If cooking for a larger crowd, you don’t have to stand in front of the stove and flip each individual pancake. You can simply pour the batter into your pan, bake and you’ll have pancakes for a crowd ready in no time. My mom is known to triple this recipe whenever we get together with our family.
- Heat the pan. Preheat oven to 400°F. Slice butter and add to 9×13″ pan. Then place pan into oven for about 2 minutes, until melted.
- Make batter. In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together flour, sugar and salt. Next add milk and vanilla. Then beat in ONE egg at a time until smooth. The batter will be thinner than normal pancakes, which is what you want!
- Bake in oven. Pour batter over melted butter and bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Slice and serve warm with toppings of choice.
TIP: You can also make the batter in the blender if preferred. They might not be as fluffy, but they will still turn out delicious. Blend the liquid and eggs first for about 30 seconds, then add the dry ingredients and blend until smooth.
What Makes Them Rise?
The fun thing about German pancakes is watching them rise in the oven. They typically will rise a couple of inches and get nice and fluffy. Here are a few tricks that I’ve learned along the way:
- Fresh eggs. Personally, I think one of the main keys is using fresh eggs. Also, beating each egg, one at a time for 30 seconds will help them rise better.
- White flour. I prefer to use all-purpose flour, as I’ve found the best results when using that specific kind.
- Preheating the pan. I also think that heating the buttery pan up in the oven prior to adding the batter helps them rise. The butter acts as a non-stick agent, allowing the pancakes to rise taller and not get stuck to the pan.
How Do You Know When They are Done?
I’ve found that this recipe typically takes about 18 to 20 minutes to bake up perfectly in the oven. You’ll be able to tell when they are ready because both the edges and top will be nice and golden brown. They will have risen a couple of inches and will be light and fluffy. Just double check that the middle has set and cooked all the way through. It should easily pop out of the pan when ready to serve. Don’t be alarmed if the pancakes fall (deflate) a little. This typically happens as they cool.
Optional Toppings
- Syrup (buttermilk syrup, maple syrup or cinnamon pancake syrup)
- Jam
- Fresh berries
- Caramelized bananas
- Powdered sugar
- Chocolate chips
- Lemon curd
- Cinnamon sugar
- Nutella
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German Pancake Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 6 large eggs
Optional toppings: Syrup, jam, powdered sugar, fresh berries, cinnamon sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Slice the butter and add to a 9×13″ pan. Then place into the oven until melted (about 2 minutes).
- Whisk together the flour, sugar and salt in medium-sized bowl. Add milk and vanilla. Then beat in ONE egg at a time until smooth. For extra fluffy pancakes, beat 30 seconds per egg.
- Pour mixture over melted butter and bake 18-20 mins., or until golden brown. Slice and serve warm with your favorite toppings.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
This is on repeat for my family! I seem to be craving it everyday for breakfast! Love this recipe!
It’s a family favorite at our house too! So glad you love them, Rachelle :)
Family favorite! We make this one almost every weekend in the cold winter months! So easy for kiddos to make!
So glad your family loves it so much, Jessica! :)
I grew up eating these too because of your mom. My kids also love them!
Aw, I’m so glad to hear they are a family favorite, Beth :)
Made it, loved it !!! Posted pictures in RVillage Foodies group, and was inundated with compliments and request for recipe ….. so posted it and credited to you – with a link to your website ………….. THANK YOU !!! June
Thanks so much for sharing my recipe, June! These are a favorite at our house and I’m so happy to hear that you loved them too :)
Love this recipe! German pancakes are the best! I enjoy making them with cinnamon apple like the recipe in the iheart naptime cookbook. The cookbook is one of my favorite go to cookbook.
It makes me so happy to hear that you love my cookbook! The cinnamon apple version is a favorite at our house too :)
So good! Comes together quickly and my kids love it!
So glad your kids love it! Thanks for your comment Casey :)
Always good to try something new! Did have enough fruits but its was still good!!
So glad to hear you enjoyed them, Lillet! Sometimes we add chocolate chips or a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar if we don’t have enough fruit on hand :)