by Alyssa Rivers
German Oven Pancake is a hot and puffy golden pancake that only requires 5 minutes of prep! This classic breakfast is always a huge hit at our house!
We love a good classic breakfast at our house. Try this Breakfast Casserole, Belgian Waffles, or these Mini Puffed Oven Pancakes for a breakfast the family won’t be able to get enough of!
German Pancakes Recipe
Breakfast is always a struggle at our house because mornings are always so busy! I love to surprise the kiddos with a delicious and hot breakfast at least once a week before school. That is why we love German Pancakes at our house. 5 minutes of prep with ingredients that you have on hand. This breakfast is totally doable even for the busiest families!
My little girl loves to watch things baking in the oven. She likes spending time with me in the kitchen and helping. Or making a mess. But we sure have fun together. It is fun to watch this german pancake bake in the oven and get puffy and golden.
As soon as it comes out we all get to top it with our favorite toppings. I like mine simple with fruit, powdered sugar, and syrup. But you can go the more traditional German Pancake way of sprinkling with some lemon juice and powdered sugar.
If you haven’t tried this classic breakfast you need to make it. We absolutely love it at our house and it is so fun and easy to make! It is sure to be a huge hit with family or guests!
What are German Pancakes made of?
German Pancakes or Dutch Baby Pancakes are made with eggs, milk, flour, and butter. They are made in a metal or cast iron pan. They will puff up. in the oven and fall as they cool.
How do you make German Pancakes?
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees. In a medium sized bowl whisk the eggs, milk, melted butter, salt and sugar. Add the flour and stir until incorporated being careful not to overmix.
- Add 1 tablespoon melted butter to the bottom of a 9 or 11 inch cast iron skillet. Pour the batter into a skillet and bake for 12-18 minutes or just until the edges start to brown. Top with desired toppings.
Are German Pancakes really from Germany?
German Pancakes or Dutch Baby Pancakes are not German Pancakes the way they are prepared in Germany. The American “German Pancakes” are more like a popover, either entirely baked in the oven or started in a pan and finished in the oven.
Looking for more delicious breakfast ideas? Look no further!
- Blueberry Buttermilk Cake
- Breakfast Tacos
- Creme Brûlée French Toast.
- Baked Sausage Breakfast Taquitos
German Oven Pancake
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup all purpose flour
- 3 eggs
- 1/2 cup milk
- 3 tablespoons melted butter divided
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon of salt
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 450 degrees. In a medium sized bowl whisk the eggs, milk, melted butter, salt and sugar. Add the flour and stir until incorporated being careful not to overmix.
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Add 1 tablespoon melted butter to the bottom of a 9 or 11 inch cast iron skillet. Pour the batter into a skillet and bake for 12-18 minutes or just until the edges start to brown. Top with desired toppings.
Recipe Video
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods and portion sizes per household.
I have tried a few other recipes for the German Pancake. Yours is by far the best. I used a pie plate and it came out perfect.
Yummy! I drizzled a little lemon juice on top after taking from the oven as some other recipes do. Then top with fruit and serve with maple syrup. Your recipe is great! Perfect for the two of us.
MMM! Lemon juice does taste great on these pancakes! Thank you for sharing!
Delicious! I always add a teaspoon of vanilla to the batter. Sometimes I’ll sprinkle brown sugar in the pan and add pecans before I pour in the batter.
It’s is such an easy breakfast item to fix but so yummy!
I added 1 t baking powder, makes it more fluffy
I have made many German pancakes, and they’ve all come out beautifully. This time I decided to add the baking powder. But for us, it completely changed the composition/texture of the pancake. The result was a rounded mounded cake that looked like a regular cake/pancake, not a true German pancake. It tasted fine, but was not what we expected. How did yours come out with the baking powder? Did it look like what is pictured? Next time I think I’ll leave out the baking powder.
I’m always looking for new breakfast ideas. This was fast easy and good and filling. Will try lemon juice on it next time. It got the husband approval.
I am a diabetic can I eliminate the sugar
Yes, this recipe works great without the sugar.
I have been making this dish since my uncle taught me back in the 1970s. We use only 2 eggs. Will try it with 3 as you have noted. Have always been cautioned to melt the butter in a hot pan then add the batter, keep it on the stove for a minute, and then put it in the oven. Make this on hungry Sundays or when I have guests. I like the idea of using a cast iron skillet. Would make the pancake rise even more. Sometimes looks like a popover, but you can remove it from the oven before that stage. Thanks for the reminder. Love this!
Can I substitute almond flour and monk sugar in this?
I have not tried those substitutions before but you are more than welcome to try them. If you do I would love to know how it turned out! Enjoy!
Finely ground oat flour works great, and deepens the flavor profile.
can you use pancake mix
No, not with this recipe. It is best to follow the recipe to get the best results for German pancakes.
Delicious and so easy! Added 1 tsp pure vanilla extract 🙂
I made this for my son this morning. I mixed the batter a lot as I didn’t see the warning on the recipe that said “be careful to not over mix”. Regardless, it came out VERY fluffy in my cast iron skillet but was a little hard to get it out in 1 piece. I think I’ll use a standard pan or possibly a pie dish next time. This is a “make again” dish!
We love these with just syrup on them. Fruit and powdered sugar sounds good.
These look great! I’ll be trying both for sure.
I’ve made this with whole milk and I’ve made it with buttermilk my husband to be loved it with the buttermilk Thank you so much I’ve been cooking for years this is one of the best breakfast this. It makes people think they’re special
That is wonderful! Thank you for sharing! I am so glad that you all enjoyed it. Thank you for following along with me!
Would this work using gluten free flour?
I have not tried it with any other flour. Let me know how it turns out!
Gluten-free success requires adding acid, say a little citrus juice or yogurt.
I have used gluten free Multipurpose Flour brand: (CUP4CUP) And it’s perfect, everything can stay the same. Not only with this recipe with anything else I make, I can simply use this flour instead and it all has turned out perfect. I also replace the milk for almond milk and everyone in my house loves it. Hope this helps
Thanks for sharing since I also use Almond milk or other non-dairy alternatives when I bake.
I am making this for the first time and it is in the oven right now. My batter was all lumpy…did I do something wrong?
Not at all. Just keep stirring it until it is not lumpy.
looks amazing?????
Things never turn out the way the pictures show for me….except this. It was super easy and delicious. My kids loved it. I may try with sausage and cheese next time.
In the description it says vanilla. But it doesn’t list it in the ingredients…. is that right? To be honest, the vanilla is what caught my eye.
In this recipe I do not have any vanilla but you are welcome to add 1/2 teaspoon to 1 teaspoon vanilla for the extra flavor.
After making these pancakes, would it be okay if I invited the neighbors over to share with them?
haha! Of course! The more the merrier!
Tried for the first time this morning in a 10 in cast iron skillet. Came out wonderful. Served with fresh blueberries and maple syrup. My new go to recipe for easy company brunch. Thanks much!
I have been making these for years, but in the last year or so they are not puffing up! What could be causing this? They still taste good, but are just flat! I am using gluten free flour, but weighing it so I know it’s the proper amount, and it is the same flour I’ve always used. I just can’t figure it out.
Hmmm. I am not sure. It really does matter on the butter too. You can melt the butter in the pan while mixing the other ingredients. Then when the butter is melted, add the pancake mix to the pan and bake.
Check your oven temp. If everything is the same, maybe your oven isn’t as hot as it used to be.
Mine tasted good but it stuck to the pan. What did I do wrong? I want to try it again
Hi Barb!
Thanks for the great question. Next time just add a little more butter and this should take care of your problem with it sticking to the pan. Thanks for following along with me!!
Flat non traditional German pancake worste taste, texture and look. Looked like a real pancake, tasted like a crepe. I made it 2 times just in case I messed up.both times turned out horrible. If your a true German you will be sorely disappointed. Can’t believe this recipe is running rampant..
I thought I was the only one that thought that. my daughter likened it to French Toast… to me it’s more like baked egg but chewy.. the ratio of 3 eggs to 1/2 cup of flour doesn’t compute to me. nothing like the german pancakes i had as a kid.
Made it this morning. I prefer this type of pancake because of its lightness. I used graham whole wheat flour today and it was fine. I added some vanilla.
Hi, could I add sausage & cheese to the mixture?
Thank you
Unfortunately, it would not be able to puff up like a typical German pancake. You can add those topping to the top once it is baked though.
There is a British recipe called “Toad in the Hole” . Its a sausagebaked in batter mix. U could add cheese to the batter and/or top with grated cheese. Google ‘BBC Good Food Recipes’.
The recipe says 3T butter, divided. Should only 2T butter be added to the batter, and the other tablespoon be reserved for the pan? or is it 3T butter in the batter and an additional 1T for the pan?
Yes, you are correct. 2 T melted in the batter and 1 T later on.
Thank you! This recipe has quickly become a family favourite. And I like it because 1. it is really cool the way it puffs up and 2. it is so little work compared to making crepes! I think I’m going to have to buy another cast iron skillet so I can make 2 at a time!
I am from Montana visiting my Daughter & Family in California. Found this recipe on the plane on my Tablet, and sounded like something i would like to make them for Thanksgiving Breakfast. Found out they are all on something called the Keto Diet (This Cowboy Never even heard of it) So with my Daughter help we substituted the flour with 1/4 cup Almond flour 1/4 cup Coconut Flour 1/2 tsp Xanthan Gum (What?) and for the Sugar we used Monk Fruit Sugar (again what?). I have not tried the real version yet but everybody loved it including myself. topped with berries and whipped cream and powder sugar. (I think that stuff was some sort of Keto stuff too when asking for it she took over) anyway that Keto version was very good in my opion.
Hubby and I have often gone out to our fave breakfast place and ordered this German pancake. I never thought to make it myself. This morning I make it for the first time and it came out perfect….and so easy to make. I’m so glad I came upon your recipe.
As a child, German Pancake was always the best part of Sunday morning breakfast at Grandma’s house. Now I make it for my Grand Daughter when she visits and it is always received with a big smile and “Opa! My Favorite!”
Had this for Christmas breakfast today. Husband had butter and maple syrup on his. I had mine with plain yogurt and lingonberry sauce. Delish!
This is the first time I’ve had German Pancakes. Turned out perfect. I only had frozen blueberries so I made blueberry syrup to serve with it. I did squeeze fresh lemon juice on top & sprinkle with confectioner’s sugar. So delicious. Will definitely make again.
Can I put the cast iron skillet in the oven while I preheat it and get the ingredients together? Will that be too hot for the butter and batter?
Or should I just melt the butter in the pan on the eye?
Yes, you can warm it while it is preheating. That is perfect and bakes well together.
Came out great — we use two smaller (8 inch) cast iron skillets to do this as (large) individual portions, and this provided the perfect amount of batter.
Filled them with Granny Smith apples fried in butter, brown sugar and a little cinnamon
Excellent recipe! Took off one star because of the difficulty of scrolling through the page to actually follow it, presumably because you want to make more money off of ads.
OMG, this was amazing! Can’t wait to make these pancakes for my grandkids! Thanks for sharing!
This is such an easy recipe and delicious, added strawberries and maple syrup and it was a hit. Making again this weekend. Thanks for sharing
I made this last weekend and it tasted fantastic. The sides puffed up beautifully, just like in the photo!! However the flat inner part was very moist and very flat; I don’t want to say gummy but I can’t think of a “lighter” word right now!! Did I do something wrong? Obviously it didn’t stop us, cuz we ate it all!! Just curious!!
I made this two times this morning and could not get the batter to stop clumping. Is it supposed to taste eggy? It was yummy, but I feel like I am doing something wrong.
It tends to have a bit of a clump compared to regular pancake mix.
My very picky grandchildren loved it. They asked me to make it again soon.
perfect quarantine breakfast to make us feel like we were out to brunch, thank you. served with lemon juice and powdered sugar.
I don’t have a cast iron skillet. Is there any other kind of pan you recommend to use?
Yes, a 9×13 pan will also work.
Lynn
May 10, 2020
First recipe I have tried from your blog and it turned out great.
I used a 10 1/2” – THE ROCK BRAND FRYPAN and baked for 12 minutes @ 400 degrees. The pancake rose 2” above the rim of the pan, browned just right and
Stayed moist. A light dusting of icing sugar, lots of fresh mixed berries and a
Drizzle of Maple Syrup. – YUM – SURELY DID TASTE LIKE MORE!
Look forward to trying more of your recipes. Thank you.
HAPPY COOKING!
Just made the Germaine pancake. Wow turned out great. I’ve had them in restaurants and mine was right there. I love the lemon powder sugar!
Made these for the first time today. Absolutely delicious! My sister and I ate the whole thing between us. Will definitely make again!