This website may contain affiliate links and advertising so that we can provide recipes to you. Read my disclosure policy.
German Pancakes are 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, these delicious Quick 45 Minute Cinnamon Rolls, or my Grandma’s Perfect Fluffy 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. They only take 5 minutes of prep with ingredients that you have on hand. This breakfast is totally doable, even for the busiest families!
My kids love to watch things baking in the oven and this recipe is the best to watch! As the german pancakes bake in the oven, they get puffy and golden. Once we take them out, I love sprinkling them with some powdered sugar and topping them with some syrup and berries. But the best part about pancakes is that you can make them however you like!
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.
German Puff Pancakes Ingredients
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!
- Flour: All-purpose flour is best for it to thicken.
- Eggs: This helps with the form and taste of the pancake.
- Milk: This helps make the batter creamy and smooth.
- Butter: Melt the butter before adding it to the batter.
- Sugar: The sugar sweetens the pancakes up!
- Salt: Just a pinch will help it rise.
How to Make German Pancakes from Scratch?
Make this German pancake recipe even easier by adding the batter to a blender for about 30 seconds. Start with blending the wet ingredients together first and then add the dry ingredients until they are smooth. Once the lumps are out, place the batter in the cast iron skillet.
- Whisk Together: 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.
- Bake in a Skillet: Add one tablespoon of 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.
Tips and Tricks
The best thing about baking German pancakes is watching them rise up and over the pan while baking in the oven. Getting that nice fluffy texture and high rise takes a few tips and tricks to make the perfect German pancakes.
- Eggs: Fresh eggs are best! Taking the time to whisk each egg individually will also help fluff up the pancake. This does take extra time but can be so worth it!
- Flour: For best results, use all-purpose flour to help with the rise and thickness of each pancake.
- Preheating the pan: Before adding the batter to the pan, it helps to melt butter ahead of time to help the pancake rise. The butter will help as a non-stick agent, which creates a taller rise and also keeps the pancake from sticking to the pan.
- Golden Brown Color: German pancakes are a little tricky to know whether they are done. As it is baking in the oven, the sides of the pancake will rise about 1 to 2 inches and even creep over the top of the skillet. Once the edges and top of the German pancake is nice and golden brown, you know to remove the pancake from the oven. The middle of the pancake will be a yellow egg color. Once the pancake is removed from the oven, in a short amount of time, the German oven pancake will fall a bit. This happens as it is cooling.
Optional Toppings to Try
Traditionally adding syrup or sprinkling powdered sugar are always popular choices. Once the German pancake is baked and ready to serve, add your favorite toppings and create a delicious breakfast everyone will love.
- Syrup: Buttermilk syrup or any berry syrup.
- Jam: Strawberry jam is my favorite!
- Fresh Berries: Raspberries, strawberries, and blueberries go together so well and balance out the sweet flavor of German pancakes.
- Powdered Sugar: Sprinkle some powdered sugar over the top!
- Chocolate Chips: Add the chocolate chips right on top of the pancake while it is warm.
- Cinnamon Sugar: A little more sweetness!
- Nutella: This adds a delicious, chocolatey taste!
More Delicious Breakfast Ideas
Breakfast might just be the best meal of the day! It can be sweet, savory or anything in between! I’ve gathered up a few more of my very favorite breakfast recipes that you must try. You’re entire family will love them!
Pin this now to find it later
Pin It
German Oven Pancake
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup all purpose flour
- 3 large eggs
- 1/2 cup milk
- 3 tablespoons melted butter divided
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon of salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees. In a medium sized bowl whisk the eggs, milk, 2 Tablespoons 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.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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’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!
These look great! I’ll be trying both for sure.
We love these with just syrup on them. Fruit and powdered sugar sounds good.
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!
Delicious and so easy! Added 1 tsp pure vanilla extract 🙂
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.
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.
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!
I am a diabetic can I eliminate the sugar
Yes, this recipe works great without the sugar.
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 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.
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 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.
This was so easy and so good! We will be having more of these in the future. It fed 3 adults at my house.
I keep coming back, this recipe is so good!