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.
Just tried it for the first time!!! Fantastic! It’s a definite favourite
I love this recipe! Tastes like an eggy pancake- so much faster and easier to make than regular pancakes!
Thanks Alyssa. Your recipe for German Pancake has been a thriller for us. Simple, efficient and oh-so-yummy!!! Made it this morning for my “school from home” high schooler. This is the only breakfast he’ll ask me to make!! His comment, ” the taste of this pancake never gets old”. Thanks from an “older” dad…
Made these for the first time today. Absolutely delicious! My sister and I ate the whole thing between us. Will definitely make again!
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!
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!
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.
perfect quarantine breakfast to make us feel like we were out to brunch, thank you. served with lemon juice and powdered sugar.
My very picky grandchildren loved it. They asked me to make it again soon.
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.
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!!
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
OMG, this was amazing! Can’t wait to make these pancakes for my grandkids! Thanks for sharing!
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.
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
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.