My Favorite Dutch Baby Puff Pancake Recipe (2025)

FAQs

What makes a Dutch baby puff up? ›

What makes a Dutch baby rise? The magic that makes that Dutch baby pancake rise to its signature heights is simple: Steam! The combination of air that's whipped into the eggs when you mix the batter and the super hot cast-iron skillet (and oven) create the conditions needed for the lift we love.

There are two main culprits to flat, sad Dutch baby pancakes: Your oven wasn't hot enough. The hotter your oven, the more puffed your Dutch baby pancake will be. Make sure to preheat the oven for at least 10 minutes before baking the batter.

If the pancake was a little flat it is most likely that either the oven or the skillet (or other pan) was not hot enough. If the pan isn't hot enough then the liquid does not heat up and create the steam quickly enough and so the flour will cook through and set before the pancake can rise.

Not Enough Butter: Coat the hot pan with plenty of butter. That is crucial for a fluffy and puffy Dutch baby pancake. Overmixing the Batter: Blend the batter just until the ingredients are incorporated. Overmixing the batter can cause the gluten in the flour to overdevelop, leading to a dense pancake.

If you would like the inside of the finished dish to be a little less "egg-y" then cut the number of eggs down to 3, and many many reviewers also found that just 3 Tablespoons of butter worked better for them.

While these pancakes are derived from the German pancake dish, it is said that the name Dutch baby was coined by one of Victor Manca's daughters, where "Dutch" perhaps was her corruption of the German autonym deutsch. Manca's Cafe claimed that it owned the trademark for Dutch babies in 1942.

Freezer: You can also freeze your leftovers for up to 2 months, but the consistency and texture of your pancake might not be the same. Reheating: To reheat leftovers you can cut out a piece, pop it in the microwave and boom, you have breakfast ready to go.

Can you make a Dutch baby without a cast iron skillet? Absolutely! You can use any 9 or 10-inch pan that is oven safe. Just be sure the sides are high so that the Dutch pancake can rise nice and tall.

This is typically done by using a non-stick pan and low heat. The batter is poured into the pan in a round shape, and the lid is closed to allow the pancakes to cook from the top and bottom. This ensures that the pancakes stay fluffy and do not deflate during cooking.

Making pancake and waffle batter ahead of time is a huge no-no and will lead to flat, dense results every time. Even letting your batter hang out for just a few minutes after you've mixed it before you start ladling it onto the griddle will lead to less fluffy results.

What makes pancakes fluffy and helps them rise? ›

Just like dough expands when you allow it to rest before baking, the gluten in the pancake batter stretches and expands. As it stretches, pockets of air begin to form, making your pancakes airy and light.

A – Ideally make your batter and let it rest for about 30 minutes before cooking. This allows the flour to absorb the liquid, making the pancakes lighter and fluffier. Q – Why buttermilk? The acidity of buttermilk reacts with the raising agents to make you pancakes lighter and fluffier.

Like popovers and Yorkshire pudding, the thing that gives Dutch babies their signature puff is steam. In order for that steam to work the pancake into its signature peaks and valleys, you need two things: enough air in a well-developed batter and a piping-hot pan and oven.

Rather than a pancake, a clafoutis is more like a flan or a tart. The batter is also thin but uses more eggs and sugar than a Dutch baby and is whisked rapidly until it's fluffy (or you can use a blender hack for the dreamiest clafoutis).

German pancakes use a whole lot more eggs and no added leavening agent. German Pancakes are also baked in the oven to a golden perfection. Whereas the traditional American pancake uses baking soda or powder to help it fluff up and is cooked on a hot stovetop or grill and is much fluffier when done.

This is the gas being forced out of the pancake batter. Cooking raises the temperature and increases the pressure of dissolved carbon dioxide. Bubbles form and rise as the volume of CO2 increases and the capacity of the batter firms up. Once the bubbles pop and release gas, you're good to flip!

Baby Traditions in the Netherlands

Baby shower and BlessingAway are becoming more and more trendy to be organized for the new mom. Meanwhile, more long dated traditions are also present such as the Kraambezoek (visiting the newborn) or serving Beschuit met muisjes (Little Mice on a Rusk) with some tea.

Many Dutch parents emphasize rest and regularity for their infants. 8-Month-old Dutch babies slept 1.67 h more than U.S. babies. They also showed a more mature pattern of Quiet Sleep. The differences correspond to parental beliefs and practices.

An oven-baked, light and delicate, "German" pancake. Served with lemon wedges, whipped butter and extra powdered sugar for a truly special treat.