Struggling to make a delicious breakfast for your family? Let us help you out with this simple yet delicious German oven pancakes recipe! You’ll be amazed at how quickly and easily it can be made with only a few ingredients. So don’t wait anymore, let’s get cooking now!
Introduction
German oven pancakes, otherwise known as Dutch Babies, are a delicious breakfast treat. The thin, baked pancake is flavorful and light and can be topped with a variety of sweet toppings or a savory sauce. It is an easy to make dish that’s perfect for lazy Sundays or for entertaining overnight guests. With its unique texture, this simple recipe is sure to become a family favorite.
This version of the oven German pancake originates from Germany, where it has been served as an evening treat since at least the 1800s. It consists of an egg-based batter poured over melted butter in an oven-safe skillet and baked until lightly golden on top and fluffy on the inside. Traditional recipes often call for cinnamon and/or nutmeg to give it subtle flavor notes, but you can experiment with different spices or fruit to create your own unique flavor combinations.
For best results, use a cast iron skillet when baking this pancake to ensure even heat distribution resulting in a crisp exterior with soft centers. Served warm with favorite toppings such as syrup, yogurt and berries or lemons for a tart finish—it’s sure to be enjoyed by everyone!
German Oven pancakes recipe
This German oven pancake is a delicious and sweet breakfast treat that’s made with a few common pantry ingredients. The batter can be prepared in advance and popped into the oven when you’re ready for it.
Prep. Time: 5Min. Cooking Time: 25Min. Serves: 5
Ingredients
- 6 large eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- a pinch of salt
- 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 6 tablespoons butter
Instructions
- Begin by preheating your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease an 8-inch square baking pan with butter.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together 1 cup of all-purpose flour, sugar, salt until everything is evenly blended.
- In a separate bowl, combine eggs with vanilla, milk and melted butter or vegetable oil. Whisk these ingredients together until they are blended together uniformly before adding it to the dry mixture in the first bowl.
- Stir this mixture together vigorously until it is smooth and there are no lumps.
- Next, pour the batter into the greased pan evenly and place it into the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until a light brown crust is formed around its edges.
- To serve, let cool slightly before slicing into wedges and topping with your favorite preserves or syrups!
Nutritional Value: 305kcal.
Tips for Perfect Pancakes
Making the perfect oven pancakes requires several key elements. From choosing the right ingredients for a flavorful pancake to mastering the technique for flipping them without breaking, following a few simple steps will ensure delicious, fluffy pancakes each time.
Here are some tips for creating perfectly cooked oven pancakes:
- Pick the right ingredients: For German oven pancakes, be sure to pick your favorite fruits, like apples or bananas and use fresh eggs, milk and butter. You can also add cinnamon or nutmeg for a little extra flavor.
- Measure your ingredients carefully: Always use proper measuring instruments when adding ingredients like flour and sugar to ensure accurate proportions. Too much of each ingredient can make your pancakes heavy or cause them to stick to the pan when cooking.
- Preheat the oven before baking: Preheating ensures that your pancakes are cooked evenly throughout and prevents burning on the bottom of your pan.
- Grease up before pouring batter: Be sure to thoroughly grease up cookie sheet with some melted butter before you pour in your batter. This will help prevent sticking and allow you to get that perfect golden brown finish on top of your German oven pancake.
- Lightly tap down edges of batter: After pouring in your batter and spreading it around evenly with a spatula, gently tap down along sides of cookie sheet with a spoon or rubber spatula to keep sides from rising too quickly while baking.
- Flip while still hot but not too hot!: For best results, flip your pancake while it is still warm but not hot enough that you burn yourself upon evacuation! Use two spatulas (or one long handled one) placed at opposite sides of cake and lift upwards quickly yet smoothly so one side flips over onto other side easily without breaking apart!
Variations
Once you have mastered the basic German Oven Pancakes recipe, you may find yourself wanting to experiment with different variations to add variety and excitement. Here are some ideas and recipes to get you started.
For a savory take on the classic pancake, try adding cooked vegetables such as onions or mushrooms to the egg mixture prior to baking. You can also use herbs, such as chives or oregano for added flavor. For a sweeter option, try adding in a tablespoon of sugar into the batter for added sweetness or top it off with fresh sliced fruits after baking.
If you’re looking for an attractive presentation, you can use cookie cutters—or molds—in various shapes such as stars or flowers while brushing each side of the uncooked batter before popping it in the oven.
You can also try different types of cheese variants such as Gruyere-garlic oven pancakes or brie-basil oven pancakes. Or play around with different combinations of nuts and spices such as almonds and cardamom for an aromatic experience! Whatever ingredients you decide to use, just make sure all the ingredients are evenly distributed throughout the batter for even baking results!
Serving Suggestions
Traditional German oven pancakes come in many shapes, sizes and flavors and can be served as a main course, side dish or even dessert.
Here are some of our favorite ways to serve this easy and delicious recipe.
- Main Course: Top with jam or honey, syrup or confectioners’ sugar, banana slices and/or bacon bits. Add a fried egg on top for an extra dose of protein. Serve with a side of fresh fruit and a small salad for extra nutrition.
- Side Dish: Serve this German oven pancake as a side to roasted vegetables for dinner or brighten up any breakfast with some freshly cut fruit on the side. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar or nutmeg for an extra special touch.
- Dessert: Drizzle with melted chocolate or your favorite berry-based sauce, top with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream or frozen yogurt, sprinkle with biscotti pieces and serve!
Nutrition Facts
The nutritional facts for the German oven pancake recipe are as follows. One serving of this recipe provides a nutrition content which includes 175 calories, 6 g fat, 28 g carbohydrates, 4 g protein, 10 mg cholesterol and 170 mg sodium. Additionally, it contains 1% of your daily iron requirement, 8% vitamin A and 2% calcium. Besides these essential nutrition facts, each serving contains some dietary fiber.
If you’d like to experiment with different ingredients for a larger serving size or a less-than-hundred calorie version of German oven pancakes, consider using:
- Butter substitute or olive oil instead of butter;
- Egg substitute or egg whites only instead of whole eggs;
- Reduced-fat milk instead of whole milk; and
- Whole wheat flour instead of white flour.
You can also vary the ingredients in the batter to make healthier versions that contain more natural sweeteners such as honey instead of sugar or adding more fruit such as bananas or blueberries to the mix.
The German oven pancake is a simple and delicious treat that can be enjoyed in small doses on special occasions!
Now that you have all the information you need to make delicious German Oven Pancakes, you can start experimenting with different flavor combinations and adjustments to the recipe. These pancakes make a great weekend breakfast, brunch or dinner. You can add fruit, ricotta cheese or your favorite syrup to the top to give them added sweetness and flavor.
With a few simple steps in the right order, you can easily enjoy these fluffy pancakes with your family and friends:
- Gather the ingredients
- Mix the batter
- Grease the pan
- Pour in the batter
- Bake in the oven
- Add toppings of your choice
Enjoy!
