How to Create a Perfect Dutch Baby Pancake

What's worse than running out of mimosas at brunch? How about serving a puffed-up, crispy, melt-in-your-mouth Dutch Baby pancake, straight from the oven and ready for Instagram? Watch the jaws drop as you serve up this stunning beauty. Despite its impressive looks, a Dutch Baby is surprisingly simple to make. Check out the video and follow along as Nicole McLaughlin, aka NicoleMcmom, walks you through the process step-by-step. Pay close attention to her tips if you want a pancake that's extra fluffy, dramatic, and impossible to resist!

What Exactly Is a Dutch Baby Pancake?

A Dutch Baby pancake is a large, oven-baked pancake that looks like a giant popover or Yorkshire pudding. Often baked in a skillet, this delicious treat is also known as a puff pancake, pfannkuchen (German pancake), or nöckerl (Austrian pancake). Legend has it that the name 'Dutch Baby' was invented by the daughter of a Seattle restaurant owner, whose now-closed Manca's Cafe served these German-style pancakes. 'Deutsch' evolved into 'Dutch,' and that’s how the name stuck!

Steps to Making a Dutch Baby Pancake

Aerial shot of a Dutch Baby pancake baked in a skillet, adorned with powdered sugar, fresh berries, and drizzled with syrup

Meredith

Give this Vanilla Dutch Baby recipe a try!

Ingredients List

3 tablespoons butter
3 eggs
¾ cup milk, room temperature
¾ cup flour
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 pinch salt
2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar, or to taste

Step-by-Step Instructions

Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Place butter in a heatproof pan or cast iron skillet, then pop it in the oven.
In the meantime, whisk together eggs and milk in a bowl. Add flour, sugar, vanilla, and salt, and whisk for about 1 minute to smooth out any lumps.
Once the pan is hot, carefully swirl the melted butter to coat the bottom. Pour the batter into the hot pan and return it to the oven.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the pancake is puffed up in the middle and golden around the edges.
Dust with powdered sugar and serve right away.

Nicole's Expert Tips

Use room-temperature milk and eggs to ensure a fluffier, airier pancake. See How to Bring Eggs to Room Temperature Quickly and Safely.
Mix ingredients in a food processor or blender to make the batter extra smooth.
Allow batter to rest while you heat your pan so it's super hot. This gives the flour time to absorb the liquid.
Toppings can be sweet or savory. Go classic with confectioners' sugar and a squeeze of lemon juice, or top with berries, fried apples, syrup, whipped cream, nuts, jam, or Nutella. Savory toppings can include crème fraîche, smoked salmon, thinly sliced ham, or herbed cheese.
Dutch Baby pancakes start deflating as soon as you pull them from the oven, so get your photos quickly and be ready to serve hot from the skillet.

Explore our full range of delicious baked pancake recipes.

You can follow Nicole on Dinogo and Instagram as @nicolemcmom.

More cooking tips, tricks, and creative ideas from Nicole: