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German Apple Pancake

This puffy German apple pancake is simple to make and never fails to impress. Plus it is totally delicious with its cinnamon apple filling!
 

My morning started out rough. My car didn’t start. I think it felt ignored the last 6 days as I didn’t venture out because of the COLD weather.

I am sorry car, but you made me miss the Macy’s morning sale. Now I will probably have to buy you a battery, but I don’t think Macy’s sells those.

So instead of being at Macy’s I am now at home writing this blog. It is a good one about a German Apple Pancake recipe and the person that inspired them.

Think of this my readers, German Apple Pancakes 1, Macy’s 0.

Many people call German Apple Pancakes a Dutch Baby pancake, but they are the same thing.

One article I read said that Dutch had a warmer ring to it than German. What can I say?

A Dutch pancake recipe or a German pancakes? You decide!

Ilse, my third grandmother apparently made this puffy baked pancake and was quite famous for it.

I  only had the pleasure of hearing about it. And when it was mentioned it was mentioned with awe in the voice.

I really believed that this baked pancake must have been a miracle. So years ago I discovered a recipe about this pancake called a Dutch Baby.

I now make it quite often as it is very simple to make. And it is awe inspiring when you see just how simple it is.

You can actually measure everything except the butter in 1-4 c measuring cup. This equates to not as many dishes to wash, which to me is a very good thing!

Now I don’t know if this is as good as my Ilse used to make, well actually I do know, because nothing could ever be as good as your Grandma could make; but when you make it, just think of her.

She would be proud.

German Apple Pancake

How do you make a German Apple Pancake Recipe:

In my background it was definitely a German pancake made by a very special third grandmother.

I make this in a 10-inch cast iron skillet with Granny Smith apples or Gala apples or Pink Lady, but any apples will do.

Over medium heat, heat butter until melted and add the apple slices.

Cook until tender and then add the brown sugar and cinnamon and stir until melted and syrupy.

I do love caramelized apples, don’t you?

German Apple Pancake

To make the batter for these delicious apple pancakes, use a large mixing cup or a medium bowl to combine the all purpose flour, sugar, salt and cinnamon.

In another bowl combine 4 large eggs, milk and melted butter with the vanilla extract.

Now combine this with the dry ingredients and pour batter over the apples in the oven proof skillet.

Bake in a hot oven for about 15 minutes and you are ready to eat.

These puffy apple pancakes are easily made and can be prepared when you are ready to eat.

Just saute the apples ahead of time. Leave in the skillet and make your batter. Set aside both the apples and the batter and when the gang is ready to eat, just rewarm your apples and re-whisk the batter and then pour over the top of the apples and bake.

Don’t forget your oven mitts when removing the hot skillet from the oven!

I love easy apple recipes, don’t you?

These fluffy pancakes can be made with or without fruit. I think pears, or peaches, would be a nice change if I ever have any in the house.

If you don’t make this with fruit, squeeze lemon juice over the top and serve with preserves.

I make this a full meal and serve it with candied pepper bacon and my favorite hash browns.

German Pancake

If you are watching, “The Next Iron Chef” the last episode featured Chef Zakarias sprinkling powdered sugar on a soufflé.

One of the judges who is not my favorite- a stiff old codger from Britain-I won’t name names- thought powdered sugar was passé and not necessary.

Well, I say, “Take that Mr. Old Codger, is that all you can complain about?”

There are more important things to worry about than sprinkling beautiful powdered sugar on a beautiful soufflé. In that vein, sprinkle all the beautiful confectioners’ sugar you want on top of this most awesome German pancake.

Feel free to pour maple syrup over the top. With the powdered sugar. And perhaps more cinnamon. Sprinkle with extra cinnamon sugar if you want.

If you’ve never had a delicious apple pancake they can be found at the Original Pancake House, if you are so lucky to have one in your neighborhood.

They also have plain old Dutch babies. Both are so good.

But my advice is to learn how to make classic recipes and this puffy pancake is one of them.

There is nothing better than Sunday mornings that begin with easy recipes like this one.

The end result is a gorgeous golden brown, almost an apple pie for breakfast, beautiful German pancake!

 

Need A Few More?

Savory Dutch Baby with Bacon and Cheese

Savory Dutch Baby

Macadamia Nut Pancakes

Macadami Nut Pancakes Recipe

Blueberry Pancakes

Blueberry Pancakes

I’d Love it if You’d Follow Me and Pin and Share!

German Apple pancake

 

This is an updated post from December 7, 2011. (Ilse’s birthday)
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German Apple Pancake

German Apple Pancake

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 4 reviews
  • Author: Abbe Odenwalder
  • Prep Time: 10 Minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 Minutes approx
  • Total Time: 35 Minutes
  • Yield: 4 - 6 Servings 1x
  • Category: Breakfast
  • Cuisine: American

Description

This very impressive and very simple Dutch Baby, German Apple Pancake-your choice what you want to call it, is perfect for brunch. You will love it!


Ingredients

Units Scale

Apple Topping
3 large apples, cored and sliced thin
3 T butter
3 T dark brown sugar
1/2 t cinnamon

3/4 c unbleached all purpose flour
1 T sugar
1/2 t salt
Dash of cinnamon
Dash of vanilla
4 large eggs
2/3 c whole milk or skim with a dash of cream or just skim (I’m easy)
2 T unsalted butter, melted

Powdered Sugar
Maple Syrup (to gild the lily)


Instructions

Preheat oven to 450.

Melt 3 T butter in 9″ skillet. Add apples and sauté until tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in dark brown sugar and cinnamon. This should be nice and syrupy. If you want more cinnamon feel free to add it.

While apples are cooking measure dry ingredients for pancake into your 4 c measuring cup.

Add the eggs, milk and vanilla and stir or whisk until well combined.

Add the melted butter and whisk in well.

Pour over the prepared apples and place in oven to bake for 15-18 minutes, until puffed and golden. If you would like more sugar and cinnamon on the top, feel free to sprinkle more on top of pancake about 12 minutes into cooking when it has just started to puff.

Serve immediately, while this still looks impressive. It deflates quite fast! Cut into 4 big wedges and serve with maple syrup. You may not need it. Oh-don’t forget the powdered sugar.


Notes

If you don’t have apples, any in season fruit will work, such as peaches. This can also be made without fruit.

A smaller skillet makes this puff higher and a larger skillet makes this a smaller puff!

 

Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

b

Sunday 10th of September 2023

So so good. Even tho I messed up and forgot to put the cinnamon and brown sugar on the apples. So I put them on the top the last three minutes of cook time. Turned out great. Will definitely have this often. So wonderful.

Abbe

Sunday 10th of September 2023

Thanks so much for the comment B. It is always nice when someone loves your recipes. I love that it is so good and so easy to make!

Barbara McCarthy

Saturday 17th of December 2022

How do you make a Dutch Baby? Find a Dutch man, of course! Ha! This is the perfect Dutch Baby recipe- the best I have seen and tried. Works really well with berries or cherries as well.

Abbe

Saturday 17th of December 2022

Thanks so much Barbara! LOL!

mjskitchen

Saturday 5th of March 2022

Glad you updated it because I missed it the first time. I'm in the process of using up fall apples that are in the freezer and this is just perfect. Caramelized apples are so very yummy.

Liz

Saturday 19th of February 2022

YUM! I love Dutch babies!! Bill likes ordinary pancakes, but I'm getting together with my sisters next month and this would be fun to make (my mom made a simple Dutch baby sprinkled with lemon juice and powdered sugar). Have a great weekend!!! xo

Abbe

Sunday 20th of February 2022

Oh luck you to h ave had a mm that made Dutch baby's! We just got Bisquik. Not that I'm conplaining! If you are in Denver, please give a call!

Abbe Odenwalder

Tuesday 11th of February 2014

These are delicious! And easy! And perfect for breakfast or dinner! Enjoy!