If I had to choose one, just one breakfast to serve my family that was both delicious, filling, and nutrient-dense, this German Pancake recipe would be my choice. Served simply with syrup, it’s a winner. When dressed up with some berry sauce, it is over-the-top incredible!
Where did the German Pancake Breakfast originate?
There are many names that this delightful pancake recipe goes by. The German Pancake, Dutch Baby, Bismarck, Hootenanny, Yorkshire Pudding, Dutch Puffs, and Hooligans are all distinct regional nomenclatures for the same food.
German Pancakes are likely just that. A pancake enjoyed in the rural countryside homes of farmers in Germany using basic pantry staples and farm-fresh ingredients. Meanwhile in England, this delicious concoction was known as a Yorkshire Pudding. None of these recipes contain any leavening but rather rely on eggs to elicit their signature puff.
Victor Manca owned a cafe which served the German Pancake Puff. Historians assume that the name “Dutch” baby pancake was likely a mispronunciation by his daughter of the word “deutsch” which, of course, means German. In 1942, Manca’s Cafe insisted that they had a trademark claim on the term “Dutch Baby Pancake.”
There is one similar name that I did not list above. That is the name Swedish Pancake That is because Swedish Pancakes are entirely different from this breakfast popover pancake. Swedish pancakes are prepared in more of a crepe style with a thin batter that is cooked, filled and then rolled up. German Pancakes are served thick, puffy, and fluffy with a syrup or topping.
German Pancake Recipe, so simple a child can make it!
The thing about being a homemaker is that we are to teach others as part of our calling. When you have daughters, this is a special blessing Over the years I have been able to instruct and patiently coach each of my four daughters as they learned to make this recipe. As children, they loved using the blender and oven buttons too. Caution should always be exercised, but you will know when your child is ready to move beyond breaking eggs into the jar, to proudly putting this fully-prepared meal on the table.
How to serve the German Pancake.
Most often, a German Pancake is sprinkled with some powdered sugar and given a squeeze of lemon juice when removed from the oven. It is then sliced and served with or without syrup, according to preference. In our home, I like to find whatever fresh or frozen berries I have, combine them with some water and sugar in a saucepan and serve it as an accompaniment to the popover. They really do taste wonderfully good with their egg-y simplicity and do not need much else to be enjoyed by all.
German Pancake Recipe with Berry Sauce.
German Pancake aka “Bismarck” or Hootenanny with Berry Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Whole Milk
- 1 Cup All-purpose Flour
- 6 Eggs, Large
- 6 T Butter
- 1/2 T Vanilla Extract
- 1 Pinch Real Salt
Instructions
- In a high-speed blender combine flour, eggs, and milk.
- Blend for 30-45 seconds.
- Add vanilla extract and scrape sides of blender jar with spatula.
- Blend again for 30 seconds.
- Preheat cast iron skillet with butter in oven set to 425°F.
- Set a timer for 10 minutes and allow batter mixture to remain in blender jar as the milk and eggs fully hydrate the flour. This step can usually be done as the oven preheats, but it should not be skipped.
- When timer is done and oven has preheated, remove the hot skillet from the oven and carefully pour the batter over the melted butter in the skillet.
- Return the hot skillet to the oven and bake for 23-25 minutes while you prepare the sauce.
Notes
Preparing these in a cast iron skillet really is the best method, but if all you have are glass baking dishes, a 9×13 Pyrex works just fine. Don’t let “perfection” keep you from progress as you learn to nourish your family well.
Also, if a high-speed blender is not in your arsenal, try a hand-held immersion blender. I usually use this instead when I don’t want to take the extra time to assemble, clean-up, and put away my big Ninja. After all, our ancestors likely whisked this recipe up by hand, right?
Breakfast doesn’t have to be a homemaking struggle once you get a few basic recipes under your apron. My focus here at Traditional Wife Modern Life is to equip and prepare you to serve your family with a variety of home-baked recipes from scratch that can be prepared with little effort, served with much love, and enjoyed with much appreciation.
Day by day we are building a legacy for our children by filling our homes with joy and their memories with love that will be cherished for a lifetime. Meals make terrific tools for crafting great memories. Start today to plan and prepare meals with excellence that will nourish your family both body and soul.
Let me know down below how your German Pancake turned out. There really is no learning curve with this recipe and your first attempt will likely turn out a great success!