German pancakes, dutch babies, popovers…whatever you call them in your part of the world, they are irresistible! Ready in 20 minutes and only 5 very basic ingredients! Serve them with fresh fruit, syrups, or whipped cream!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- AKA mini Dutch babies, mini Dutch pancakes, or Yorkshire puddings!
- Only needs 5 very basic ingredients and is ready in 20 minutes!
- Individual portions are easier to serve than the larger version of German pancakes and make for a fun breakfast on special occasions!
- Can be served as a sweet dish for breakfast or as a savory side to meat and gravy.
Ingredient Notes
- Butter - Both unsalted butter and salted butter work fine.
- Flour - All-purpose flour, not self-rising flour.
- Milk - I used 2% milk.
- Eggs - I used large eggs.
Products I Used For This Recipe
Step by Step Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 425 degrees.
- Cut the 6 Tbs. Butter into 18 pieces.
- Place each butter piece in a muffin cup in 2 muffin tins or cupcake pan. Set aside.
- NOTE - It's tempting just to spray muffin tins with nonstick cooking spray, but the butter is essential to this recipe.
- Blend the milk, eggs, flour, and salt in a blender until smooth and no flour clumps remain.
- I love to use my Ninja smoothie blender because it has a lid with a pour spout; however, any blender will do.
- Put the muffin tins in the oven to melt the butter to sizzle. This only takes about 30 seconds or so, so keep an eye on it.
- Once the butter is sizzling, not just melted, quickly fill each muffin cup halfway with the batter.
- Bake for 13-15 minutes. Here are some pictures of how they look as they cook.
- The edges should be brown, and the pancakes should be puffy. They will deflate upon cooling.
- Serve immediately with syrups, whipped cream, fresh fruits, or a dusting of powdered sugar.
Recipe FAQs and Expert Tips
They are puffy pancakes baked in a hot metal or cast iron pan. The batter is poured over hot sizzling butter and placed immediately in the oven, where it puffs up and then falls as it cools. German pancakes are similar to popovers and Yorkshire puddings. Yorkshire puddings, however, are prepared using meat juices and fats and are served with roasted meat with gravy. Poffertjes are also similar but made with yeast. A couple of other names they are known by are Dutch Babies, bismark, a Dutch puff, or large American popovers.
They actually are not German. So where do they come from? The American “German pancakes” originated in the United States. Originally called Dutch Babies, they were invented in Seattle, Washington, and the Dutch in the name comes from Dutch, as in Pennsylvania Dutch, referring to the German immigrants in the 17th and 18th centuries. The story goes that the name Dutch Baby was coined by one of Victor Manca's daughters. Manca's Cafe claimed that it owned the trademark for Dutch babies in 1942.
They are baked pancakes made from eggs, milk, salt, flour, and vanilla. They are light with a buttery egg flavor. You can serve them with your favorite toppings like maple syrup, cool whip, or fresh berries.
Serve them with syrups (I have a list of syrups below), vanilla sauce, fresh fruits, or whipped cream.
Related Recipes
- Cinnamon Cream Syrup
- Lemon Cream Syrup
- Cream Cheese Syrup
- Pumpkin Pie Syrup
- Homemade Buttermilk Syrup
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Mini German Pancakes Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Milk
- 6 Eggs
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- 1 Cup Flour
- 6 Tbs. Butter
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
- Cut up the 6 Tbs. of Butter into 18 pieces that are roughly the same sizes.
- Place each butter piece in the muffin cups of the muffin tins.
- In a blender, blend the milk, eggs, salt, and flour until smooth. Set aside.
- Place the muffin tins with butter in the cups in the preheated oven and melt the butter to sizzling. This doesn't take long so keep an eye on it, and it must be sizzling, not just melted.
- Once the butter is sizzling, remove from the oven and fill the muffin cups about ½ full with batter quickly.
- Return to the oven for 13-15 minutes. The edges should be browned and the pancakes puffy.
- Serve immediately.
CLAUDIA
CAN THESE BE FROZEN? THERE'S ONLY TWO OF US. THANK YOU.
mindeescookingobsession
I don’t think they would freeze well. You can however cut the recipe in half and it will be fine.
April Brooks
These were absolutely 5 star quality! So easy to make and turned out to perfection. One of most delicious breakfasts ever! This will now be my go to recipe for special occ
asions:-) Thank you so much for sharing.
mindeescookingobsession
You're very welcome!!!
Alicia
These are so yummy and easy!! Thank you!
Heidi
I made it in a giant cupcake pan. Absolutely delicious.
MIndy
Thank you for the great idea to make individuals! German pancakes are a favorite in my house!
Shayla
Our go-to special breakfast...and sometimes dinner
Betty
What a great idea for Easter breakfast
Riley
Yes! You can definitely call food pretty! And these are so pretty!
Suzanne Johnson
These DO look pretty!
Julie
Love German pancakes and mini is such a good idea!