I love Dutch Baby pancakes. I never even heard of these things until a few months ago. They’re good to eat but what’s fun about them is that they’re spectacular-looking! The first time I saw one I gasped. I make an apple compote-ish concoction to go along with them. There are different ways to make BDPs, but here’s how I do it. They’re very rich and fattening and probably very unhealthy, at least, the way I make them, but sometimes, you just gotta, especially when it’s coooold outside.
Here are some pictures of my last one:
Dutch Baby pancakes for Two
What you need:
A blender, a fairly shallow skillet or pan that can go in the oven (I use a 10" cast iron skillet)
3 eggs
3/4 cup milk
3/4 cup flour
1/4 cup butter (half a stick!)
Pre-heat oven to 425 (very important to preheat)
When the oven is heated, put butter into the pan and place pan in the oven to melt the butter. While the butter is melting, put 3 eggs in the blender and blend them on the highest speed for at least a minute.
While the blender is still running, trickle in the milk, then slowly add the flour. Continue blending for about 30 seconds. Take the pan out of the oven and pour the batter in the center.
Place the pan in the oven and cook for about 20 minutes. If you’ve never seen a Baby Dutch Pancake, your eyes will pop out when you take it out of the oven!
Eat it quickly because it’s not as good if it sits around and gets soggy. The center will start to deflate as soon as you take it out of the oven.
To make the fruit compote, and you have to start this well before you start making the pancake, I peel 2 apples and cut them into chunks. I use a hand-cranked enclosed chopper to chop the apple chunks into small pieces. Put a tablespoon or two of butter into a skillet and add the apples, then add stuff. I don’t measure anything, this is what I came up with, trial and error, that tastes good to my husband and myself, your mileage may vary I add a couple teaspoons of sugar, a teaspoon or so of cinnamon, a couple of spoonfuls of honey and a spoonful of molassas. Cook the apples until they’re soft. Sometimes I add in a couple of sliced-up bananas, and/or a chopped pear. Near the end I add a couple tablespoons of water and mix well. It’s tricky to have the compote done exactly when the pancake is. I’m sure there are better recipes, but this works for me.
Does anyone have any suggestions about softening the apples in the microwave because I’m not good at judging times and crunchy apples aren’t as good as soft apples.
I’ve read that a paella pan is recommended but I don’t have one. I’ve seen various other recipes, such as for a 3-4 quart pan use 4 eggs, 1 cup milk and 1 cup flour, and cook for 25 minutes. Here are a couple others from the web (I haven’t tried them):
German Pancakes - Dutch Babies
That one has pictures and he uses less milk and flour. I’ll have to try using bread flour. He recommends beating the eggs by hand for 5 minutes! Sheesh! My arms would get tired 1:30 in. That’s why god made blenders.
Anyone have any recipes or tips or other ways of making them? What do they look like when they’re made in a paella pan? What the heck is a paella pan?
