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    Recipes » Brunch » German Pancake with Apples

    German Pancake with Apples

    Published: Apr 21, 2022 by Kate Shungu · This post may contain affiliate links

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    Jump to Recipe
    german pancake with apples in a cast iron pan with a slice taken out.
    german pancake with apples in cast iron skillet.
    german pancake with apples in cast iron skillet.
    german pancake in a cast iron skillet.

    This easy German Pancake with Apples is an impressive dish for breakfast or brunch. It’s made in a cast iron skillet and it puffs up BIG in the oven!

    german pancake with apples in a cast iron skillet with a slice taken out.

    I love a good one-pan meal. And this German Pancake with Apples is one of those! It’s made in a cast iron skillet, and it’s a super impressive dish for breakfast or brunch.

    Much of my heritage is German, yet I haven’t found a recipe for a German pancake in the family recipe books. I’m always interested in German recipes, so I was delighted to find this recipe in an old church cookbook.

    This recipe for a German pancake with apples (which is also called a Dutch baby or a Bismarck), is quite simple: flour, eggs, milk, sugar, butter, and apples cooked in a cast iron skillet.

    The pancake puffs up really big in the oven, which makes for a really impressive presentation for anyone standing RIGHT next to the oven, anyway. It deflates in seconds after being removed from the heat!

    This post contains affiliate links. Affiliate links support Gift of Hospitality at no additional cost to you. I receive a commission if you choose to make a purchase through these links.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • How to make a German pancake with apples
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Storing and reheating
    • Serving suggestions
    • 📖 Recipe
    • Related recipes

    Ingredients

    eggs, flour, milk, apples, and butter on a white table.
    • Three eggs give the pancake lots of lift in the oven
    • The apples are cooked in butter until tender. I recommend using a sweet/tart apple such as Honeycrisp or Pink Lady. If you like tart, try Granny Smith!
    • Flour, milk, salt, and a little bit of sugar create an easy pancake batter that you’ll just need to whisk together.

    How to make a German pancake with apples

    Start with a 10-inch cast iron skillet. If you don’t have one of those, you can use an 8×8 inch baking dish.

    Place two tablespoons of butter in the baking dish, and pop it into a 400°F oven until the butter is melted.

    While the butter is melting, slice the apples into thin slices. You can peel the apples or leave the peel on—up to you!

    sliced apples on a cutting board.

    Remove the skillet from the oven and add the sliced apples. Toss to coat the apples in the butter, then return the skillet to the oven for 5 minutes. This gives the apples a head start on baking, so they will be perfectly tender when the pancake is done.

    This step is optional, but you can also take this opportunity to arrange the apples in a pattern, if you’d like.

    peeled apple slices fanned out in a cast iron skillet.

    While the apples are baking, whisk together another tablespoons of melted butter along with eggs, milk, flour, sugar, and salt.

    whisk in a glass bowl of pancake batter.

    When the apples have baked for five minutes, remove the skillet from the oven and pour the pancake batter carefully over the top.

    Return to the oven and bake for an additional 17–20 minutes. You want the pancake to be golden brown around the edges when it’s finished cooking.

    The pancake will be big and puffy when you remove it from the oven, but it will quickly deflate.

    Dust the German pancake with powdered sugar and serve!

    hand using a tea strainer to dust a german pancake with powdered sugar.

    Tip: I like using a tea strainer for dusting powdered sugar. It’s just the right size and you can be a little more precise vs. using a large mesh colander for it.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What type of apple is best for a German pancake?

    A sweet/tart apple such as Honeycrisp or Pink Lady is a nice addition to a German pancake. If you prefer tart apples, you can use Granny Smith instead.

    Can I double this recipe?

    Yes! To make German pancakes for a crowd, double the recipe and bake it in a 13×9 inch pan.

    How do I know when a German pancake is done?

    A German pancake is done when it is golden brown around the edges and no longer doughy in the middle. It will puff very large in the oven, but it will deflate in seconds after being removed from the heat.

    My German pancake deflated! Did I do something wrong?

    Nope! This is just the nature of the recipe. It rises high in the oven thanks to the eggs, but when it’s removed from the heat, it deflates quickly. This is normal. It’ll still have edges that are taller than the center once it cools.

    german pancake with apples in a cast iron skillet with a slice taken out.

    Storing and reheating

    Store any leftover German pancake in the refrigerator. To reheat, place it back into a cast iron skillet and bake for 5 minutes in a 400°F oven.

    I don’t recommend using a microwave as that can overcook the eggs in the pancake and make it tough.

    After reheating, dust it with additional powdered sugar.

    Serving suggestions

    While this German pancake with apples is cooked in a 10-inch skillet, it’s quite thin, so it only serves 2–4 people (2 if you’re really hungry and 4 if there are other sides being served, like my praline candied bacon!).

    If you want to serve more people, double the recipe and bake it in a 13×9 inch baking dish.

    I love dusting it with powdered sugar. You can also serve it with maple syrup for drizzling on top.

    It’s delicious with a steaming cup of coffee!

    german pancake with apple in a cast iron skillet next to a cup of coffee.

    Have you tried this recipe? Please leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating and/or comment below!

    cup of ambrosia and slice of banana cake.

    📖 Recipe

    german pancake with apples in cast iron skillet.

    German Pancake with Apples

    Published by Kate
    This easy German pancake recipe is made in a cast iron skillet and dusted with powdered sugar. It's a lovely, lightly sweet option for breakfast or brunch!
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate this Recipe
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 30 mins
    Total Time 23 mins
    Course Brunch
    Cuisine German
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 268 kcal

    Equipment

    • cast iron skillet

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 tablespoons butter, divided
    • 2 apples, peeled and sliced
    • 3 eggs
    • ½ cup milk
    • ½ cup flour
    • 2 tablespoons sugar
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • Powdered sugar for sprinkling

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 400°F. Place two tablespoons of the butter into a 10-inch skillet, and place in the oven until the butter has melted (3–4 minutes). Add the apple slices, toss to coat with the butter, and cook for 5 minutes longer.
    • While the apples are cooking, melt the remaining tablespoon of butter in the microwave.
    • Then, whisk together the remaining melted butter, eggs, milk, flour, sugar, and salt until smooth.
    • Remove the skillet from the oven and immediately pour the flour mixture over the top. Return to the oven and bake for 17–20 minutes, or until golden brown on the edges.
    • Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve.

    Notes

    The pancake will get very puffy in the oven, but will deflate as soon as you remove it from the heat. This is 100% normal. 
    I like using a sweet/tart apple such as Honeycrisp or Pink Lady. 
    Don’t have a cast iron skillet? You can make this recipe in an 8×8 inch baking dish. You can also double this recipe and bake it in a 13×9 inch dish.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 268kcalCarbohydrates: 32gProtein: 7gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 149mgSodium: 206mgPotassium: 208mgFiber: 3gSugar: 17gVitamin A: 539IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 66mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword german pancake with apples
    Tried this recipe?Follow me at @giftofhospitality and let me know how you liked it!

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    About Kate

    I’m a believer, wife, mom, and big fan of old cookbooks. I live in Chicago with my husband and two young sons. I love discovering old fashioned recipes that will transport you back in time! Read more...

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    Kate from Gift of HospitalityI’m Kate. I love discovering old fashioned recipes that will transport you back in time. Learn more here
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