what is the difference between a dutch baby and a german pancake

A dutch baby pancake is sometimes referred to as a puff pancake, a dutch puff, or a German pancake. It is essentially a large popover or Yorkshire pudding with a custardy base and crisp tall edges. It is typically served for breakfast.
what is the difference between a dutch baby and a german pancake

The Original German Pancake has morphed into often being called a ‘Dutch Baby.’ This delicious thin pancake is neither Dutch or a baby but it is SO good!

what is the difference between a dutch baby and a german pancake

This post with a recipe for a German Pancake was originally published several years ago and I was inspired to bring it out of the archives for two reasons.

One was Google Maps Street View. Once I located my grandparents old home it brought back such wonderful memories. I started traveling down memory lane and had to make this Original German Pancake for breakfast and decided this recipe should be shared again; it’s too good to miss.

Beyond that? I’m on a personal mission to acquaint everyone with a German pancake…and let them know there is nothing Dutch about it!

———-From 2011 I’ve got a problem and it’s called a Dutch Baby. Every single time I see someone extol the virtues of that breakfast treat I want to scream it to the mountains; they simple butchered a name, that’s all!! Why does this matter so much to me??

Well, I’ve got a lot of German blood thanks to my dad’s side of the family and I know when my Grandma Bathe first prepared one of these pancakes for me and shared their history, there were no tulips or clogs in sight; nope, none.

So I’m here to right a wrong; to share why this is indeed a GERMAN pancake; join my mission won’t you?

Story has it that the name “Dutch Baby” was coined in a family-run restaurant in Seattle called Manca’s Cafe, owned by a gentleman named Victor Manca from about 1900 to the 1950s.

A Manca descendant wrote that the name was coined because Victor’s daughter could not pronounce ‘Deutsch,’ the German word for German; and out of her mouth came Dutch and the deed was done.

Originally served as three small German pancakes with powdered sugar and fresh squeezed lemon juice; the’ Dutch Baby’ moniker was born. Eventually a regular size serving, labeled the “Big Dutch Baby” gained popularity and is what is so often referred to today.

So, let’s see. A mispronunciation leads to a new name which is furthered by making them little but eventually they get big again and yet the butchered name stays the same.

It’s really a giant pancake; an Americanized version of a German dish called Apfelpfannkuchen. Although called a pancake, the end result actually reminds me more of a crepe. They puff up as evidenced in the photo above and without leavening the end result is a thin layer that is traditionally finished with butter, lemon juice and powdered sugar.

The house that was my grandparents home for more than 50 years on Hoffman Avenue in St. Louis.

How fitting that my grandparents, descendants of Germany and Switzerland, lived in a south-side neighborhood of St. Louis populated by what was called the Scrubby Dutch; another example of the word Deutsch becoming generally known as Dutch.

Germans, in general, realize they are preserving their land for the future. This results in a clean, pleasant countryside and relatively manicured streets, even in big cities.

If you wonder where the idea of “South St. Louis Scrubby Dutch” comes from, simply visit the central Rhine and points nearby. Germans in small villages take to the streets almost daily, to sweep small debris and keep their walkways looking attractive.

This was so typical of my grandparents neighborhood, a quiet, conservative-Catholic neighborhood filled with Gingerbread bungalows. It was like going to a different world from our suburban neighborhood of new homes without grown trees and I loved it there.

I found this picture using Google maps…it seemed so much larger when I was a little girl but no less precious and I remember many special nights staying in that bedroom on the upper right listening to the birds in the tree in the front yard. For me it was just this side of Heaven.

This is easy to prepare and quite a unique presentation…one reason my children liked me to make it when they had friends sleep over; this is not everyone’s Grandma’s pancake!

Although I love the traditional method of serving with lemon juice on top sprinkled with some powdered sugar, I’ve always made a couple of options so for our family it would not be the same without apple slices sauteed in butter and sugar, or cinnamon and sugar with toasted almonds on top.

I provide all of those choices so everyone can have their version of this GERMAN pancake whatever name they insist upon using!

More Favorite Breakfast Dishes

what is the difference between a dutch baby and a german pancake

DUTCH BABY, GERMAN PANCAKE or Pancake with Many Names, it’s delicious

FAQ

Why are German pancakes called Dutch babies?

While these pancakes are derived from the German pancake dish, it is said that the name Dutch baby was coined by one of Victor Manca’s daughters, where “Dutch” perhaps was her corruption of the German autonym deutsch. Manca’s Cafe claimed that it owned the trademark for Dutch babies in 1942.

What makes Dutch pancakes different?

What’s the difference between a Dutch pancake and an American pancake? A Dutch pancake is usually larger and much thinner than the thick and fluffy American pancakes. If you order a Dutch pancake at PANCAKES Amsterdam, you will get a delicious thin pancake with a diameter of 32 centimeters.

How are German pancakes different from American pancakes?

How are German Pancakes different than American Pancakes? German pancakes use a whole lot more eggs and no added leavening agent. German Pancakes are also baked in the oven to a golden perfection.

What is a German pancake made from?

What are German Pancakes? German pancakes, often called Dutch Baby pancakes are baked pancakes made from eggs, milk, flour and vanilla. The pancakes are baked in a metal or cast iron pan, puff up in the oven and then fall as they cool.

What is a Dutch baby pancake?

A dutch baby pancake is sometimes referred to as a puff pancake, a dutch puff, or a German pancake. It is essentially a large popover or Yorkshire pudding with a custardy base and crisp tall edges. It is typically served for breakfast. Eggs – Eggs make this rise.

Do you eat German or dutch baby pancakes all the time?

German or Dutch Baby Pancakes make for a simple, quick hot breakfast … or lunch or dinner. If I’m honest, we eat them all the time. They are our go to last minute meal plan. 5 ingredients, 30 minutes and so, so, so delicious. I mean what is better than a baked pancake with tall, crispy edges and a tender, custardy bottom?

How do you cook a Dutch baby pancake?

Dutch Baby Pancakes (or German Pancakes) are a cross between crepes and popovers. They have a billowy puffed crust with a custard center. Preheat oven to 425˚F. Place an oven-safe skillet such as cast iron into the oven and let it preheat for at least 8 minutes.

Can Dutch baby pancakes be reheated?

Dutch baby pancakes are better enjoyed straight out of the oven. While you could reheat one in a 250-300F oven until warmed through, I do not recommend it. Why are my German Pancakes not fluffy? Either the oven or skillet weren’t hot enough or you did not whip the batter enough. Can you freeze Dutch pancakes?

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