Big Dutch Baby Pancakes
Serves: 4
Oven: 425°F
Time: 20-25 minutes
Ingredients
- ½ cup (¼ lb. - one stick) butter or margarine
- 6 eggs
- 1½ cup milk
- 1½ cup all-purpose flour
- ground nutmeg (optional)
Preparation
- Put all the butter in the large pan, or half in each of the 2 small pans*; set pan(s) in 425° oven. Then mix batter quickly while butter melts. (I am too chicken to do this as I use butter and am afraid it will burn. I heat the pans without the butter in them and then add melted butter just before I pour in the batter.)
- In blender on high speed or a food processor, whirl eggs for 1 minute.
- With motor running, pour in milk; then add flour, a spoonful at a time.
- When all is added, whirl 30 seconds more.
- (With a rotary mixer, beat eggs until light and lemon colored; gradually beat in milk, then flour.)
- Remove pan(s) from oven. Quickly pour the batter in the large pan or half into each small pan.
- Return to oven and bake until puffy and well browned; 20-25 minutes.
Toppings
- Classic: Have a shaker or bowl of powdered sugar** and thick wedges of lemon at the table. Sprinkle sugar on hot pancake, then squeeze lemon over it.
- Syrups: Pass warm honey, maple syrup or any favorite fruit syrup.
- Fresh Fruit: Serve a bowl of sliced strawberries, sweetened to taste; defrosted frozen peach slices; or any fruits in season, cut and sweetened (about 4 cups).
- Hot Fruit: Gently fry fresh apple or pear slices in a little butter (you'll need 3 to 4 large apples or pears and 2 to 3 tablespoons butter) until tender and translucent. Sweeten with sugar or honey to taste and offer with cinnamon-sugar and sour cream or yogurt. Or heat banana or papaya slices in melted butter over medium heat, turning until hot; serve with lime wedges.
NOTE: I always have used butter so I don't know how it would taste with margarine. I also use two 9" x 13"pans. My glass pan produces the best results; the thin aluminum one cooks faster so I end up getting that out first. I cut the large pancake into 4 pieces. We always top these with sugar and squeezed lemon (lots of both). It is fantastic ... and don't be skimpy with the sugar!
*To make 1 large pancake, you will need a shallow 4½ to 5 quart pan; to bake 2 smaller pancakes at once, you'll need 2 shallow pans each 2 to 3 quarts. You may use a paella pan, an iron frying pan, a ceramic, glass or metal baking dish, or a foil roasting pan. Any shape will work, but the pan should be fairly shallow - not much more than 3 inches deep. Check the volume by pouring in quart measures of water.
**Powdered Sugar. I make my own in a blender. This ends up as a fine powder and I think it is better. Granulated sugar would have a bit of a crunch/texture that I think would be distracting; plus the lemon wouldn't soak into the sugar as readily.
ALTERNATE - Smaller Recipe, Apple Topping
For years, I used the above recipe. It is great, but "requires" a blender. I found another recipe that just calls for wisking the eggs, milk and flour. That worked just fine, and it is faster. As a bonus with this recipe, I found an excellent alternate topping.
Serves: 2
Oven: 425°F
Time: 14-17 minutes
ALTERNATE - Ingredients
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 4 Tbsp. butter
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1 medium (1 cup) apple, peeled, quartered, sliced
- 2 Tbsp. firmly packed brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- powdered sugar (optional)
ALTERNATE - Preparation
- Melt 2 tablespoons butter in 9" glass pie pan (I used an 8" and it worked OK but glass is best) in oven 4 to 5 minutes. Spread melted butter over bottom of pan.
- Combine flour, milk and eggs in medium bowl; beat with wire wisk until well mixed. Carefully pour batter into hot pie pan. Bake 14-17 minutes (my 8" pan took 20 or so minutes) until puffed and light golden brown.
- Topping: While baking, melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter in 8" nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add maple syrup, apple slices, brown sugar and cinnamon. Cook until apple is tender (4 to 5 minutes). Keep warm.
- Spoon apple mixture over puffed pancake; sprinkle with powdered sugar. Server immediately.
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