Cinnamon Apple German Pancakes
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Growing up, my dad would make breakfast every Sunday morning for the family & German Pancakes, or Dutch Babies, as we grew up calling them, was a staple! We had just the regular ole German pancakes. Nothing fancy, with some butter and maple syrup! Delicious, but I came up with this version that’s even better!
This recipe starts just like the regular ones. Turn your oven on & throw some butter in a pan and toss it in the oven to melt as it preheats. This recipe is for a 9x13, 12” cast iron, or similar size pan!
Then, while the butter starts to melt, dice up an apple & toss it in the brown sugar, cinnamon, & nutmeg!
Then pull out the pan with the butter that’s started to melt, swish it around to coat the bottom of the pan, and pour the apples in! You may have to spread them out a bit so they cook evenly. Then put it back in the oven to keep melting & to start cooking those apples.
While that does its thing in the oven, make the batter. It’s easiest to do this in a blender, but I am often making this before my daughter is awake, so I usually make it in a bowl with a wisk. Either way works for you! As you can see, she was awake for this batch and had to come help me out.
Once the butter is all melted and starts to brown a little bit on top, it’s time to pull it out & add your batter! Pour the batter right into the hot pan. Then take a spatula and spread the apples back out. When you pour the batter in, they like to get pushed to the edges, so just spread them back out so you get some in every bite! Then pop it back in the oven for 20 minutes!
When the timer goes off, call all your kids, your spouse, your roommates, even your dog, in to see the masterpiece you made them for breakfast! The puffiness will slowly deflate as it cools, so you want them there as you pull it out for the full effect!
Every batch rises differently! They don’t rise as much as regular German pancakes because the apples weigh it down, but they still put on a pretty good show!
My favorite thing to top it with is buttermilk caramel syrup, but maple syrup is a winner too! Whatever your family likes. Heck, pull out the caramel sauce for ice cream and that would make it even better! And don’t forget the bacon! That salty bacon paired with the sweet syrup is such a great combination!
