I have to admit that this is the first time I've ever eaten one of these. I was looking for a 'yummy' breakfast recipe, as per the request from my hyperactive 5 year old, and came across these Dutch Babies. It occurred to me, while the 5 year old bounced around my kitchen talking non-stop, that I could see why the Dutch would actually eat their babies. Then I read the recipe and decided it was an oven baked pancake, or an oven baked crepe. This dutch-baby recipe has no leavening in it other than eggs; this seemed to be the usual recipe, although I did find some that had some baking soda or powder in them. I decided simple was better (and cheaper).
The recipe originally calls for 4 eggs but I've changed this to 3 or 4 eggs. We have our own chickens here on the farm, and our eggs are REALLY large - so I use 3 eggs. But if you are using grocery store eggs, you'll probably need 4 of them. I guess there's a 'method' to making these, which believe it or not I followed, so my suggestion is to actually read the instructions for guidance. I'm not sure what would happen if you didn't follow 'the method', but I wouldn't want to be responsible for any breakfast disasters.
Dutch Baby (or Oven Pancake, or Oven Crepe)
serves 4
about 40 minutes
preheat oven to 425 degrees
1/4 cup butter or hard margarine
1 cup flour
pinch of salt
1 Tbsp granulated sugar, honey or maple syrup
1 cup of milk
3 or 4 eggs
Preheat your oven to 425 degrees. Put the cold butter or margarine into a cast iron frying pan, or a 8in casserole dish. Put the pan in the oven to heat the butter and the pan (this would be the 'method').
Mix together the flour, salt, sugar, and milk. Beat in the eggs one at a time until well mixed - you can do this by hand or with a mixer, your choice. Pour this mixture into the hot pan in the oven - not literally in the oven, but somehow get the baby batter into the pan.
Bake for 25 minutes. The pancake puffs up nice and high, like a souffle, and then collapses once you take it out of the oven. DON'T PANIC! This is supposed to happen. The edges will be high and slightly crispy, and the inside is flat and eggy. It's a perfect platform for fresh fruit and whipped cream, maple syrup or any other topping you enjoy.
