Full Moon Recipe for March: Vanilla Dutch Baby (Puffed Oven Pancake)

It’s time for another recipe! First, the recipe. Then, me blathering onward about my occasionally questionable culinary capabilities and the memories this particular treat holds for me.

• The Ingredients
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 3 large eggs
  • 3/4 cup all purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup 2% milk, warmed
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla or white sugar
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • confectioner’s sugar and cinnamon, for garnishing
• The Way of Preparing
  1. Preheat oven to 400°F, 200°C, gas mark 6.
  2. Using a large oven safe skillet, melt the butter in the preheated oven.
  3. While that is melting, blend together the eggs, flour, sugar, extract, salt, and flour on medium high until it is light yellow and no longer stringy.
  4. Remove the pan from the oven, carefully.
  5. Tilt the pan all around to coat the bottom of it with the melted butter; pour any remaining butter into the batter and whisk together.
  6. Immediately, place the pan back on the oven rack and pour the batter into it. Push the rack into the oven and shut the oven door.
  7. Cook the Dutch baby until the pancake is puffed up in the center and it is golden brown along the edges, approximately 23-25 minutes. Remove from oven
  8. Using a large spatula, remove the entire Dutch baby from the pan and cool on a wire rack for about five minutes or until cool enough to cut without burning your fingertips.
  9. Dust with powdered sugar, or cinnamon and powdered sugar mixed together. Enjoy!
• Notes
  • Just use a blender to make the batter. It’s the easiest way.

I used to make this for my step-siblings after my late father’s second marriage to a lady named Lila. They didn’t have the patience for individual pancakes, but one giant cake-type pancake? Hell yeah.

It’s also a good “I dunno, what do you want?” kind of treat. I’ve used it a few times for cakes and ale because when it’s warm and just out of the oven, it’s a real special treat.

Let me know if you try it! I’d love to see photos or hear of your own culinary adventures. Got a recipe for me to try?

Happy baking!