Light and airy German Apple Pancake is a delicious twist on the usual puff pancake or Dutch baby recipe! This simple recipe makes a German pancake topped with caramelized apples.
German pancakes are as fun as they are delicious! This puffy pancake is different from a traditional American pancake. The pancakes are light, crepe-like pancakes that puff up while they bake.
This Caramelized Apple German Pancake is especially tasty! The cinnamon-sugar apples caramelize in the pan and create a buttery, caramelized topping that bakes right into the pancake.
The pancake is especially good served warm right out of the oven – no syrup necessary. This delicious recipe makes a perfect breakfast for special occasions like Christmas morning, but it’s easy enough to take the place of your regular pancakes on Sunday mornings.
Ingredients notes and substitutions
- Apple slices: I recommend using a baking apple that will hold its shape like a Granny Smiths, gala apples, or Honeycrisp apples.
- Spices: You can use 2 ¼ teaspoons of apple pie spice in place of the spices listed in the recipe.
- Butter: I use salted butter. If you use unsalted butter, add a couple of additional pinches of salt.
- Brown sugar: Light or dark brown sugar will work.
- Milk: Any milk from skim milk to whole milk will work. You can also use plant-based milk if you would like.
How to make German apple pancake
Here you’ll find the step-by-step photos showing how to make this recipe. The full recipe with ingredients is given below.
Step 1: In a small bowl, add the apple slices and spices to a small mixing bowl. Toss apple slices in the cinnamon sugar mixture; set aside.
Step 2: Cut the butter into four pieces, and place them in a deep cast iron skillet. I use this 10-inch cast iron skillet or an 8×8-inch baking dish. Put the skillet or baking dish in the oven for 3 to 4 minutes to heat the butter, or until the butter has melted.
Step 3: Take the pan out of the oven; sprinkle brown sugar over the melted butter.
Step 4: Add apple slice mixture in an even layer over brown sugar. Put the pan back in the oven while you make the remaining batter.
Step 5: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, remaining 2 tablespoons sugar, and salt. Whisk in milk, and continue whisking until no flour lumps remain.
Step 6: Add eggs, one at a time, and whisk until incorporated. Stir in the vanilla extract.
Step 7: Take the cast iron pan out of the oven, and pour batter over the apples. Be sure to use oven mitts as the skillet will be hot.
Step 8: Bake for 18-25 minutes, or until the center is set and sides are lightly browned.
>>Top tip: Watch the pancake carefully toward the end of your baking time as it can go from lightly browned to dark brown quickly.
Step 9: The pancake will start to deflate once it is removed from the oven. Serve warm.
Recipe Tips!
- Baking: Watch the pancake carefully toward the end of your baking time. Since it’s so puffed up, it can go from light golden brown to dark brown quickly.
- Serving: This Dutch baby apple pancake is perfect as-is. It’s also delicious topped with maple syrup, a dusting of powered sugar, or even a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Storage
Dutch babies are best eaten when warm. Any leftover pancake should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep for up to 3 days when properly stored in the fridge.
More pancake recipes!
If you’ve tried this German apple pancake recipe, don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below. I love to hear from people who’ve made my recipes!
You can subscribe to receive my latest recipe newsletters or follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest for even more delicious food.
Caramelized Apple German Pancake
Equipment
- 10-inch cast iron skillet
Ingredients
- 1 cup thin apple slices peeled
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar divided
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon allspice
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 5 large eggs
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350 F.
- In a small bowl, toss apple slices, 2 tablespoons sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice together; set aside.
- Cut the butter into four pieces, and place them in a deep cast iron skillet. I use this 10-inch cast iron skillet or an 8×8-inch baking dish.
- Put the skillet or baking dish in the oven for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the butter has melted.
- Take the pan out of the oven; sprinkle brown sugar over the melted butter.
- Add apple slice mixture evenly over brown sugar.
- Put the pan back in the oven while you make the remaining batter.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, remaining 2 tablespoons sugar, and salt.
- Whisk in milk, and continue whisking until no flour lumps remain.
- Add eggs, one at a time, and whisk until incorporated.
- Stir in the vanilla extract.
- Take the pan out of the oven, and pour the batter over the apples.
- Bake for 18-25 minutes, or until the center is set and sides are lightly browned.
- The pancake with start to deflate once it is removed from the oven. Serve warm.
Video
Notes
- Apple slices – I recommend using a baking apple that will hold its shape like a Granny Smith apples or Honeycrisps.
- Spices: You can use 2 ¼ teaspoons of apple pie spice in place of the spices listed in the recipe.
- Butter – I use salted butter. If using unsalted butter, add an extra pinch or two of salt.
- Brown sugar – Light or dark brown sugar will work.
- Milk – Any milk from skim milk to whole milk will work. You can also use plant-based milk, like almond milk, in this recipe.
- Nutrition values are estimates.
Nutrition
Did You Make This Recipe?
Share it with me on Instagram @i_heart_eating and follow on Youtube @katedean and Pinterest @katedean for more!
adapted from The Kitchn. Originally published 9/18/13.
Reader Interactions
Love this recipe?
Share your thoughts below and let’s chat! Make sure to connect with me on your favorite social platform below and show me what you made!
Comments & Reviews
Tracy says
I have made this recipe several times now and everyone loves it. Thank you for sharing.
Kate says
Thank you so much!
Judy Miller says
Love this recipe! Really easy to make and absolutely delicious.
I was stunned when I took it out of the oven. It was huge!!!
Of course, it deflated quickly.O:-)
Kate says
Thank you!
Dawn says
This was absolutely delicious. I made it exactly as the recipe said to and it turned out beautiful and tasted amazingly good. I’ll definitely be making this again and again.
Kate says
Thank you so much!
Pat Mascarello says
I made this recipe and it tasted ok. Unfortunately the recipe didn’t have baking powder or baking soda to help it puff up.
Kate says
This type of pancake is similar to a crepe and doesn’t have leavening like baking soda or baking powder in it.
Ellie says
The flavor of this was amazing, but we were disappointed with the texture. I questioned the ratio of flour to the eggs and milk, but followed the recipe exactly. The end result was more of a dense custard texture, definitely not a cakey pancake texture. I might make the apple mixture again and use it with a more traditional pancake batter.
Kate says
German pancakes have a more crepe-like texture. They aren’t a traditional American pancake, so it sounds like that was where the confusion came in.
Kathy says
Best recipe and comes out perfect every time!
Kate says
Thank you!
Ericka says
I’ve tried a few apple pancake recipes & while they were all good, this version is by far the best ny family & I have tasted! Thank you for sharing it :)
Kate says
Thank you so much!
Angie says
Delicious and simple. Love this recipe
Kate says
Thank you!
Karen says
I have used fresh cranberry instead apples used almond extract to replace vanilla, even added toasted coconut . Came out delicious .
Kate says
Thank you!
Jake says
Awesome recipe. Whole family loved it!! Thanks for sharing.?
Kate says
Thanks so much! Glad you liked it! =)
Teresa says
I’ve made several versions of a German Pancake/Dutch Baby and this one turned out beautifully! A big hit at our house!
Kate says
Thank you!
Brndismuke@yahoo.com says
I made them for the first time and everyone just loved them.
Kate says
That’s great! I’m so glad that it was a hit. =) Thanks for commenting!
Mrs Zedi says
I was REALLY looking forward to having the time to make this. Since there’s diabetes in my family and I prefer things less-sweet, i used the full amount of brown sugar and skipped the 2 tablespoons of white sugar in the apple mixture. I put 2 tablespoons sugar in the batter per the recipe. It looked gorgeous when I took it out, but it is waay too sweet for a pancake! It could be a dessert, but it’s verging on candy sweet. I’d suggest a recommendation of using zero-4 tablespoons of sugar. In my opinion, it would have been perfect with just the brown sugar. Then maple syrup or confectioners’ sugar can be added by the sweet-tooths! I will be trying this again with the changes I just suggested.
Kate says
Great! I’m glad that you liked it and can adjust it for your tastes. =)
Pat says
Can you prepare any of this ahead of time?
Kate says
I haven’t tried to make the batter or the apple mixture ahead of time to say for certain.
Amy says
Could this be doubled and baked in a 9×12 baking dish?
Kate says
Hi! I haven’t tried it with this recipe, but I’ve doubled my regular German pancake and baked it in a 9×13.
Jamie says
Does this not require baking soda?!? I have mine in (without baking soda per the recipe) and it’s not puffing up. I’m leaving it in but a little concerned that something was missed on this recipe
Kate says
No, Dutch babies and German puff pancakes don’t use a chemical leavener like baking soda or baking powder.
Serena Haak says
I know that dutch babies puff up more if you beat the eggs quite a bit in a blender before mixing in the rest of the ingredients, maybe that step would give you a lighter and taller pancake?
Angie A says
Delicious!!! Thank you for this great recipe!
Kate says
Thank you! I’m so glad that you liked it. Thanks for commenting!