Light and airy Caramelized Apple German Pancakes are a delicious twist on the usual puff pancake or Dutch baby recipe!
German pancakes are as fun as they are delicious! The pancakes are light, almost crepe-like pancakes that puff up while they bake. These Caramelized Apple German Pancakes are especially tasty.
The cinnamon-sugar apples caramelize in the pan and create a buttery, caramel-y topping that bakes right into the pancake. The pancake is especially good served warm right out of the oven - no syrup necessary.
Ingredients and substitutions
- Apple slices - I recommend using a baking apple that will hold its shape like a Granny Smith or a Honeycrisp.
- Granulated sugar
- Ground cinnamon
- Ground ginger
- Ground nutmeg
- Allspice
- Butter - I use salted butter.
- Brown sugar - Light or dark brown sugar will work.
- All-purpose flour
- Salt
- Milk - Any milk - skim milk to whole milk - will work.
- Vanilla extract
- Large eggs
How to make caramelized apple German pancakes
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 8x8-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.
>>Top tip: Watch the pancake carefully toward the end of your baking time as it can go from lightly browned to dark brown quickly.
The pancake with start to deflate once it is removed from the oven. Serve warm.
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Caramelized Apple German Pancake
Ingredients
- 1 cup thin apple slices peeled
- ¼ cup granulated sugar divided
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon allspice
- ¼ cup butter
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup milk
- ½ 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 8x8-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 or a Honeycrisp.
- Butter - I use salted butter.
- Brown sugar - Light or dark brown sugar will work.
- Milk - Any milk - skim milk to whole milk - will work.
- Nutrition facts have been estimated.
Nutrition
adapted from The Kitchn
Originally published 9/18/13. Updated with additional photos and tips 12/17/21.
Tracy
I have made this recipe several times now and everyone loves it. Thank you for sharing.
Kate
Thank you so much!
Dawn
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
Thank you so much!
Pat Mascarello
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
This type of pancake is similar to a crepe and doesn't have leavening like baking soda or baking powder in it.
Ellie
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
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
Best recipe and comes out perfect every time!
Kate
Thank you!
Ericka
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
Thank you so much!
Angie
Delicious and simple. Love this recipe
Kate
Thank you!
Karen
I have used fresh cranberry instead apples used almond extract to replace vanilla, even added toasted coconut . Came out delicious .
Kate
Thank you!
Jake
Awesome recipe. Whole family loved it!! Thanks for sharing.?
Kate
Thanks so much! Glad you liked it! =)
Teresa
I've made several versions of a German Pancake/Dutch Baby and this one turned out beautifully! A big hit at our house!
Kate
Thank you!
Brndismuke@yahoo.com
I made them for the first time and everyone just loved them.
Kate
That's great! I'm so glad that it was a hit. =) Thanks for commenting!
Mrs Zedi
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
Great! I'm glad that you liked it and can adjust it for your tastes. =)
Pat
Can you prepare any of this ahead of time?
Kate
I haven't tried to make the batter or the apple mixture ahead of time to say for certain.
Amy
Could this be doubled and baked in a 9x12 baking dish?
Kate
Hi! I haven't tried it with this recipe, but I've doubled my regular German pancake and baked it in a 9x13.
Jamie
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
No, Dutch babies and German puff pancakes don't use a chemical leavener like baking soda or baking powder.
Serena Haak
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
Delicious!!! Thank you for this great recipe!
Kate
Thank you! I'm so glad that you liked it. Thanks for commenting!