Dutch Babies: A New Renaissance Dad Favorite Breakfast

Dutch Babies are a hit!

My cousin Taylor recently had her 21st birthday while staying at our house. My wife asked Taylor what would make her birthday special. Without pausing, Taylor said, "Dutch Babies!" I didn't know where a Dutch orphanage was around here and couldn't imagine adding another couple of kids to the mix. My wife then explained that Dutch Babies were a breakfast food, and I was tasked with making them for Taylor on her birthday.


So I began researching how to make Dutch Babies, and I was relieved to find out that there are only about three billion different ways to make them. I also did not have time to do a practice run, so Taylor's birthday would be my first attempt. No sweat! I looked

Enthusiastic helper

 at several recipes, combined and modified them, and came up with the recipe below. Let me say that Dutch Babies are a new hit in our home. They are easy to make, are a hit with the kids, and have very little sugar in them; in fact, the only sugar is added as a garnish. There are endless possibilities, and after the recipe I will throw out some future additions that I'm planning on trying. So Taylor, thank you for having a birthday and making me learn to make something new.


Dutch Babies
Prep time - 10 minutes
Baking time - 18 minutes
Difficulty - as easy as falling out of bed

Cautiously measuring

Ingredients:
- 3 eggs
- 2/3 cup of milk
- 2/3 cup of flour
- 3-4 tablespoons of butter
- dash of salt
- dash of vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg (all optional)


1) Preheat oven to 450 degrees with a pie plate in the oven (many recipes call for a cast iron skillet. I tried both and found no difference between the skillet and the pie plate, except that the pie plate is much easier to clean)

Guess which one has already had coffee.

2) Beat the three eggs for 1-2 minutes until light and fluffy. Add milk, flour, salt, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg, and beat for one additional minute. The batter will be very thin. This is normal. Don't panic.

3) When the oven is preheated, remove the pie plate and melt the butter, making sure to butter the sides as well.
       *After the butter is melted, one optional step is to line the
         bottom of the pie plate with peeled, sliced apples. This  
         makes for one delicious Dutch Baby.

After melting butter, place apples in plate.

4)  After the butter is melted, pour the batter into the pie plate.

5) Put the pie plate in the oven and bake for 18-22 minutes, or until the sides are golden.

6) Remove from pie plate with a spatula, sprinkle with lemon juice and dust with powdered sugar (This is the most "traditional" according to my Aunt Kris, although I haven't seen her credentials. You can really put anything you want on top). To serve, cut or tear into pieces. 

Batter goes on top of apples

Dutch Babies can be served with lemon wedges or slices, maple syrup, apples and cinnamon, lemon curd, apple butter, jam or jelly. The possibilities are endless. I am planning on a bacon and cheddar cheese Dutch Baby for the next round. I'm also thinking about lemon blueberry Dutch Babies.

So many possibilities, so few Saturdays.

 

Better than screen time!