Dutch Baby Pancake Without Cast Iron Skillet

🥣 The Best Baking Dish for a Dutch Baby Pancake

I tested five different dishes with the same Dutch Baby Pancake Recipe to determine which dishes yielded the best results. See the results and two sets of pictures below.

• 9-inch Springform Pan: This version yielded poor results (see picture above). I anticipated that the butter and batter might leak out and placed the dish over a baking sheet, but I wanted to see the impact of a round 9-inch metal dish. The batter did not rise well. This could be because the dish has higher sides or that the sides are straight up and down rather than slightly angled. It had the thickest bottom and the least amount of air in the finished dish.
• Le Creuset Dutch Oven: This version also yielded poor results. This may be because the walls of the Dutch Oven are also quite high. The sides of the Dutch Baby rose the least and shrunk down for the least impressive presentation. It had a thick bottom that buckled (perhaps from a lack of room to rise) without an airy texture.
• 9-inch Ceramic Pie Dish: This dish yielded tall golden brown sides that you would expect of a Dutch Baby (see picture below). But it had a thicker bottom than using a metal square baker or cast iron skillet. I’ve made dozens of Dutch Babies in this dish, and we devour it every time.
• 9x9 Metal Square Baker (winner): This yielded a slightly better Dutch Baby than the ceramic pie dish. The sides rose high but slightly less than the pie dish. Perhaps because the metal conducts heat faster than ceramic, the bottom and sides of the Dutch Baby had more pockets of air for a slightly fluffier, more layered effect.
• 10-inch cast iron skillet: As you might expect, but was a surprise to me, the cast iron pan Dutch Baby Pancake had sides that rose taller than any of the other dishes and had the most amount of air and layered effect in the finished dish. Just like the other dishes, the Dutch Baby Pancake in the cast iron skillet rose then fell, but it created a more visually interesting result with an airy layer that fell over itself in a fun and textured way.

If you’re looking for an alternative to using a cast-iron skillet to make a Dutch Baby Pancake, based on the testing above, I recommend using a 9x9 square metal dish or 9-inch round pie dish.

🛒 Ingredients

Below are the ingredients used to make this Dutch Baby Pancake Without a Cast Iron Skillet.

• Butter: Use salted butter, or if using unsalted butter, add a pinch more salt.
• Eggs: Use large eggs, pasture-raised if possible.
• Milk: I recommend using whole milk if possible, but 1% or 2% will work in a pinch (I do it all the time).
• Flour: Use all purpose flour, unbleached.
• Salt: Just ¼ teaspoon since the recipe already calls for salted butter.
• Sugar: I’ve made this recipe with 1, 1 ½, and 2 tablespoons of sugar, and 1 ½ is just the right amount. 2 tablespoons of sugar felt too sweet to me, but feel free to use as little as 1 or as much as 2 tablespoons of sugar, depending on your preferences.
• Berries and Powdered Sugar: These are optional for serving but definitely recommended.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

📝 How to Make a Dutch Baby Pancake Without a Cast Iron Skillet

Below are the step-by-step instructions and photos for making a Dutch Baby Pancake Without A Cast Iron Skillet.

Prep: Preheat the oven to 425°F.

Step 1. Make the Batter: In a large bowl, whisk the eggs and milk. Add the flour, sugar, and salt and whisk to combine. Break up any large lumps, but don't worry about small lumps, they will bake out in the oven.

Step 2. Brown the Butter: Add the butter to the baking dish of your choice (9x9 square baker or a 9-inch pie plate). Bake in the oven for 3-5 minutes or until the butter starts to brown. Remove.

Step 3. Pour the Batter: Once the baking dish has come out of the oven, immediately pour the batter into the hot pan.

Step 4. Bake: Return the dish to the oven and bake for 12-15 minutes at 425°F or until the sides have risen and started to turn golden brown.

Top with fresh berries and powdered sugar. Serve while warm.

💖 If You're Interested in More Breakfast Recipes, You May Love These

If you've tried this Dutch Baby Pancake Without a Cast Iron Skillet or any other recipe on my site, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below and what dish you used. I'd love to hear from you!