German Pancakes

A great thing happened today, I made a German Pancake for the very first time! I can't believe with everything I've baked in my life that I've never made a German Pancake until now. I think I was just so in love with my traditional buttermilk pancakes that it was hard for me to want to step out of that comfort zone and try something different. I'm so glad I finally did!  German Pancakes are incredibly simple and they taste amazing to say the least. If you've never had one before, I'd say the best comparison would be french toast meets pancakes meets crepes. So really how could they not be good? I make breakfast a LOT in my home (probably more often for dinner than an actual breakfast meal) so I'm incredibly excited to have come across such a simple and delicious breakfast recipe. I can't wait to make my own versions and try so many different toppings. Endless possibilities. 

German Pancake
Yields about 2 servings

Ingredients:
3 large eggs
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 Tbsp granulated sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup whole milk
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 Tbsp butter, chilled*

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a mixing bowl, whisk together eggs until well blended. Add in flour, sugar and salt and whisk until smooth. Add in milk and vanilla and whisk until combine. Place butter in a large cast-iron skillet and place skillet in oven and allow butter to melt completely. Working quickly, remove pan from oven and slightly tilt pan to evenly distribute butter across the bottom of the pan (not edges). Pour batter into hot skillet and return to oven. Bake 15 minutes until puffed and golden. Remove from oven and cut into 4 - 6 pieces (I just used a pizza cutter) and serve warm with Vanilla Cream Syrup, maple syrup, honey, powdered sugar, cinnamon sugar, jam, fresh fruit, or fruit syrup (this blueberry syrup is excellent).

*I put chilled because I think an important part of making a German Pancake is pouring the batter right into a hot skillet and if your butter is chilled it should take it about 5 minutes to melt in the skillet in the oven allowing the skillet 5 minutes to become hot.

Recipe Source: adapted from Real Simple