Sweet, simple, rustic, puffy oven baked German Apple Pancakes. Apples and a simple batter transform into a magical breakfast treat.
German Apple Pancakes / Apfelpfannkuchen
This really is one of my favorite breakfasts EVER. I’m so excited to share this recipe with you and hope you have apples so you don’t have to wait to start the breakfast festivities!
As Americans, most of us hear “pancake” and think of thin, round cakes that you fry on a griddle. This German Apple Pancake is something completely different. Maybe it’ll sound a little more familiar if I’d call it a “Dutch Baby”. Still confused? It’s a “pancake” that’s baked as a whole cake in the oven instead of pan fried as small, separate cakes.
I suppose you’re wondering why it’s called a pancake at all. Reason being, these pancakes traditionally start on the stove top in a skillet and then go into the oven to be baked. My recipe just eliminates the stove top bit and bakes in a 13X9 casserole dish.
Want more delicious & unique pancake recipes? Hope you’re hungry! Check out these recipes: Cannoli Pancakes, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Sheet Pan Pancakes, Skillet Dutch Baby Pancake & Ebelskiver (a small, round filled Danish pancake).
Ingredients & Instructions
This German Apple Pancake recipe really is super simple to make with basic ingredients you probably have on hand.
I use 4 medium/large apples. Use 5 if your apples are on the smaller side. Peel, core and slice apples – one of those nifty apple corer/slicer gadgets makes it a quick job.
Combine the apple slices, 1/4 cup butter (half the stick), brown sugar and cinnamon. I do this in a bowl and pop it in the microwave for a few minutes, until apples are just tender, stirring once or twice. You could just as easily throw everything in a small skillet if you’d like.
Spoon the tender apple mixture into your greased 13×9 baking dish. In a separate mixing bowl, combine and mix remaining ingredients. Spoon batter evenly over apples in baking dish.
All the excitement occurs during baking. After 25 minutes that nothing special, rather ordinary looking batter has transformed into something almost magical. It’s now a puffy and pretty pancake ready to be admired and devoured.
Serve & Enjoy
I promise you, these German Apple Pancakes do not need any syrups or toppings. A light sprinkle of powdered sugar is all you’ll need. Perfectly sweet and simple.
My kiddo described these as “Baked Apple Funnel Cake Pancakes”. I think that’s a pretty accurate taste description! Hope you enjoy!
Amanda ♥
German Apple Pancake Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 apples I use 4 medium/large apples. Use 5 if your apples are on the smaller side.
- 1/2 cup 1 stick – softened butter – divided
- 1/2 cup – brown sugar – packed
- 1 teaspoon – cinnamon
- 1 cup – all purpose flour
- 6 eggs
- 1 cup – milk
- 1/2 teaspoon – vanilla
- 3 tablespoon – sugar
- Powdered Sugar optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°. Grease/spray a 13×9 baking dish.
- Core, peel and slice apples.
- In a medium bowl combine apple slices, 1/4 cup butter (half the stick), brown sugar and cinnamon. In the microwave, heat on high for 3-5 minutes till apples are tender – stirring twice during cook time. Alternately you can do this stovetop in a skillet .
- Mix apple mixture well and spoon evenly into baking dish.
- In a medium/large bowl – combine remaining ingredients. Mix until well blended. Pour or spoon evenly over apple mixture.
- Bake for 25 – 28 minutes. The middle should be set and the pancake should be puffed up and edges nicely browned.
- Let sit for a few minutes before cutting. I think this pancake is perfect served as is – but you could sprinkle with a bit of powdered sugar. Enjoy : )
These look so delicious! mmmmmmmmm apple funnel cake pancakes. 🙂
Thanks so much, Trish! They are deeelicious! My fam loves these pancakes and will fight over the leftovers, lol.
Oh wow! I’ve been making something very similar recently – I never knew it had a name!! Thanks for sharing, this looks delicious and I’ll definitely be giving your recipe a try!
Thanks for contributing to The Sunday Brunch Magazine!
All the best,
Eliza & Bel.
I do hope you try it! This recipe was inspired by all the delicious apple pancakes and apple dumplings I had in Germany as a child. Yummmmy. Thanks so much for having me in The Sunday Brunch Magazine! The magazine looks awesome and I look forward to contributing more recipes and writings!
I LOVE this recipe- it’s so delicious and simple to make!! When I already have all the ingredients for a recipe lying around the house I get excited to be able to whip something up so easily lol. I just use the same bowl to prepare everything- no fuss! I sub yogurt for the 1/4cup butter in the egg/flour mixture. I make this ALL the time, ThankYou 🙂
Oh my goodness, this is such a beautiful recipe. I have made Apfelpfannkuchen before in a cast iron pan, and it was not as good as this recipe, and a lot of effort for a smaller amount of servings. The taste and texture of this recipe is divine. I love the shortcuts. I prefer how the apples stay more intact by cooking in the microwave, and using a 9×13 pan makes so much sense! I used only 1/4 cup brown sugar, and way less butter, and it was still so delicious. I also followed another reviewers suggestion and used 1/4 cup yogurt in the batter instead of butter, and that worked just great. I also subbed 1/2 cup white wheat flour for the all purpose flour. The proportions of the recipe are perfect. Amanda, thank you so much for making a good thing better, and giving me a recipe that I know I will make again and again.