David Eyre’s Pancake Recipe (2024)

Recipe from David Eyre

Adapted by Amanda Hesser

David Eyre’s Pancake Recipe (1)

Total Time
About 20 minutes
Rating
5(1,492)
Notes
Read community notes

Writing in The Times in 1966, Craig Claiborne described making the acquaintance of this oven-baked pancake as if he had met Grace Kelly: “It was discovered some weeks ago at an informal Sunday brunch in the handsome, Japanese-style Honolulu home of the David Eyre. With Diamond Head in the distance, a brilliant, palm-ringed sea below and this delicately flavored pancake before us, we seemed to have achieved paradise.” (Life was good if you were a food writer in the 1960s.) Nearly 50 years later, readers are still making the dish, and swooning like Claiborne. —Amanda Hesser

Featured in: Recipe Redux; 1966: David Eyre's Pancake

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Ingredients

Yield:Serves 2 to 4

  • 2eggs
  • ½cup flour
  • ½cup milk
  • Pinch of ground nutmeg
  • 4tablespoons butter
  • 2tablespoons confectioners' sugar
  • Juice of half a lemon
  • Fig or blackberry jam, pear butter or any kind of marmalade, for serving (optional)

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

244 calories; 15 grams fat; 9 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 4 grams monounsaturated fat; 1 gram polyunsaturated fat; 23 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram dietary fiber; 10 grams sugars; 6 grams protein; 46 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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David Eyre’s Pancake Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. Step

    1

    Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. In a mixing bowl, lightly beat the eggs. Add the flour, milk and nutmeg and lightly beat until blended but still slightly lumpy.

  2. Melt the butter in a 12-inch skillet with a heatproof handle over medium-high heat. When very hot but not brown, pour in the batter. Bake in the oven until the pancake is billowing on the edges and golden brown, about 15 minutes.

  3. Step

    3

    Working quickly, remove the pan from the oven and, using a fine-meshed sieve, sprinkle with the sugar. Return to the oven for 1 to 2 minutes more. Sprinkle with lemon juice and serve with jam, pear butter or marmalade.

Ratings

5

out of 5

1,492

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

Jack Ferry

This recipe is a lot older than the 1960's. It is a version of the classic Finnish Kropsua or now called Pannukakkua and is at least a thousand years old. You may have better luck by increasing the milk to 3/4 cup or more.

Shozgirl

I make this all the time. Use various fruit sauteed first then throw in the batter and into the oven. This week was peaches and blueberries. At first its fluffy but then it does flatten a bit. No matter its delicious and light. Cast Iron pan seems essential. I dont always use that much butter..more like 2 tblsp.

abstract668

One of my all-time favorite easy breakfast recipes, this pancake lets me show off by picking a Meyer lemon from the tree outside my kitchen window and perfuming the pancake with ultra-fresh juice. The batter benefits from a half-hour rest if you have the time, but it is not necessary.

ann

We know this as a Dutch Baby (Original Pancake House in Chicago). Add lemon juice and fruit as you desire.

Judy

I have been making this ever since it was published in the Times. I use 10" or 11" Pyrex pie plate and have made as many as three at one time. You're only limited by the size of your oven.

Bob

Our recipe calls for 3/4 C each of milk and flour, 4 eggs, 2 T melted butter, 1 T granulated sugar, 1 t of vanilla and 1/4 t of salt. We start by sauteing 2T each of granulated sugar and butter and 2 peeled sliced peaches, bananas or apples for 4-5 minutes to soften. Then, we pour the batter over and bake 18-20 minutes at 425. Refrigerate any leftovers (haha). They can be microwaved and with a scoop of ice cream make for perfect late night fridge raiding!

margaret

This pancake rises so beautifully and dramatically but deflates when the lemon is sprinkled on it. I cook this 15 minutes then sprinkle with sugar before serving avoiding the in and out of the oven step which can cause it to collapse. Pass lemon wedges around with the slices. This makes a better presentation and the lemon won't pool in the low spots. The lemon is essential.

Mer

Fantastic recipe. Easy, flexible. Wanted to make sure we had enough for three so I added an extra egg and another 1/4 c milk and 1/4 c flour. It baked up just fine. (Wouldn't add more, though, as I think the 12" skillet would end up being too small and the center wouldn't cook properly.)

Another Ann

Known in our house as a Seattle Dutch Baby, by way of Sunset magazine years and years ago. Our traditional Christmas breakfast. See the Wikipedia article on "Dutch baby pancake" for a good inclusive history.

LJGenovese

Followed this recipe to the letter and it was scrumptious! Next time I'll probably use half the butter.

BTW, was disappointed when my pancake didn't look like the photo that accompanies the recipe. Then I saw the photo of a David Eyre's Pancake on Wikipedia and it was a twin to mine. Sometimes photo stylists go too far.

Eric Stockton

I make this recipe all the time, though I'll typically add the lemon zest to the batter, as well as a dash of vanilla. I really enjoy adding fresh raspberries just before baking it in the oven. It's a really easy recipe to scale, too. One egg to 1/4 cup milk and flour.

Betsy

I've been making this for over 40 years, it's our family favorite breakfast item. It should be beaten until smooth unlike a pancake batter. It is more like a crepe batter.

Marcia

My pancake did not billow on the sides. I had a thick round pancake in the middle of the pan.
Butter did not mix with batter.
Any suggestions

Meredith

As with Yorkshire Pudding, this always works better if the ingredients are all room-temperature.

Weezi

Making & loving idntical 4-egg apple vrsion 20 yrs (w 3/4t vanilla, IT sugar, 1/4t salt) but middle dense. Superb uniform light rsults today w small chnges: 12-in CAST IRON pan. Mixed well in BLENDER, added 2T melted butter. Spiced Apples (separate pan)-Melt 2T butter, add 2 unpeeled Granny Smiths (1/4in sliced), 1/4c brwn sugar, 1t cinnamon, 2T crystllized ginger. Caramelize apples single layer, med-high heat, 7min, flip, 7min, splash of marsala, reduce sauce. O/wise, followed rest of recipe.

Christine

Apple Highrise Pancake, Dutch baby and German Pancake are the other well known names for this old favorite.

Recipe Notes

4tbsp is too much, try 2 or 3 next timeDon’t take out of oven step maybe?

Scott Fletcher

More or less the same thing, this time from a dancer with roots in the West Virginia countryside: https://www.nytimes.com/1984/11/28/garden/dancing-pancakes-and-other-folk-fare.html

Valerie Meluskey

I took a photo--if anyone can tell me how, I'll submit it. I've been making this pancake since the late 60's, and always enjoyed even if deflated. Special addition: thinly sliced lemon pieces, more butter (only 2 1/2T in my original hot pan), and Roses Lime Marmalade or lemon curd.

Valerie Meluskey

I have discovered how to prevent this beautiful pancake from deflating! Last night (for Shrove Tuesday) I brought all of the ingredients to a friend's house, and mixed it all together, but discovered I had forgotten to bring my cast iron skillet pan! We managed to find an old Paul Revere oval copper pan...looked like a good possibility. After reading all the notes here, I remembered that one or two suggested leaving the pancake in the oven for another 5 minutes after turning off the heat. Yes!

Sandra

Found this recipe years ago, and of all the others I've tried this one is definitely the best...consider the source! What differentiates this recipe from the others is not over mixing (leaving batter a bit lumpy OK), never using a blender as most others do. Do though be sure the milk and eggs are at room temp. A never fail for me!

Valerie Meluskey

I used to make this in the late 60's and early 70's...so glad to find the original recipe. Rose's lime marmalade gave it a lovely finishing touch. Always happily received!

Betty

Our family was introduced to this by CraigClaiborne as David Eyre’s pancake In the 1970s, but it became known as Puff the Magic pancake, It was always a special event. I still have the original clipping from the New York Times in my recipe collection.

Joycy

3 eggs- room temp2/3 cup whole milk- room temp0.5 cup flour1 tbsp sugarpinch of saltSome nutmeg2 tablespoons ghee/butter-Preheat oven at 425 with skillet in oven. - Blend batter, no lumps. - Put ghee in skillet once preheated. Pour in batter.- Cook 15-20 mins- Powdered sugar and lemon to serve.

Stephanie

3 tablespoons of butter instead of 4

L

This recipe does not even come up when you search for “Dutch baby”, and yet a host of bizarrely irrelevant recipes does. The recent changes to the organization of the app and search results are emphatically not an improvement.

Bart S.

I’ve never understood the instructions in this recipe to melt the butter on medium-high heat before it turns brown. At that temperature butter always turns brown for me, instantly.

Natalie

Used whole wheat pastry flour, skipped the extra sugar and second bake, and served with yuzu marmalade. Incredible.

sarah d

This turned out awful x2. Looked up other recipes from random websites and found it’s best to add more milk so the batter spreads better.

Lisa Boynton

My Father (long dead... since 1991) used to make this for us as kids and I continue the tradition ... when we wanted a snack or a sweet ... this is still a favorite!

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David Eyre’s Pancake Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why are my pancakes flat and not fluffy? ›

Making pancake and waffle batter ahead of time is a huge no-no and will lead to flat, dense results every time. Even letting your batter hang out for just a few minutes after you've mixed it before you start ladling it onto the griddle will lead to less fluffy results.

What makes pancakes fluffy and rise? ›

Glutens are long protein molecules that have an elastic quality. Just like dough expands when you allow it to rest before baking, the gluten in the pancake batter stretches and expands. As it stretches, pockets of air begin to form, making your pancakes airy and light.

What is the story behind pancakes? ›

600 BC - The first recorded mention of pancakes dates back to ancient Greece and comes from a poet who described warm pancakes in one of his writings. 1100 AD – Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day) becomes a traditional way to use up dairy products before lent – the pancake breakfast is born.

Does adding more baking powder make pancakes fluffier? ›

Don't be tempted to add more than the recipe suggests, as too much baking powder will make pancakes taste soapy. Alternatively, you could use self-raising flour, which will add to the amount of raising agent in the recipe and potentially make your pancakes fluffier.

What happens if you add an extra egg to pancake mix? ›

Eggs also give the batter additional, richer flavor from the yolk fat. If you add too many eggs, you'll have “pancakes” that look more like custard or crepes. When you don't add enough eggs, the cakes will be drier and tougher.

What is the secret to pancakes? ›

Stir the batter only until the wet and dry ingredients are incorporated; overbeating will make pancakes tough and chewy instead of fluffy. No Buttermilk, No Problem! For each 1 cup buttermilk, mix 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice with enough milk to equal 1 cup and let stand for 5 minutes.

What is the scientific secret of fluffy pancakes? ›

When cooked, the chemical leaveners (the baking powder and baking soda) in the pancakes created large air bubbles. The loose gluten network captured the air bubbles and maintained the each pancake's shape while still keeping it fluffy with air.

What ingredient in a basic made from scratch pancake batter makes pancakes fluffy? ›

Baking powder: Baking powder acts as a leavening agent, ensuring perfectly fluffy pancakes. Salt: Salt enhances the overall flavor of the pancakes, but it won't make the pancakes taste salty.

What's the difference between a pancake and a hotcake? ›

What is a Hotcake? It's a pancake. Our crew Googled it and the definition of a hotcake is in fact “a pancake.” There is, however, a subtle difference on how you prepare a hotcake versus a pancake. Generally, pancakes are wide and have a fluffy texture, whereas the hotcakes tend to be thicker and denser.

What is the new name for Aunt Jemima? ›

While work has been done over the years to update the brand in a manner intended to be appropriate and respectful, we realize those changes are not enough. PepsiCo replaced the brand name with Pearl Milling Company in February 2021, thus bringing the brand's history full circle.

Why do my fluffy pancakes deflate? ›

Some of the common causes of deflated pancakes include: Over-mixing the batter: Overmixing will 'deflate' the egg whites. Plus it can cause the gluten in the batter to develop too far, making the pancakes dense and heavy.

What happens if you overmix pancake batter? ›

Overmixing pancake batter can cause your flapjacks to deflate, for two main reasons. The stirring or whisking motion may cause the batter's air bubbles to pop, and can also cause too much gluten to develop. Air and small amounts of gluten are both essential in developing the ideal pancake texture.

What makes pancakes light instead of dense? ›

Fluffy pancakes get that way because of the air bubbles created while preparing the batter (via The Spruce Eats). The batter is what keeps those air bubbles trapped, which means they'll deflate if you overhandle your pancakes.

How long should you leave pancake batter to rest? ›

A – If you are going to let your batter rest, leave it for at least 30 minutes in the fridge. If you've got time, leave it for longer – even overnight in the fridge. Some say that there is no point in letting the batter rest and there's certainly no harm in using it straight away. Go ahead if you're in a rush.

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