Now that citrus fruits are in season, I am buying all the blood oranges and cara cara oranges that I can get my hands on. Lately, I’ve been making a lot of Dutch babies for breakfast and topping them with fresh slices of oranges.
WHAT IS A DUTCH BABY?
A Dutch baby, which is sometimes called a German pancake, is a large, fluffy popover that’s cooked in a hot skillet. It’s usually made of flour, eggs, milk, sugar and some spices and served for breakfast. Often times, they’re served with a generous dusting of powdered sugar and a bit of lemon juice.
HOW THIS VERSION IS DIFFERENT
Unlike traditional Dutch baby recipes, I blend rolled oats (instead of white flour) with milk and eggs. Not only is it a nice gluten-free alternative, but I prefer eating oats in the morning because it’s healthier and it keeps me full. This gluten-free Dutch baby doesn’t rise quite as spectacularly as traditional Dutch babies, but the batter does puff up a little on the edges. You’ll still end up with a nice, fluffy oven baked pancake.
One of the big reasons why I like this recipe is the simple preparation: heat a skillet in the oven, blend the batter, pour it into the hot skillet and bake. That’s it! Top it with oranges or your favorite fruit and enjoy!
MASTER MY MISTAKES / COOKING NOTES
- Dairy-free option: You can substitute the milk with soy milk and the butter for vegan buttery spread, such as Earth Balance. The Dutch baby won’t brown as nicely, but it still tastes good.
- Eggs: I know it’s odd that the recipe calls for 2 large eggs and a large egg white. I tried this recipe with 3 large eggs and the Dutch baby was too dense.
- Oat flour versus rolled oats: I tried a version of this recipe with 1/2 cup of oat flour, and it didn’t rise quite as much as the Dutch baby that I made with rolled oats. I decided to ditch the oat flour version because rolled oats is more commonly found in our pantries.
Gluten-Free Dutch Baby with Oranges
Ingredients
- 2/3 cup (155ml) low-fat milk
- 2/3 cup (55g) rolled oats
- 2 large eggs + 1 large egg white
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 3/4 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
Toppings
- orange slices
- shredded coconut, optional
- lime zest, optional
- maple syrup
Instructions
- Position an oven rack to the center position and place a small, 10-inch skillet on top of the rack. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
- Add the milk, oats, eggs, maple syrup, vanilla, orange zest and cinnamon into a blender. Blend everything until smooth, about 20 to 30 seconds.
- Once the oven is heated, use an oven mitt to remove the skillet from the oven. Be very careful because the skillet is hot!
- Add the butter to the hot skillet and swirl it all over the bottom. Pour the batter into the skillet and carefully transfer into the oven.
- Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, until the Dutch baby is a nice golden brown color.
- Remove Dutch baby from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes. Top with orange slices, shredded coconut and lime zest. Serve with maple syrup.
Bethany @ athletic avocado says
I’m totally crushing on the fluff factor of this beautiful dutch baby! It’s crazy how much it rises even with oat flour! I want this for breakfast ASAP!
Lisa Lin says
Thanks, Bethany!
Susan says
Looks delish! Cn I use pecan, coconut or cashew milk instead? Thanks!
Lisa Lin says
Hi, Susan! I think those alternative milks should work. They probably won’t brown as well as dairy milk, but I don’t see why they don’t work with the recipe.
EA The Spicy RD says
My kids love Dutch Baby pancakes. This looks SO good! Love it with the oranges. Yum!!
Lisa Lin says
Thanks, EA!!