Cast Iron Wonder: How To Bake A Dutch Baby, With Sourdough Discard (Family Favourite Recipe)

Enjoy with childlike wonder the puffed golden dish traditionally known as the Dutch Baby, or German Pancake, baked on a cast iron pan in a hot oven (which can be made with or without sourdough discard), that’s sure to be a family favourite. Your kids are going to remember this recipe, after watching it bake to triple its size, and deflate before their very eyes to servable slices. It’s a crowd-pleaser too, because you can dress it sweet or savoury for each plate. It might just become your most requested breakfast.

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What You’ll Need

Before diving into the delicious world of making a cast iron Sourdough discard Dutch baby, let’s get our ingredients and tools assembled for a seamless cooking experience.

• 15″ Cast Iron Pan
• Bowl
• Whisk
• Eggs
• Milk
• Flour
• Salt
• Baking Soda
• Sourdough Starter / Discard

The Country Charm of Cast Iron Dutch Baby

Cooking with a cast iron skillet brings an old-world charm. It is what makes the Dutch Baby pancake really puff up in the hot oven. Cast iron pans are worth the investment, not only because they are healthier to cook on, but they are going to last a long time.

Benefits Of Cast Iron

Using a cast iron skillet not only adds a rustic feel to your kitchen but also offers numerous health benefits. Cast iron cookware doesn’t have toxic non-stick layers, but get their non-stick ability in how you season them. Cast iron pans evenly distribute heat, which ensures your Dutch baby is perfectly cooked every time. Additionally, cooking in cast iron can boost your iron intake, making it a smart choice for those looking to increase their dietary iron.

The durability of cast iron is unmatched, making it a long-term investment for your kitchen. With proper care and maintenance, a cast iron skillet can last a lifetime, becoming seasoned with flavour and history every time you use it. This seasoning enhances the taste of your Dutch baby, giving it that extra depth and richness that’s hard to replicate with other cookware materials.

Cast Iron Pan Tips:

• Hand wash only.
• Towel dry, and place the pan on the stop top to ensure it’s bone dry to prevent rust.
• Apply your oil evenly on your pan to prevent rust, and prepare for its next use.
• Season and cook with animal fats for a better seasoning finish and healthful benefits.

If you’d like to learn how to care for cast iron pans, check out my post “How to clean and season your cast iron pan”.

Preparing Your Cast Iron For Baking Dutch Baby

Seasoning your cast iron skillet is essential to create a natural non-stick surface and prevent rusting. For Your Dutch Baby recipe, you’re going to turn on your oven to 425 degrees and put in your cast iron with 4 TBSP of butter. Once the oven has reached the temperature, your pan will be oily, hot, and ready for the mixture. Having the pan and oven hot is what’s going to make the magic happen.

What If I Don’t Have A Cast Iron Pan?

If you are without a cast iron pan, that’s okay, you can use a regular 9X13 casserole dish. Cast iron pans definitely taste better, and can crisp everything really well, but any casserole dish can get the trick done. Just be sure to warm it up with your butter, in the oven, until the oven comes to 425 degrees. You need it hot to make it puff the way it does.

If you are interested in getting yourself a cast iron pan, check out Lodge Cast Iron cookware. They have been established for over a hundred years, and have lots to choose from.

Recipe With Sourdough Starter

What makes this Dutch Baby version special is the incorporation of sourdough starter or discard. Instead of letting your discard go to waste, here’s another way to use your sourdough starter on the-daily. You only need a quarter cup of your starter. You can leave your mix to sit for an hour or more, to lacto ferment with your milk. It all works out though if you’re in a hurry and want to just throw it together. Anything to get more of those gut-friendly ingredients into you and your family is a win.

Ingredients

• 4 TBSP of Butter
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup sourdough starter OR discard
• 1 ½ cup milk
• 6 eggs
• 1 TSP of Baking Soda
• Salt To Taste

I don’t add sweetness to mine, but if you’d prefer a sweeter dutch baby you can add 1/4 of honey and a splash of vanilla.

Preparation:

1. Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).
2. Place the butter in your cast iron skillet. Then put your pan in the pre-heating oven to melt the butter and prep the pan.
3. In a bowl, whisk together the flour, starter/discard, milk, eggs, baking soda, and salt until mixed.
4. When the oven has reached temperature, pour the batter into the skillet and transfer it back into the preheated oven.
5. Bake for 20 minutes until the Dutch baby is puffed up and golden brown.

Recipe Without Sourdough Starter

It’s so simple to make a dutch baby in your cast iron pan. You just need the right amount of ingredients and a hot oven to throw it in.

Here’s how to make it without sourdough starter:

• 4 TBSP butter
• 6 eggs
• 1 ½ cups milk
• 1 ½ cups flour

You can follow the same directions as the recipe with sourdough starter.

Sourdough is not just a trend, it’s a very historic and holistic way of processing grains. It’s not too hard either and very forgiving: just flour, water, and time. There’s even a way to maintain it for those not baking with flour every day.

If you would like to learn how to start your own sourdough starter, I have a simple tutorial HERE.

Toppings

This recipe can go sweet or salty for your table full of differing tastes.

For those with a sweet tooth, consider topping your Dutch baby with powdered sugar, maple syrup, honey, berries, jam, sliced bananas, or sauted cinnamon apples.

If you prefer savoury flavours, you could try extra salted butter, shredded cheese, crumbled goat cheese, sliced meats, sautéed onions and mushrooms, or herbs like garlic, chives, or dill.

You could even mix sweet and salty together if you like, or make this a side dish for another meal.

Slice it into wedges and watch as your family’s faces light up with joy at the sight of this delectable treat.

Baking Tips

1. Avoid the temptation to open the oven door while baking, as it can cause the Dutch baby to deflate prematurely. Keeping the Dutch Baby at it’s high temperature in the oven will give it that airy texture. For the best experience, serve the Dutch baby immediately after baking to savor its warm, pillowy goodness.
2. Preheating your trusty cast iron skillet, in the oven will help the Dutch Baby batter to rise in the oven. In just a matter of minutes, you’ll witness the Dutch baby transform into a puffy, golden delight. It’s a fast and easy recipe, and satisfying to watch!

Summary

Cast iron Dutch Baby with sourdough starter is so versatile and a wonder to watch. Just make sure your pan and oven are preheated to 425 degrees and watch your mixture double in size, and serve right away. Get yourself a cast iron pan to enjoy its benefits, and consider starting your own bubbly sourdough starter to break down those flour grains for a healthier gut flora. Dutch baby pancakes are so easy to make, and fluffy and crisp, it might just become the family favorite.