Description
This Chocolate Dutch Baby is a delightful, puffy oven-baked pancake infused with rich Dutch processed cocoa powder and topped with melty chocolate chips or Nutella. It’s perfect for a special breakfast or brunch, served warm with whipped cream and fresh berries for a luscious, indulgent treat that’s easy to prepare and impressive to serve.
Ingredients
Batter
- 4 large eggs
- ½ cup whole milk
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup Dutch processed cocoa powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
Other
- ¼ cup unsalted butter (cut into tablespoon pieces)
- ⅓ cup mini chocolate chips (or ¼ cup Nutella)
- Whipped cream (for serving)
- Fresh berries (for serving)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Skillet: Preheat your oven to 425℉ and place a 12-inch cast iron skillet inside the oven while it heats up. This ensures the pan gets hot, which is critical for the Dutch baby to puff properly.
- Mix the Batter: Add the eggs, whole milk, granulated sugar, all-purpose flour, Dutch processed cocoa powder, baking powder, and kosher salt into a blender. Blend until the mixture is smooth and frothy. If you don’t have a blender, whisk vigorously by hand to incorporate air and achieve a similar texture.
- Melt Butter in Hot Skillet: Using oven mitts, carefully remove the hot skillet from the oven. Add the pieces of butter to the skillet and swirl the pan gently until the butter is fully melted and coats the bottom evenly.
- Add Batter to Skillet and Bake: Pour the blended batter into the hot, buttered skillet. Immediately return the skillet to the oven. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes until the edges have risen dramatically and the Dutch baby looks puffed and set.
- Add Chocolate Topping: Remove the skillet from the oven. Quickly sprinkle mini chocolate chips over the hot Dutch baby or spread a layer of Nutella. The residual heat will melt the chocolate topping beautifully.
- Serve with Whipped Cream and Berries: Top the Chocolate Dutch Baby with whipped cream and fresh berries. You can serve it as a whole skillet or slice into individual portions. Serve warm for the best texture and flavor.
Notes
- Using a cast iron skillet is crucial for even heat distribution and maximum puff.
- Make sure the skillet is very hot before adding the batter to help create the characteristic puff.
- Try swapping fresh berries with other toppings like sliced bananas or nuts for variety.
- You can prepare the batter ahead of time and refrigerate it for up to 2 hours before baking.
- This recipe makes 8 servings, making it ideal for sharing at brunch gatherings.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
