Easy Dutch Oven Pancakes

What is the tastiest breakfast you can make with 1 apple, 2 eggs, 1/2 cup flour and 1/2 cup milk? If you said Dutch Oven Pancakes, you are right!

These pancakes are way simpler than they look, they are made to impress, but take very little prep time and taste fantastic. I base it on the Betty Crocker Cookbook: Bridal Edition recipe. That book is my bible for cooking, easy recipes with simple ingredients that always come out great.

The recipe for Dutch Oven Pancakes in that book is good, but not great. It has one note that let me make a few modifications to put the simple recipe over the top. It mentioned that Dutch Oven Pancakes are a lot like popovers. Popovers are another simple delight that use just a bit of eggs and flower and milk, but Melissa d'Arabian has some killer tips to make the perfect popover in the video she has of making popovers.

These three modifications to Betty Crocker's recipe make the perfect Dutch Oven Pancake:

1. Use a large non-stick pan with high sides instead of a pie pan
2. Pre-heat the pan in the oven with 2 tablespoons of butter for 8-10 minutes before putting the batter in the pan (most important tip, getting the pan hot before putting the batter in creates the best final pancake that won't deflate)
3. Pre-cook the apple slices for 5-10 minutes on low with butter and sugar and cinnamon before putting them in the pan with the batter to the oven

Without further ado, here is the recipe:

• 1 Apple (Red Delicious is great, but any will do)
• 2 Tablespoons Butter
• 2 Tablespoons Compacted Brown Sugar
• 1/4 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
• 2 Eggs
• 1/2 Cup Flour
• 1/2 Cup Milk
• 2 More Tablespoons Butter
• Sprinkle of Powdered Sugar

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. Put a large pan in the oven with butter.

First, peel and thinly slice the apple. Put it in a small sauce pan with butter, sugar, and cinnamon on medium heat for 5-10 minutes (until they are soft but not cooked through yet).

While the apples are cooking, beat the eggs and then add all the flour and half the milk and mix until smooth but not over-beaten. Add the rest of the milk and mix again until smooth but not over-beaten. When making pancakes of any kind, mixing the ingredients with half of the liquids first will always be easier than mixing all the ingredients together at the same time. It avoids the flour from clumping.

Take the hot pan out of the oven, add the batter and then place the apple slices on the batter and put it back in the oven for 30-35 minutes.

These spectacular delights are best within minutes of the oven, so have everyone seated and ready ahead of time and get ready for the compliments!