Straight out of the oven at full "puff"
There are certain recipes that catch your eye when have you have children in the house. That is how a certain “Huffy Puffy” entered our kitchen lexicon, with its ability to conjure little pigs and a wolf who might want a…bite. But it has remained a favorite, especially for breakfast, long since anyone around here was little enough to care about the name.
The Huffy Puffy is exactly like a Dutch Baby — a pancake that bears more resemblance to a popover or Yorkshire pudding than a griddlecake. It is thought that the Dutch baby is derived from the German pancake called an apfelpfannkuchen, and that a Seattle restaurant coined the name Dutch baby in the 1920s. It is a simple mixture of eggs, milk, flour and a dash of salt, cooked in a very hot oven. A heavy, ovenproof skillet is useful, especially a cast-iron one. It puffs up into a beautiful, golden cloud that stays puffed for a few minutes but begins to sink as it cools. Serve it immediately for the most crowd-pleasing effect.
Simple ingredients, likely to be on hand
I’ve added cooked bacon to the batter of this huffy puffy (don’t tell the little pigs), which makes it savory and something that can be served in wedges with dinner, even. There are all kinds of ways to vary it. Traditionally, the Dutch baby is served sprinkled with confectioner’s sugar and lemon juice just as it comes out of the oven. We’ve eaten it with syrup, jam, and honey. I’ve also sautéed apples first, and then poured in the batter. The center can be filled with a concoction of vegetables with or without meat, and served as a one-dish meal.
Huffy Puffy with Bacon | makes one
If your eggs are on the small side, cut back slightly on the amount of flour.
5 large eggs
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cup milk
1 1/4 cup unbleached flour
2 slices bacon
1 1/2 tablespoon butter
Preheat the oven to 475°F.
Whisk the eggs in a bowl with the salt. Whisk in the milk and then beat in the flour until the lumps are gone.
Whisk in the milk...
...and then whisk in the flour until smooth
Cook the bacon slices in heavy, ovenproof skillet. Remove, drain and chop.
Make the pieces any size -- I like them somewhat large
Add the bacon to the batter.
I considered adding a little chopped fresh rosemary here, too, right into the batter
Reheat the skillet over medium heat and add the butter to whatever bacon fat is in the pan. When the butter foams up, pour in the batter.
The butter should foam up but not burn
The butter and bacon fat help create a delicious crust on the outside of the huffy puffy
Place immediately into the hot oven and cook, without opening the oven door, for 18 to 20 minutes. The huffy puffy will be deep golden brown and puffy. Serve immediately.
Oh, and please don’t tell the wolf.
Hot from the oven is when it's best
(Photo Sacramento Bee)
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
genius! btw I tried the focaccia recipe – very yummy!
As always, your photos and text are brilliant. If only I had that frying pan… Thanks for these beautiful posts, Kelly.