German Pancake with Buttermilk Sauce
German Pancake with Buttermilk Sauce is hands-down my go-to lazy weekend breakfast. You know that feeling—when you wake up hungry and want something special but not stressful? Seriously, this is one of those recipes where you dump, mix, and magic just happens.
Trust me, my kids cheer like they’re at a parade when I whip this out. Quick note, if you’re obsessed with different pancake styles, you’ve gotta check out my German potato pancakes too.

Why German Pancake with Buttermilk Sauce Wins Breakfast
Okay, confession time. I used to think pancakes meant flipping individual slabs forever. German Pancake with Buttermilk Sauce changed everything for me. You’re not babysitting a griddle—just bake and relax.
That poofy, golden thing is basically like a giant oven-made crepe, but fluffier. The buttermilk sauce though… wow. Creamy, just a touch tangy, and honestly, I could eat it by the ladleful (not proud, but it’s true). This isn’t your basic syrup routine. It adds this crazy-good flavor that regular pancakes can’t touch.
I know it sounds all “secret European grandma recipe,” but don’t worry—the ingredients are classic pantry stuff. And cleanup? You’ll only use maybe two or three dishes. Actual miracle food.
German Pancake with Buttermilk Sauce
What You Need: Simple Ingredients, Big Flavor
So, don’t panic about a big shopping list. For the pancake, you’re basically grabbing eggs, flour, milk, a pinch of salt, and a little butter. Sometimes I toss in a splash of vanilla if I’m feeling fancy. Whisk, pour into a hot pan, and off it goes.
For that wild buttermilk sauce? It’s just buttermilk (or honestly, you can cheat with milk plus lemon juice), sugar, butter, and a small spoonful of cornstarch. The trick: heat slow, stir often, and don’t wander off to check your phone.
It’s budget-friendly and kid-approved. I’d bet you’ve got 90 percent of this stuff already waiting in your kitchen.
German Pancake with Buttermilk Sauce
The Step-by-Step: How To Nail It Every Time
Start with the pancake. Set your oven screaming hot—about 425°F. Slide in your biggest cast iron skillet (or any oven-safe pan). Let the butter melt and sizzle, then pour in your batter. It’ll puff up like a toasty, crinkled cloud (that’s half the fun).
While that’s baking, jump to the buttermilk sauce. Melt the butter, stir in sugar and cornstarch, whisk in the buttermilk, and watch for it to thicken just a bit. By the time your pancake’s golden-brown, you’ll have creamy sauce ready to drizzle on.
Heads up! If your pancake sinks a little after baking, don’t panic. Totally normal. The edges are supposed to stand tall while the middle falls a bit. It was weird the first time, but trust me, you did it right.
German Pancake with Buttermilk Sauce
Serving Suggestions: Take It To The Next Level
- Pour that luscious buttermilk sauce all over the pancake—don’t be shy.
- Fresh berries make it extra Instagram-worthy. I like blueberries or sliced strawberries.
- Dust with a bit of powdered sugar if you’re feeling the bakery vibes.
- For extra crunch, toss on some roasted almonds or pecans.
I’ve even seen folks add a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top which is totally over the top… but now I can’t stop thinking about it.
German Pancake with Buttermilk Sauce
My Personal Take: Why You’ll Keep Making This
Honestly, I’ve made German Pancake with Buttermilk Sauce for sleepovers, holidays, “just because” Saturdays, and even one disaster-y night when dinner plans failed. It always satisfies. My youngest claims it’s “like breakfast cake” and that’s spot-on.
Pro tip: Leftovers microwave super well, so don’t stress if you make too much. And it works just as well for dinner as it does for breakfast.
“This was a total game changer for our Sunday brunch! The buttermilk sauce is unreal—my picky eaters demolished the whole pan in about ten minutes. I had to double the recipe the next time!”
I keep coming back for that combo of golden crust and tangy sauce. Old favorites are great, but sometimes you’ve gotta shake up the morning lineup and surprise everybody. If you’re into fun twists on tradition, you might also love these banana pancake bites—equally fun, a bit quirky, and good for when you want bite-size treats.

Now, off you go. Grab that skillet, some butter, and wow the whole crew with this bigger-than-life breakfast.
PrintGerman Pancake with Buttermilk Sauce
A delicious and easy breakfast recipe featuring a fluffy oven-baked pancake served with a creamy buttermilk sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: German
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 6 large eggs
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
- 1 cup buttermilk (or milk plus lemon juice)
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons butter (for sauce)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).
- Place a large cast iron skillet (or any oven-safe pan) in the oven to heat up.
- In a bowl, whisk together the eggs, flour, milk, salt, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Remove the skillet from the oven and add the butter, allowing it to melt and sizzle.
- Pour the batter into the hot skillet and return it to the oven.
- Bake until the pancake is puffed and golden brown, about 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, prepare the buttermilk sauce by melting 2 tablespoons of butter in a saucepan.
- Add the sugar and cornstarch, whisking until combined.
- Gradually whisk in the buttermilk and cook over low heat until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Once the pancake is done, serve it hot with the warm buttermilk sauce drizzled over the top.
Notes
Serve with fresh berries, powdered sugar, or nuts for extra flavor and crunch.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 180mg