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Hootenanny is the perfect breakfast for busy moms with hungry kids! No bread needed, but this breakfast recipe has a total French toast vibe the kids love. Plus, it’s fun to watch it bake up into crazy shapes!
I asked my daughter if she’d like to help me make some Hootenanny for breakfast the other morning.
I got the usual look…
That basically means something along the lines of “Mom. You’re crazy.”
Or, maybe “How did I end up stuck with the wackadoo for a mother?”
It could also mean “Yep. She’s finally lost her mind.”
Whatever. Children can be so judgemental.
Hootenanny is just another term for a German Pancake (or Dutch Baby)!
Hootenanny is definitely the more fun name for this crazy shaped breakfast dish, but most people know these as either German pancakes or dutch babies.
If you’ve never had the pleasure of devouring a slice of this for breakfast, it tastes like a cross between pancakes and french toast. We like it because it’s so much easier than either of those (stir together and bake!).
Plus, the kids absolutely LOVE it, thanks to the crazy shapes it puffs up into while baking.
Bonus: This recipe uses pantry staples like flour, eggs, milk, and butter!
This comes in super handy when you’re craving french toast, but don’t have bread on hand!
It calls for basic ingredients that you’re sure to have around and the kids will love watching it poof up in crazy shapes.
Tip: The hootenanny will NOT bake up the same if you don’t melt the butter/heat the pan in the oven. Something about the batter hitting an already hot dish helps it to puff up nicely. It will settle a bit as it cools – this is normal.
This is the perfect kind of morning treat. Nobody has time to be flipping pancakes or soaking bread in eggs or dealing with a waffle maker at 7am. (Although my best waffles and homemade biscuits are kind of worth the extra effort.)
Top this off with some fresh fruit and a drizzle of maple syrup. You can’t go wrong!
More kid-friendly breakfast recipes:
- Blueberry Baked Oatmeal
- Sausage Gravy
- Chocolate Glazed Donuts
- Cinnamon Roll French Toast Casserole
- Old Fashioned Donut
Hootenanny
Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 6 large eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup flour
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
- Place the stick of butter in a 9x13 baking dish and put it in the oven to melt while you prepare the batter. Keep an eye on the butter and remove the pan from the oven if it starts to brown, but work quickly so that the pan does not cool.
- Beat the eggs, milk, salt, cinnamon, vanilla, and nutmeg until frothy.
- Whisk in the flour until well combined.
- Pour over the melted butter in the baking dish. Do not stir.
- Bake for 25 minutes or until the center is set and the edges are browned.
- Slice into 8 pieces and serve with maple syrup, fresh fruit, or powdered sugar.
Tips & Notes:
Nutrition Information:
This recipe was originally published in November 2011. It’s been updated with new photos in April 2020.
adapted from Food.com
Bill V says
Origin of the name (as told to me by my mother when I was a kid): When Pennsylvania Dutch newlyweds spent their first night in their home, the tradition was that friends and family would show up in the middle of the night and bang pots and pans until the couple invited them into their home for an impromptu party, known as a “hootenanny”. The couple would need something to serve them, using only the common ingredients they had on hand. This recipe using basic staples became a common go-to, and the name “hootenanny cakes” was born.
Karly Campbell says
Cute!!
Christine says
I love this recipe so much, it is easy to make, only a half dozen ingredients, and the fillings you serve with it are endless. A real Winner.!! Paul loves this too! Thank you
Kristen says
Has anyone tried it with any sort of gluten free flour? Would it work?
Karly Campbell says
I’ve never tried, so I’m not sure.
Ginny says
Love this recipe!! Quick and easy to prepare. So much fun to make with grandkids!! Best part it is Delicious!
Just like French toast. So much easier
Karly Campbell says
I’m so glad you all enjoyed it! Thanks for the review! 🙂
Marcia says
I made this for a group and it was great. Can I make it and reheat leftovers for my small family?
Karly Campbell says
Yes, you can reheat in the oven at 300 degrees for a few minutes or in the microwave.
Ryon Lawson says
Family loved this, had to prep up some apples simmered them in butter and added some caramel melts and boom, easy caramel apple pie dutch baby. and that sounds fancy AF. 18 Minutes in my smaller countertop oven was perfect for the golden period and I dropped mine to 325 for another 5 or 6 and it seemed to retain some of the poof better.
Karly Campbell says
Oh my, that sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing!
Rob says
This is basically a version of a Dutch baby. Easier prep is to put all the ingredients in the blender and mix for about 30 seconds until everything is well blended. Then pour mixture into prepared hot pan.
Sharon Davenport says
This was a winner with my nieces, nephew, and son! They could not get enough!
Karly Campbell says
Love to hear that!
Renee says
Hi, what kind of flour do you use… self raising or plain? Thanks
Karly Campbell says
All purpose flour. 🙂
Evangeline says
I want to make this so much…..can I use almond flour & milk ??
Karly Campbell says
No, I don’t think this would work with almond flour. May be fine with almond milk, but I haven’t tried.
Elizabeth Baldree says
I had my teenage daughter put this together. I just gave a bit of guidance. It’s a fun recipe. I like the number of eggs we get to use. I’d like to try it with Almond flour. This is the second time we’ve used this recipe. It’s a hit at our house. ?
Daniel B says
Is it good room temp or cold? Specially since it’s flavored.
Karly Campbell says
We eat this warm.
Manda says
Delicious! Made this recipe for the first time. Made it exactly per instructions and it came out great. Easy to prepare, easy cleanup. The only thing I would do different is use the electric hand beater next time, instead of whisking the liquids.
Karly Campbell says
So glad you enjoyed it!
Manuela Kopp says
I love your recipes but what size dish do you use, hope I didn’t miss it in the recipe but if I did sorry
Karly Campbell says
Step 2 – Add the butter to a 9×13 dish. 🙂
Jan says
Really tasty. Just like French toast. Very easy to throw together. Cut butter to 4 tblspoons. Mix spices with flour not liquids. It blends better.
Deborah Dunn says
How much flour? Not listed in recipe.
Karly Campbell says
Hi Deborah! All of the amounts for each ingredient are listed in the recipe card.