• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers & Bites
    • Mains
    • Sides
    • Salads & Dressings
    • Pizza
    • Soups & Stews
    • Breakfast & Brunch
    • Desserts
    • Drinks & Libations
    • Breads, Butters, and Jams
    • Sourdough
    • Sauces & Savory Condiments
    • Harry Potter
    • Recipe Index
  • Shop
    • Kitchen Tools
    • Pantry Staples
  • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure Policy

Whip & Wander

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Newsletter
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • About
    • Newsletter
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Whip & Wander » Recipes » Breakfast & Brunch

    Published: Apr 21, 2021 · Modified: May 16, 2024 by Jenni · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Savory Buttermilk Herb Dutch Baby

    This page may contain affiliate links. Please see my full disclosure policy for details.
    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe
    a Savory Buttermilk Herb Dutch Baby topped with smoked salmon in a cast iron pan with a white cloth wrapped around the handle resting on a wooden surface
    a Savory Buttermilk Herb Dutch Baby in a cast iron skillet with white fabric wrapped around the cast iron pan handle
    a half of a Savory Buttermilk Herb Dutch Baby with mascarpone, tomatoes, smoked salmon and herbs resting on a brown plate on a piece of white cloth on a wooden table
    a brown plate with a half Savory Buttermilk Herb Dutch Baby with mascarpone cheese, smoked salmon, tomatoes and herbs with a fork resting on the plate
    a cast iron pan filled with a Savory Buttermilk Herb Dutch Baby with fresh babay tomatoes, mascarpone, smoked salmon, and herbs
    a cast iron pan and a brown plate, each with a half of a Savory Buttermilk Herb Dutch Baby
    a Savory Buttermilk Dutch Baby with smoked salmon, cheese, and tomato in a cast iron pan
    a cast iron dutch baby with herbs on a wooden surface
    a cast iron herbed dutch baby resting ona. white cloth on a wooden surface

    A Savory Buttermilk Herb Dutch Baby in a cast iron skillet topped with smoked salmon, tomato, and mascarpone resting on a wooden surface

    Lovely crisp edges encircling a soft, crepe-like center

    This Savory Buttermilk Herb Dutch Baby starts with a simple buttermilk batter which nestles into a puddle of melted butter in a hot cast-iron skillet. Before it takes a turn in the oven, the top is dressed with a generous sprinkle of fresh chives, dill, and tarragon. The resulting savory brunch dish offers lovely crisp edges encircling a soft, crepe-like center that is perfect for topping with all manner of savory toppings -- my favorite is a measure of smoked salmon, fresh tomatoes, and a lavish dollop of mascarpone!

    a savory buttermilk herb dutch baby in a cast irons killer resting on a wooden surface
    a cast iron skillet with Savory Buttermilk Herb Dutch Baby in it with a white cloth wrapped around the pan handle

    What is a Dutch Baby?

    Have you ever struggled to decide if you’re more in the mood for waffles, pancakes, or crepes? A Dutch baby is like a delicious combination of all three with a crisp outer edge like a waffle and puffy batter that rises in the oven like a pancake before deflating into a soft, almost custardy, crepe-like center as it settles outside of the oven.

    There are some key differences though. Compared to traditional waffles, pancakes, and crepes, which are generally cooked in a pan on the stovetop or on a griddle, Dutchy babies are cooked in the oven. They also don’t usually contain any chemical leavening agents, such as baking powder or baking soda, like pancakes and waffles usually require.

    Dutch Babies are also often referred to as a Dutch baby pancake, Dutch puff, German pancake, Bismark, or American popover.

    smoked salmon, tomatoes, mascarpone, and herbs on top of a cast iron dutch baby
    a buttermilk herb dutch baby in a cast iron skillet topped with mascarpone, smoked salmon, tomato, and herbs

    How to serve this Savory Buttermilk Herb Dutch Baby

    I love to serve this brunch dish with a portion of smoked salmon or lox, a generous dollop of lemon mascarpone, some fresh tomato, and a sprinkle of fresh herbs, flaky salt, and cracked black pepper. However, this savory Dutch baby is deliciously topped in many other ways. Some ideas are:

    • Swap the smoked salmon out for breakfast sausage, bacon, or ham
    • Add a fried or poached egg to the top
    • Add a few slices of avocado
    • Add additional sauteed or roasted veggies. Mushrooms, onions, zucchini, peppers, asparagus, kale, spinach, blistered tomatoes (instead of raw) are all good choices!
    • With these Dijon Creamed Greens on top!
    • Sprinkle with your favorite shredded or crumbled cheese. Feta, gorgonzola, or goat are especially nice
    • Swap out the mascarpone for creamy whipped cream cheese (see note below)
    • Add a drizzle of hollandaise sauce (this is especially good with asparagus and a poached egg!)
    a brown plate with half of a Savory Buttermilk Herb Dutch Baby next to a cast iron skillet with the other half of the dutch baby
    a brown plate with half of a Savory Buttermilk Herb Dutch Baby, smoked salmon, mascarpone, herbs, and tomatoes resting in top of a white cloth on a wooden table

    Can I use cream cheese instead of mascarpone?

    Yes! Cream cheese pairs so well with smoked salmon and makes a similar swap for the mascarpone in this recipe. I prefer to let mine soften a bit, then using a hand mixer, beat it with a splash of milk, a pinch of salt, and lemon zest until it takes on a creamy consistency similar to mascarpone.

    What tools do I need to make this recipe?

    • A cutting board
    • A chef's knife
    • A medium mixing bowl
    • A whisk
    • A spatula
    • A kitchen scale - OR - Measuring cups (for less precise measurements)
    • Measuring spoons
    • A 10-inch cast-iron skillet - OR - other 10-inch oven-safe skillet

    If topping with the optional lemon mascarpone you will also need:

    • A citrus zester
    • A small mixing bowl
    • A small whisk - OR - sturdy spatula - OR - hand mixer

    Are you looking to upgrade to your cooking tools or replenish your pantry? Check out my kitchen tools shop page and pantry staples shop page to find my must-have kitchen tools, pantry items, and other Whip & Wander favorites.

    a cast iron skillet with a Savory Buttermilk Herb Dutch Baby resting on a wooden table
    a half of a Savory Buttermilk Herb Dutch Baby topped with smoked salmon and mascarpone cheese on a white cloth lines wooden surface

    LOOKING FOR MORE DINNER INSPIRATION?

    Love this Savory Buttermilk Herb Dutch Baby recipe? Here are some additional Brunch recipes that you might enjoy!

    • Buttermilk Dutch Baby (served with Brown Butter Spiced Apples, Peaches, or Blueberries)
    • Smoked Salmon and Citrus Salad with Cucumber and Avocado
    • Kitchen Sink Frittata
    • Fall Frittata with Butternut Squash and Kale
    • Shakshuka (Eggs Poached in Tomato Sauce with Sausage, Peppers, and Feta)
    Print
    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
    A Savory Buttermilk Herb Dutch Baby in a cast iron skillet topped with smoked salmon, tomato, and mascarpone resting on a wooden surface

    Savory Buttermilk Herb Dutch Baby

    5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 1 review
    • Author: Whip & Wander
    • Prep Time: 6 minutes
    • Cook Time: 30 minutes
    • Total Time: 36 minutes
    • Yield: 2 servings 1x
    • Category: Breakfast & Brunch
    • Method: Oven
    • Cuisine: Dutch / German / American
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Description

    This Savory Buttermilk Herb Dutch Baby starts with a simple buttermilk batter which nestles into a puddle of melted butter in a hot cast-iron skillet. Before it takes a turn in the oven, the top is dressed with a generous sprinkle of fresh chives, dill, and tarragon. The resulting savory brunch dish offers lovely crisp edges encircling a soft, crepe-like center that is perfect for topping with all manner of savory toppings -- my favorite is a measure of smoked salmon, fresh tomatoes, and a lavish dollop of mascarpone!


    Ingredients

    Scale

    Buttermilk Herb Dutch Baby:

    • 80 g (roughly ⅔ cup) all-purpose flour
    • 160 g (roughly ⅔ cup) buttermilk
    • 3 large eggs
    • ½ tsp Kosher salt
    • 1 tbsp fresh chives, chopped
    • 1 tbsp fresh dill, chopped
    • 1 tsp fresh tarragon, chopped
    • 2 tbsp cold unsalted butter

    Optional toppings:

    • 4 oz smoked salmon (or lox)
    • a small handful of cherry tomatoes, sliced
    • 4 oz mascarpone cheese (may sub for 4 oz cream cheese + 1-2 tablespoon whole milk)
    • zest of 1 lemon
    • Generous pinch of Kosher salt + more to top as desired
    • additional chopped fresh chives, dill, or tarragon to top as desired
    • cracked black pepper to top as desired

    Instructions

    Buttermilk Herb Dutch Baby:

    1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F / 230 C.
    2. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together flour, buttermilk, eggs, and salt until well-combined.
    3. Place butter in a 10-inch cast-iron pan (or other oven-safe pan) and place in the oven. Allow the butter to melt fully. Watch closely as the butter will begin to brown if left in too long. Lightly browned butter is lovely, but you don't want it to burn.
    4. Once the butter is fully melted, remove the pan from the oven and give it a quick swirl to coat. Add the batter to the pan on top of the butter. There will be some separation of butter and batter but do not be tempted to stir this into your batter or your Dutch baby will not bake properly.
    5. Sprinkle the top of the Dutch baby batter with the fresh chopped herbs.
    6. Return the pan to the oven and bake for 20 minutes. Then lower the heat to 300 degrees F / 150 C and bake for another 5 minutes.
    7. Remove the pan from the oven and dress with your desired toppings. I prefer smoked salmon, fresh tomatoes, a dollop of lemon mascarpone, and a sprinkle of fresh herbs, flaky salt, and cracked black pepper (as noted above).

    Optional toppings:

    1. In a small bowl, combine the mascarpone, lemon zest, and a generous pinch of Kosher salt using a small whisk or a sturdy spatula. Once combined, reserve to the side until ready to top.
      • *If you choose to substitute cream cheese for the mascarpone, allow to soften at room temp before working with it. Using a hand mixer, beat it with a splash of milk (1-2 tbsp), a pinch of salt, and lemon zest until it takes on a creamy consistency similar to mascarpone.

    Notes

    Nutrition facts below account for the Dutch baby without the optional toppings.

    Nutritional information on Whip & Wander is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site.


    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 serving
    • Calories: 423
    • Sugar: 7 g
    • Sodium: 462 mg
    • Fat: 25 g
    • Saturated Fat: 13 g
    • Carbohydrates: 33 g
    • Fiber: 1 g
    • Protein: 17 g
    • Cholesterol: 48 mg

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @whipandwander on Instagram and hashtag it #whipandwander

    « Tuna Nicoise Salad (Salade Niçoise)
    Sourdough Discard Strawberry Mint Scones »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Marwen says

      March 05, 2024 at 1:51 pm

      Loved this! I threw in some roasted vegetables and topped it with home made pesto. Its savory so very suitable for an easy dinner.

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Pleased to meet you, I’m Jenni!

    Welcome to my little slice of the web where I share recipes for food, travel, books, and life!

    More about me →

    What to Cook for Mother's Day

    • A Harry Potter book resting next to a plate with salmon, mashed potato, and green beans on a pink cloth
      Petunia Dursley's Salmon with Lemon Caper Butter Sauce
    • A Savory Buttermilk Herb Dutch Baby in a cast iron skillet topped with smoked salmon, tomato, and mascarpone resting on a wooden surface
      Savory Buttermilk Herb Dutch Baby
    • a gold spoon resting on a pink platter with Roasted Radishes with Garlic Chive Yogurt. crusty bread laying nearby on a wood surface.
      Roasted Radishes with Garlic Chive Yogurt
    • several plates with slices of pound cake, topped with whipped cream and berries on a neutral back ground
      Perfect Pound Cake

    Easy Recipes for Memorial Day Weekend

    • a Mediterranean Turkey Burger topped with tomato and red onion on a bed on dill slaw with a brioche bun resting on a plate
      Mediterranean Turkey Burgers
    • closeup of burger buns on a tray some with sesame seeds and some without
      No-Knead Classic Burger Buns
    • a white dish filled with potato salad and wooden serving utensils resting on a green piece of fabric
      Creamy Dijon Dill Potato Salad
    • Grilled Skirt Steak slices with avocado chimichurri sauce on top on a wooden cutting boar with a spoonful of sauce and a knife resting nearby
      Grilled Skirt Steak with Avocado Chimichurri Sauce

    Spring Salads Packed with Seasonal Flavor

    • Arugula Salad with Calabrian Chili Oil, Lemon, and Parmesan on a white plate resting on a green cloth
      Arugula Salad with Calabrian Chili Oil, Lemon, and Parmesan
    • a white salad bowl with a shaved fennel and arugula salad inside resting on an orange cloth with wooden utensils next to the bowl
      Shaved Fennel, White Bean, and Arugula Salad with Tuna
    • two white bowls with Caesar Salad with Spicy Roasted Chickpeas, Jammy Eggs, and Avocado, a small plate of lemons on the side
      Caesar Salad with Spicy Roasted Chickpeas, Jammy Eggs, and Avocado
    • Tuna Salad Nicoise on a large white platter sitting on a wooden surface with salaf serving utensils resting to the right of the platter
      Tuna Nicoise Salad (Salade Niçoise)

    Bold, Flavor-Packed Sandwiches

    • a Prosciutto and Cheese Sandwich with Chili Fig Jam resting n a white plate on an orange cloth
      Prosciutto and Cheese Sandwich with Chili Fig Jam
    • an open baguette with onion, arugula, eggs, tapenade, tuna salad, tomatoes
      French Tuna Sandwich (Pan Bagnat)
    • an Italian Deli Sandwich on a white plate on a green cloth
      Italian Deli Sandwich
    • a closeup of a baguette with romesco sauce, arugula, and roast beef peeking out
      Roast Beef Sandwich with Romesco and Arugula

    Brunch Favorites for Sunny Mornings

    • A Savory Buttermilk Herb Dutch Baby in a cast iron skillet topped with smoked salmon, tomato, and mascarpone resting on a wooden surface
      Savory Buttermilk Herb Dutch Baby
    • Sourdough Discard Strawberry Mint Scones on a baking sheet with fresh strawberries and mint springs on the tray
      Sourdough Discard Strawberry Mint Scones
    • a bagel pizza with smoked salmon and cucumber partially cut into slices
      Everything Bagel Pizza with Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese
    • Blueberry sauce ont op of a stack of pancakes that have been cut into resting on a lilac cloth
      Sourdough Discard Buttermilk Pancakes

    Sweet Treats to Welcome Spring

    • a large Sourdough Discard Carrot Cake with Browned Butter Cream Cheese Frosting restign on a wooden surface with fresh carrots
      Sourdough Discard Carrot Cake with Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting
    • A stack of Salted Brown Butter Crispy Treats on a light pink plate resting on a wooden surface
      Salted Brown Butter Crispy Treats
    • several plates with slices of pound cake, topped with whipped cream and berries on a neutral back ground
      Perfect Pound Cake
    • squares of fudgy brownies on a pale pink surface
      Fudgy Brownies

    Make it a Pizza Night with These Delicious Recipes!

    • a hand pulling a slice of White Clam Pizza off of a baking sheet
      White Clam Pizza
    • slices of Canadian Bacon, Pineapple, and Sauerkraut Pizza on a parchment lined baking sheet
      Canadian Bacon, Pineapple, and Sauerkraut Pizza
    • a hand grabbing a slice of pizza bianca off of a baking sheet
      Pizza Bianca (White Pizza)
    • A hand grabbing a slice of Spinach Artichoke Pizza off of a parchment line baking sheet resting on a wooden surface
      Spinach Artichoke Pizza

    Popular Recipes

    • a hand pulling a square of cheesy pizza from its tray
      Easy Same-Day Pizza Dough
    • a cast iron skillet with corn bread next to a plate with a slice of cornbread and pat of butter
      Brown Butter Buttermilk Skillet Cornbread
    • a white bowl with instant pot artichokes and lemon wedges in a copper dish
      Pressure Cooker Artichokes
    • a wooden spoon resting in a skillet full of Pasta with Olive Tapenade on a dark teal cloth
      Pasta with Olive Tapenade

    Magical Harry Potter Recipes

    • A Harry Potter book resting next to a plate with salmon, mashed potato, and green beans on a pink cloth
      Petunia Dursley's Salmon with Lemon Caper Butter Sauce
    • a harry potter book sitting next to a glass dish of strawberry buttermilk ice cream with a metal ice cream scoop and two cones resting in the dish. a bowl of strawberries resting nearby
      Molly Weasley's Strawberry Buttermilk Ice Cream
    • two glasses of Polyjuice Potion Smoothie next to a small black cauldron and several lit candles
      Polyjuice Potion Smoothie
    • wooden tray, gillywater, glasses, white towel, mint, lime
      Gillywater

    Pleased to meet you, I’m Jenni!

    Welcome to my little slice of the web where I share recipes for food, travel, books, and life!

    More about me →

    What to Cook for Mother's Day

    • A Harry Potter book resting next to a plate with salmon, mashed potato, and green beans on a pink cloth
      Petunia Dursley's Salmon with Lemon Caper Butter Sauce
    • A Savory Buttermilk Herb Dutch Baby in a cast iron skillet topped with smoked salmon, tomato, and mascarpone resting on a wooden surface
      Savory Buttermilk Herb Dutch Baby
    • a gold spoon resting on a pink platter with Roasted Radishes with Garlic Chive Yogurt. crusty bread laying nearby on a wood surface.
      Roasted Radishes with Garlic Chive Yogurt
    • several plates with slices of pound cake, topped with whipped cream and berries on a neutral back ground
      Perfect Pound Cake

    Easy Recipes for Memorial Day Weekend

    • a Mediterranean Turkey Burger topped with tomato and red onion on a bed on dill slaw with a brioche bun resting on a plate
      Mediterranean Turkey Burgers
    • closeup of burger buns on a tray some with sesame seeds and some without
      No-Knead Classic Burger Buns
    • a white dish filled with potato salad and wooden serving utensils resting on a green piece of fabric
      Creamy Dijon Dill Potato Salad
    • Grilled Skirt Steak slices with avocado chimichurri sauce on top on a wooden cutting boar with a spoonful of sauce and a knife resting nearby
      Grilled Skirt Steak with Avocado Chimichurri Sauce

    Spring Salads Packed with Seasonal Flavor

    • Arugula Salad with Calabrian Chili Oil, Lemon, and Parmesan on a white plate resting on a green cloth
      Arugula Salad with Calabrian Chili Oil, Lemon, and Parmesan
    • a white salad bowl with a shaved fennel and arugula salad inside resting on an orange cloth with wooden utensils next to the bowl
      Shaved Fennel, White Bean, and Arugula Salad with Tuna
    • two white bowls with Caesar Salad with Spicy Roasted Chickpeas, Jammy Eggs, and Avocado, a small plate of lemons on the side
      Caesar Salad with Spicy Roasted Chickpeas, Jammy Eggs, and Avocado
    • Tuna Salad Nicoise on a large white platter sitting on a wooden surface with salaf serving utensils resting to the right of the platter
      Tuna Nicoise Salad (Salade Niçoise)

    Bold, Flavor-Packed Sandwiches

    • a Prosciutto and Cheese Sandwich with Chili Fig Jam resting n a white plate on an orange cloth
      Prosciutto and Cheese Sandwich with Chili Fig Jam
    • an open baguette with onion, arugula, eggs, tapenade, tuna salad, tomatoes
      French Tuna Sandwich (Pan Bagnat)
    • an Italian Deli Sandwich on a white plate on a green cloth
      Italian Deli Sandwich
    • a closeup of a baguette with romesco sauce, arugula, and roast beef peeking out
      Roast Beef Sandwich with Romesco and Arugula

    Brunch Favorites for Sunny Mornings

    • A Savory Buttermilk Herb Dutch Baby in a cast iron skillet topped with smoked salmon, tomato, and mascarpone resting on a wooden surface
      Savory Buttermilk Herb Dutch Baby
    • Sourdough Discard Strawberry Mint Scones on a baking sheet with fresh strawberries and mint springs on the tray
      Sourdough Discard Strawberry Mint Scones
    • a bagel pizza with smoked salmon and cucumber partially cut into slices
      Everything Bagel Pizza with Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese
    • Blueberry sauce ont op of a stack of pancakes that have been cut into resting on a lilac cloth
      Sourdough Discard Buttermilk Pancakes

    Sweet Treats to Welcome Spring

    • a large Sourdough Discard Carrot Cake with Browned Butter Cream Cheese Frosting restign on a wooden surface with fresh carrots
      Sourdough Discard Carrot Cake with Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting
    • A stack of Salted Brown Butter Crispy Treats on a light pink plate resting on a wooden surface
      Salted Brown Butter Crispy Treats
    • several plates with slices of pound cake, topped with whipped cream and berries on a neutral back ground
      Perfect Pound Cake
    • squares of fudgy brownies on a pale pink surface
      Fudgy Brownies

    Make it a Pizza Night with These Delicious Recipes!

    • a hand pulling a slice of White Clam Pizza off of a baking sheet
      White Clam Pizza
    • slices of Canadian Bacon, Pineapple, and Sauerkraut Pizza on a parchment lined baking sheet
      Canadian Bacon, Pineapple, and Sauerkraut Pizza
    • a hand grabbing a slice of pizza bianca off of a baking sheet
      Pizza Bianca (White Pizza)
    • A hand grabbing a slice of Spinach Artichoke Pizza off of a parchment line baking sheet resting on a wooden surface
      Spinach Artichoke Pizza

    Popular Recipes

    • a hand pulling a square of cheesy pizza from its tray
      Easy Same-Day Pizza Dough
    • a cast iron skillet with corn bread next to a plate with a slice of cornbread and pat of butter
      Brown Butter Buttermilk Skillet Cornbread
    • a white bowl with instant pot artichokes and lemon wedges in a copper dish
      Pressure Cooker Artichokes
    • a wooden spoon resting in a skillet full of Pasta with Olive Tapenade on a dark teal cloth
      Pasta with Olive Tapenade

    Magical Harry Potter Recipes

    • A Harry Potter book resting next to a plate with salmon, mashed potato, and green beans on a pink cloth
      Petunia Dursley's Salmon with Lemon Caper Butter Sauce
    • a harry potter book sitting next to a glass dish of strawberry buttermilk ice cream with a metal ice cream scoop and two cones resting in the dish. a bowl of strawberries resting nearby
      Molly Weasley's Strawberry Buttermilk Ice Cream
    • two glasses of Polyjuice Potion Smoothie next to a small black cauldron and several lit candles
      Polyjuice Potion Smoothie
    • wooden tray, gillywater, glasses, white towel, mint, lime
      Gillywater

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Recipes

    • Appetizers
    • Mains
    • Sides
    • Brunch
    • Desserts
    • Pizza
    • Harry Potter
    • Sourdough

    Whip & Wander

    Copyright © 2024 Whip & Wander. All Rights Reserved.

    Privacy Policy / Disclosures

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    More to consume

    • About
    • Contact
    • Newsletter
    • Shop Tools
    • Shop Pantry
    387 shares
    • 2
    387 shares
    • 2