Early on a bright Saturday morning, Desmond Lorenz tasted a German Pancake for the first time. He still remembers his 7 year old self watching his dad preparing the dish in a cast iron pan.
“That delicious, fluffy nature of eating a German Pancake right out of the pan is a memory I’ll never forget,” Lorenz Said. “It was surreal.”
Passed down from his great, great grandmother, Mimi Lorenz, the recipe has continued to survive throughout generations. Family gatherings, especially during the holiday season, have been an opportunity to pay homage to this be- loved recipe.
When Lorenz’s family comes into town, this dish is always made for breakfast one morning and is a family favorite on special occasions. The tradition of making this dish is a tribute to his family’s German roots.
The Lorenz family’s German ancestors came to America hoping for a new start after World War I, bringing this recipe and other traditions with them. A family cookbook contains their special recipe. The pancake recipe is one of the only things that has stood the test of time for the Lorenz family and has kept a prominent place as a tradition. Lorenz’s father inherited the recipe and when he was old enough to learn, Lorenz was taught to make this dish as well.
“It was just really a bonding experience with my Dad when I got to learn how to make it,” Lorenz said. “Which was pretty awesome and a great way to spend time together.” This experience with his dad has inspired Lorenz to continue passing this recipe down to future generations of his family.
“Having dishes like this are important because of the family connection and the memories I have with family while eating it,” Lorenz said “But also because when you’re cooking it, you can look at it in the oven. And if you take a time lapse of it, you can see the sides puff up really tall and overflow above the pan, and it’s really amazing.”
Also known as a Dutch Baby, this dish has a pancake-type crust, with a fluffy puffed center, tasting similar to custard. Lorenz explains it as: “The German Pancake is just a pancake but way bigger and it looks cooler. So, it really is an upgraded version of normal pancakes.”
The uniqueness of Lorenz’s dish is not just in taste, but in the emotions and family history behind it. The connection with family and the stories it creates is what makes German Pancakes so special.
