Easy Kaiserschmarrn Recipe - Austrian Shredded Pancakes (2024)

Inside: My family’s favorite Kaiserschmarrn recipe. This easy recipe for Austrian-style shredded pancakes uses simple ingredients you already have on hand. Crunchy and caramelized on the outside, with a fluffy and custardy center.

We recently took our little one to Germany. My husband’s family is from Bavaria, so we spent some time in Munich and explored the nearby Austrian and Bavarian towns. It was so beautiful – basically like walking in a postcard. And the food was outstanding.

Some of our favorites included the meats and cheeses:

The sausages:

And of course, the pretzels:

But our favorite dish was Kaiserschmarrn.

While technically an Austrian dessert, it was on every breakfast buffet we came across and was prepared slightly differently at each stop.

Sometimes, the Kaiserschmarrn recipe included rum-soaked raisins. Sometimes prunes. Occasionally the Kaiserschmarrn recipe was served with applesauce or plum sauce, and sometimes with jam, but if we were VERY lucky, it was served with a vanilla sauce.

What remained the same however, was the way the pancake was cooked. Tiny bites of caramelized pancake, with a crunchy exterior and a fluffy custard-y inside. Scented with vanilla, and lightly sweetened, it tasted like heaven.

This Kaiserschmarrn recipe is our favorite version.

We usually serve with powdered sugar, blueberry jam, and fresh berries. Sometimes I go all out and make a nice Bavarian cream sauce, and other times I just take instant vanilla pudding and thin it out to make good ‘ol “American” cream sauce, lol.

To make my “cheater” vanilla sauce, I just take 1 tbsp of instant vanilla pudding and mix it with 4 tbsp of whole milk. Stir until it thickens and it’s totally divine drizzled over this easy to make Kaiserschmarrn recipe.

While this is a bit of decadent breakfast, some days, you just need a little of something extra good.

And when this little one asks me to make up a batch of Kaiserschmarrn, it’s hard to say no.

Easy Kaiserschmarrn Recipe – Austrian Shredded Pancakes

Easy Kaiserschmarrn Recipe - Austrian Shredded Pancakes (7)

Print

Easy Kaiserschmarrn Recipe

An easy recipe for Kaiserschmarrn, using simple ingredients. You'll love this caramelized fluffy Austrian-style shredded pancake.

CourseBreakfast

Prep Time 8 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 18 minutes

Servings 4

Ingredients

  • 4largeeggs, separated
  • 2tbspbutter, melted
  • 1tspvanilla extract
  • pinchsalt
  • 2tbspgranulated sugar
  • 1 cupflour
  • 1cupwhole milk

To Caramelize

  • butter
  • granulated sugar

To Serve

  • powdered sugar
  • fresh berries, optional
  • jam, optional
  • vanilla sauce, optional

Instructions

  1. Separate the egg yolks and whites. Place egg whites into a bowl and using either a stand mixer or a handheld mixer with a wire whisk attachment, whip the egg whites until soft peaks form. (About 2 minutes on high speed).

  2. Gently place whipped egg whites into a clean bowl and set aside. In the mixer bowl, add egg yolks, melted butter, vanilla, salt, and sugar. Mix together for about 3 minutes on medium speed.

  3. Turn off mixer, and add in the milk and flour and stir together to gently incorporate with your rubber spatula. This prevents flour from flying out all over your kitchen. Then, mix at medium speed until the batter is well incorporated. Stop and scrape down the sides as needed.

  4. Once batter is mixed, top with egg whites and gently fold in. Do this slowly and softly until all the egg whites have been mixed in.

  5. Place a large skillet over medium-low heat and add 1 tbsp butter until it starts to sizzle. Turn pan to coat butter evenly, and pour in half the batter.

  6. Cook slowly, for about 6 minutes until the pancake starts to brown. I like to check by gently using my spatula to peek underneath.

  7. Once the bottom is golden brown, cut the pancake into quarters and sprinkle the raw batter side with about 1-2 tsp of granulated sugar.

  8. Gently flip each piece, and add another tbsp of butter to the pan.

  9. Continue cooking until golden brown, about 3 minutes.

  10. Using two spatulas or forks, gently shred pancakes. The outside should be crunchy and caramelized, and the middle should be cooked through and soft. If desired, you can add a little more butter and sugar to the pan and gently toss.

  11. To serve, sprinkle with powdered sugar and top with fresh berries. You can also place little bowls of jam and vanilla sauce on the side. Enjoy!

My Easy Kaiserschmarrn Recipe In Photos:

Separate the yolks and whites.

Whip the egg whites at high speed for about 2 minutes or until soft peaks form.

Be careful not to over-mix the egg whites. Place whipped egg whites into a clean bowl and set aside.

In the same mixer bowl, add in the egg yolks, vanilla, sugar, salt, and melted butter. Mix at medium speed until well incorporated.

Easy Kaiserschmarrn Recipe - Austrian Shredded Pancakes (12)

Stir in the flour and milk with a rubber spatula, and then mix on medium speed. Scrape down sides of the bowl as needed.

Add in the whipped egg whites and gently fold in.

Place pan over medium low heat and melt butter until it sizzles.

Place half the batter and cook for about 6 minutes or until the bottom is a nice golden brown color.

I like to use a spatula to peek under to check.

I cut the pancake in quarters so it’s easier to flip. Before flipping, sprinkle raw pancake side with some granulated sugar.

Flip and add some more butter to help brown the other side.

Using two spatulas or forks, gently shred the pancakes and add in a bit more butter and sugar if desired.

Top with powdered sugar and fresh berries, and serve with jam and vanilla sauce if desired. I hope you enjoy this simple and easy Kaiserschmarrn recipe!

Like this recipe? Then check out my simple Belgian Waffles!

pin me!

Related

568 Shares

Easy Kaiserschmarrn Recipe - Austrian Shredded Pancakes (2024)

FAQs

Do you cook Kaiserschmarrn in the oven or pan? ›

You can prepare Kaiserschmarrn in the oven as well. Use a skillet or oven-proof pan. In that case, cook the Kaiserschmarrn in the oven for about 10 - 15 minutes at 180 °C / 350 °F. Using a spatula or a fork tear the pancake into bite-sized pieces and finish the recipe on the stove.

What is Kaiserschmarrn made of? ›

Kaiserschmarren is a light, caramelized pancake made from a sweet batter using flour, eggs, sugar, salt, and milk, fried in butter.

What makes fluffier pancakes milk or water? ›

Milk helps make pancakes fluffier than water. Since milk is thicker than water, it creates a thicker batter. Further, if you use whole milk or low fat milk, the fat content helps yield tender, fluffy results.

What ingredient makes pancakes rubbery? ›

Gluten is useful as it helps provide the 'bready' structure that holds the gas bubbles inside for a fluffy pancake. If you overbeat the batter, you can release more glutenin and gliadin protein that will make the pancakes tough and rubbery.

What is the cooking method for pancakes? ›

Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium-high heat. Pour or scoop batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake; cook until bubbles form and the edges are dry, 1 to 2 minutes. Flip and cook until browned on the other side. Repeat with remaining batter.

What is Kaiserschmarrn in English? ›

Kaiserschmarrn (Scrambled Pancake) is an Austrian dessert that's also very popular in Bavaria! A sweet fluffy pancake made with rum-soaked raisins is torn into bite-sized pieces, caramelized, and served sprinkled with powdered sugar, applesauce, and preserves.

What does the name Kaiserschmarrn mean? ›

The name means “imperial mess” in German. The story goes that a frazzled farmer created the dish in a tizzy when Austria's Emperor Franz Joseph and his wife showed up hungry at his home.

Does milk instead of water make pancakes better? ›

1. Use Milk/ Alternative Milk Instead Of Water. Even though the mix may call for water, you can easily substitute that for an alternative milk (I like oat milk). You may have to add a dash more due to the difference in consistency, but it'll taste so much better!

What happens if you add milk to pancake mix? ›

Add Dairy for Richness

Milk, yogurt, melted butter, and ricotta cheese are just a few dairy products that can alter a box mix pancake's structure, yielding a pancake that's both fluffy and moist.

What happens when you add milk to pancake batter? ›

The oil, butter, and egg should be enough to create a rich, thick batter. While the batter would be thick, it's not likely to make light and fluffy cakes. The milk or water allows the batter to thin out and let all other ingredients make delectable cakes! The butter or oil is there to keep the pancakes moist.

What happens if you add an extra egg to pancake mix? ›

Eggs are a crucial ingredient. They provide the cakes with the structure to hold light bubbles. Eggs also give the batter additional, richer flavor from the yolk fat. If you add too many eggs, you'll have “pancakes” that look more like custard or crepes.

Does adding more baking powder make pancakes fluffier? ›

Top tips for fluffy pancakes

Don't be tempted to add more than the recipe suggests, as too much baking powder will make pancakes taste soapy. Alternatively, you could use self-raising flour, which will add to the amount of raising agent in the recipe and potentially make your pancakes fluffier.

Does baking powder or baking soda make pancakes fluffier? ›

Baking soda is essential for baked goods, but baking powder is really what makes pancakes and biscuits rise and become so super fluffy. Double-acting baking powder, which is the kind that you'll find in the grocery store, produces bubbles in two ways: when it is mixed with wet ingredients and then when it gets heated.

Do you cook pancakes on a pan or griddle? ›

Griddles have almost twice as much cooking surface as even the largest cast iron skillet, allowing you to cook more than three pancakes at a time. The downside? A griddle needs to sit across two burners, which means that even a cast iron griddle has cold spots in the area between the burners.

Do you use a griddle or frying pan for pancakes? ›

A griddle with temperature control is the best tool for cooking pancakes. We like to use an electric skillet. Set the temperature to 375 F when preheating, then turn it down to 370 or 360 F once you start to cook the pancakes.

Do you cook pancakes in a hot pan? ›

Lots of people say that for perfect pancakes, you need a really hot pan – but if it's blistering hot, your batter will burn. Heat your pan over a medium to low heat, coat the base lightly with vegetable or sunflower oil, then test the temperature by dropping a small amount of batter on to the pan.

Are pancakes fried or baked? ›

A pancake (or hotcake, griddlecake, or flapjack) is a flat cake, often thin and round, prepared from a starch-based batter that may contain eggs, milk and butter, and then cooked on a hot surface such as a griddle or frying pan.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Duncan Muller

Last Updated:

Views: 6006

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (79 voted)

Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Duncan Muller

Birthday: 1997-01-13

Address: Apt. 505 914 Phillip Crossroad, O'Konborough, NV 62411

Phone: +8555305800947

Job: Construction Agent

Hobby: Shopping, Table tennis, Snowboarding, Rafting, Motor sports, Homebrewing, Taxidermy

Introduction: My name is Duncan Muller, I am a enchanting, good, gentle, modern, tasty, nice, elegant person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.