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)

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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!

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Easy Kaiserschmarrn Recipe - Austrian Shredded Pancakes (2024)

FAQs

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 are fluffy pancakes made of? ›

The combination of homemade buttermilk (milk and vinegar) and two leaveners (baking powder and baking soda) create lots of air bubbles in the pancake batter, resulting in the lightest and fluffiest pancakes imaginable.

When was Kaiserschmarrn invented? ›

There are many legends on the origins of Kaiserschmarrn. Wikipedia provides the most fanciful legend surrounding its creation by the Austro-Hungarian monarchy in the days of the Empire. It is generally agreed that the dish was first prepared for the Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph I (1830–1916).

What is the other name for Kaiserschmarrn? ›

Kaiserschmarrn is a well-known Austrian dessert. It was popular in the former Austria–Hungary as well as in Bavaria. The Czech name is "trhanec" or "kajzršmorn". In Hungary it is called "császármorzsa" or simply "smarni".

What is the literal translation of Kaiserschmarrn? ›

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.

Why do you put milk instead of water in pancakes? ›

Can I Use Water Instead of Milk in Pancakes? Milk adds both flavor and texture to pancake batter, so if you are looking to make pancakes without milk, a simple swap to water doesn't always do the trick. For pancakes made without milk, you'll want to add some flavor through melted butter and vanilla extract.

Does adding more baking powder make pancakes fluffier? ›

Baking powder (double acting) provides two rises: The first occurs when the baking powder comes into contact with a liquid, the second when it's exposed to heat. Too much baking powder will create a very puffy pancake with a chalky taste, while too little will make it flat and limp.

What is the best oil for fluffy pancakes? ›

Using extra virgin olive oil in place of the melted butter in this recipe adds moisture in addition to flavor, resulting in a light and fluffy pancake that's perfectly tender and moist, not dry or doughy in the least.

What is a fun fact about Kaiserschmarrn? ›

Various stories surround the origins of the dish, all of which relate to the name. Kaiser is German for Emperor and Schmarrn is a colloquial expression for a mess or nonsense, often uttered in exasperation at some unfortunate situation. (Ironically, I tend to make a Schmarrn of making Kaiserschmarren.)

Who ate the first pancake? ›

The first written records of pancakes come from the ancient Greeks and Romans.

How did cavemen make pancakes? ›

Our prehistoric ancestors just may have eaten pancakes.

Analyses of starch grains on 30,000-year-old grinding tools suggest that Stone Age cooks were making flour out of cattails and ferns—which, researchers guess, was likely mixed with water and baked on a hot, possibly greased, rock.

What is Vietnamese pancake made of? ›

It is a savoury fried pancake made of rice flour, water, and turmeric powder. It can also be called a Vietnamese crêpe. Some common stuffings include pork, prawns, diced green onion, mung bean, and bean sprouts. Bánh xèo is often served with sides.

What is a Dutch baby pancake made of? ›

Dutch Baby Ingredients

Eggs and milk: This light and fluffy Dutch baby recipe starts with two eggs whisked with milk. Flour: All-purpose flour lends structure and helps hold the batter together. Seasonings: These sweet Dutch babies are flavored with nutmeg and a pinch of salt.

What are Chinese pancakes made of? ›

  • Wheat Flour (Wheat Flour, Calcium Carbonate, Iron, Nicotinamide, Thiamine),
  • Water,
  • Rapeseed Oil,
  • Potato Starch,
  • Salt.

What is Swedish pancakes made of? ›

The batter for Swedish pancakes contains a higher ratio of milk, butter, and eggs to flour, resulting in something that's lighter and fluffier than crêpes. Swedish pancakes are also traditionally served with jam (lingonberry or strawberry) and whipped cream, although these days, anything goes.

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