Authentic Kaiserschmarrn Recipe (Austrian Torn-Up Pancakes) (2024)

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We Love Kaiserschmarrn And This Pancake “Mess” Is Very Easy To Make!

Looking for a dessert that is easy to make and where it definitely doesn’t matter if you mess it up? Try Kaiserschmarrn (sometimes also written as Kaiserschmarren)!

This “messy pancake” is a delicious dessert – made from a sweet batter – that has been popular for almost two centuries!

Served with powdered sugar and various fruit jams (compotes), it’s a classic Austrian dish you can find if you travel around Europe near the Alps. Given that it’s such a regional dish, it can be hard to find a Kaiserschmarrn recipe in English. Well, that’s where we come in!

Authentic Kaiserschmarrn Recipe (Austrian Torn-Up Pancakes) (1)

That said, Kaiserschmarrn has a great back story – in fact, it has many versions. What is agreed upon is the fact that it got its name from being a favorite dish of AustrianEmperor Francis JosephI.

The name Kaiserschmarrn is made up of two words. “Kaiser” means Emperor and “Schmarren” is a loose, colloquial term to mean “mess” in the south of Germany and Austria.

How the Emperor got to tasting Kaiserschmarrn for the first time is up for debate: from having a wife looking to lose weight to having a nervous farmer cook it up for lunch when the Emperor stopped by. Whatever the story, the broken apart pancake is delicious!

Authentic Kaiserschmarrn Recipe (Austrian Torn-Up Pancakes) (2)

Kaiserschmarrn is a dessert that is close to our hearts, too. Lisa grew up eating Kaiserschmarrn because even though it is Austrian, it is also popular in Bavaria in the south of Germany (where she grew up).

She often made it when she was a kid old enough to use a stove – but she left out the rum raisins!

Eric’s first interaction with Kaiserschmarrn was in Vienna at an authentic Viennese restaurant a few years back. Let’s just say that eating Kaiserschmarrn in the Austrian capital (complete with plum compote) was an unforgettable experience.

Honestly, Eric still raves about how that dessert was one of the best he has ever tasted. Yeah, it was that good.

Authentic Kaiserschmarrn Recipe (Austrian Torn-Up Pancakes) (3)

To whip together your own broken pancake, just follow the recipe below. It is very easy to do and is perfect for those cooks just starting out who maybe haven’t honed their skills yet!

The original recipe includes rum-soaked raisins but they can be left out or substituted for other kinds of dried fruit.

As for the toppings, a hearty dusting of powdered sugar is a must when it comes to Kaiserschmarrn. It is also often served with a fruit compote (which is slightly different from jam – but jam also tastes great if you don’t have any compote).

It was originally done with plum compote but apple sauce also works very well with the eggy, doughy, sweet pancake! We hope you enjoy this recipe – have fun making a mess of things!

Related Recipes

If you liked Kaiserschmarrn, there are other great Austrian desserts or (or just desserts that are pancakes) that you may like!

  • Apple Pancakes – These German pancakes are sweet, thick, and fluffy!
  • Mohnnudeln – Austrian potato noodles covered in poppy seeds and sugar
  • Apple Strudel – A classic Viennese dessert that goes great with vanilla sauce

Authentic Kaiserschmarrn Recipe (Austrian Torn-Up Pancakes) (4)

Kaiserschmarrn (Austrian Pancakes)

Sweet and doughy, Kaiserschmarrn (literally "Emperor's Mess") is a delicious Austrian dessert that is so easy to prepare. Made from eggs, flour, milk, and sugar, this messy looking pancake is best served with a sweet plum jam, apple sauce, or just powdered sugar!

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Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup raisins, optional
  • 2 tablespoons rum or water, if using raisins
  • 4 medium-sized eggs
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • a pinch of salt
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons butter
  • powdered sugar and/or plum jam, to garnish

Instructions

  • If you want to include raisins into your recipe, soak them for around 15-30 minutes in 2 tablespoons of rum. If you don’t like rum and/or are sharing this meal with kids, just use water instead.

  • Separate the eggs – egg yolks into a large mixing bowl and egg whites into a medium-sized mixing bowl. Make sure that no egg yolk gets into the egg whites as this would make it harder to beat the egg whites in the next step.

  • Beat the egg whites in their bowl for a few minutes until stiff. When tilting the bowl, the egg whites should barely move/slide. Another way to test that the egg whites are stiff enough is to raise your beaters. If the egg whites create a little "mountain" in the bowl, your egg whites are stiff enough.

  • In the bowl with the egg yolks, add sugar, vanilla extract, and salt. Beat with your electric mixer until the batter is smooth.

  • Add in the milk and the flour interchangeably into the egg yolk mixture in small increments while beating the batter on the lowest setting.

  • Set your electric mixer aside and carefully fold the egg whites into the egg yolk mixture with a spatula. Also add the raisins (optional).

  • Heat butter in a large frying pan and pour the batter in. If you have a smaller pan, you might want to fry the batter in two batches. We usually use a pan with a 10-inch diameter and prefer to fry it in two intervals as it makes it easier to flip and rip. Fry the pancake on low-medium heat for around 5 minutes until the bottom is slightly golden brown.

  • Break/rip your pancake into a couple of big pieces with a spatula and flip. The top of the pancake might still be uncooked which is fine – it will cook quickly once flipped. After flipping the pancake wait for around 2 minutes for it to cook lightly, then start ripping the pancake into even smaller pieces. Keep moving the pieces until everything is golden brown and fully cooked through.

  • Plate your pieces and serve your pancake with powdered sugar, plum jam, or apple sauce.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 511kcal | Carbohydrates: 85g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 188mg | Sodium: 191mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 54g

This nutritional information has been estimated by an online nutrition calculator. It should only be seen as a rough calculation and not a replacement for professional dietary advice.

Course Dessert

Cuisine Austrian

Author Recipes From Europe

Authentic Kaiserschmarrn Recipe (Austrian Torn-Up Pancakes) (2024)

FAQs

What are Austrian pancakes called? ›

Austria's version of pancakes, Palatschinken, are delicious with sweet and savoury fillings, or chopped into soups. Palatschinken are the Austrian version of pancakes or what the French would refer to as crêpes.

What is a fun fact about Kaiserschmarrn? ›

One of the many legends about the origin of Kaiserschmarren says that Emperor Franz Joseph I liked to have Palatschinken (pancakes) for dessert. If the cook made them too thick or torn, they were served to the staff as "Kaiserschmarrn", because they were not good enough for the Emperor.

Why is it called Kaiserschmarrn? ›

Kaiserschmarrn (German pronunciation: [ˈkaɪ̯zɐˌʃmaʁn]) or Kaiserschmarren ( German: [ˈkaɪ̯zɐˌʃmaʁən]) (Emperor's Mess) is a lightly sweetened pancake that takes its name from the Austrian emperor (Kaiser) Franz Joseph I, who was fond of this fluffy shredded pancake.

What ingredient caused the pancakes to be tender? ›

1/3 cup potato starch (this is the "secret" ingredient that makes them so tender!) Heat a griddle or large skillet over medium heat. Whisk flour, potato starch, sugar, salt, and baking powder together in a medium mixing bowl.

What is the German word for pancake? ›

Answer and Explanation: The German translation of "pancake" is Pfannkuchen, which is pronounced /fahn-KOO-hehn/, and it is a masculine noun.

Where does Kaiserschmarrn originate from? ›

A common dish found in published cookbooks and manuscript recipes from Jewish Vienna is Kaiserschmarrn, a kind of scrambled pancake with raisins. This Viennese recipe spread throughout the German-speaking world, and eventually appeared in cookbooks across German-speaking Europe.

Why are pancakes famous? ›

Why Pancakes Are So Popular. Pancakes have existed for centuries all over the world, and it's not hard to see why: You can make pancakes using common ingredients you already have in the house. They're easy and quick to make: Just mix up the batter and fry them in a pan or on a griddle.

Where did pancakes originate from Wikipedia? ›

History. The Ancient Greeks made pancakes called τηγανίτης (tēganitēs), ταγηνίτης (tagēnitēs) or ταγηνίας (tagēnias), all words deriving from τάγηνον (tagēnon), "frying pan". The earliest attested references to tagenias are in the works of the 5th-century BC poets Cratinus and Magnes.

What does Kaiserschmarrn mean in English? ›

What is Kaiserschmarrn? Kaiserschmarrn is best described as scrambled sweet pancakes. The name is a compound of the German words Kaiser which means Emporer and Schmarrn which can be translated as “a scrambled dish”.

What are blood pancakes? ›

While most recipes use pig or cow blood, any sanguine supply will do. The Sami people of northern Norway use reindeer. In pancakes, blood operates as a handy egg substitute, chipping in protein and binding the milk and flour together. Unlike egg-based pancakes, however, these flapjacks turn dense, savory, and dark.

What is Kaiserschmarrn served with? ›

Serve with a plum or berry ragout, or fruit compote. The Kaiserschmarren can also be cooked at the top of the oven and caramelised at the end with a lid to cover.

What is the secret to a fluffy pancake? ›

Whether you are making your own batter or using a pancake mix, the the secret to fluffier pancakes rests in air pockets. Yes—air pockets. Air pockets make the difference between a pancake and crepe, which means it's crucial that you get the perfect amount of bubbles in your batter to form a fluffy pancake.

Why aren't my homemade pancakes fluffy? ›

Making pancake and waffle batter ahead of time is a huge no-no and will lead to flat, dense results every time. Even letting your batter hang out for just a few minutes after you've mixed it before you start ladling it onto the griddle will lead to less fluffy results.

Why add a pinch of salt to pancakes? ›

Salt: A pinch of salt will enhance the overall flavor without making your pancakes taste salty. Milk and butter: Milk and butter add moisture and richness to the pancakes. Egg: A whole egg lends even more moisture. Plus, it helps bind the pancake batter together.

What are European pancakes called? ›

Blini (plural blinis or blini, rarely bliny; Russian: блины pl.), singular: blin, are an Eastern European pancake made from various kinds of flour or buckwheat, wheat, etc. They may be served with smetana, tvorog, caviar and other garnishes, or simply smeared with butter.

What is the Australian word for pancakes? ›

"Unlike American pancakes, the Australian pikelets can be purchased ready-made in grocery stores. You can eat the cold or hot and they are typically topped with cream, jam, fruit or butter and sugar!

Why is it called Palatschinken? ›

Austria, of course, has to be different and the name Palatschinken derives, first, from the Latin placenta, which simply means 'cake,' and then from the languages of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire: placinta in Romanian, palatsinta in Hungarian, and palatsinka in assorted Slavic languages.

What is the difference between a crêpe and a palatschinken? ›

Central European palatschinken (palačeke) are thin pancakes similar to the French crêpe. The main difference between the French and Central European version of the dish is that the mixture for palatschinken can be used straight away unlike that of crepes which is suggested to be left at rest for several hours.

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