Authentic Kaiserschmarrn Recipe (Austrian Torn-Up 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.

The best Kaiserschmarrn consists of a very thick and fluffy pancake, i.e. the pancake should be about 4 cm/1.5 inches tall. And the best way to cook such a thick pancake evenly is in the oven. Cooking the pancake in the oven also ensures an even colour on the pancake, both on the bottom and on top.

If your batter has too much liquid, it won't have enough structure to hold together during cooking and will run all over the pan when flipped. You can address this by simply adding more flour to your batter. The second potential mistake is that you are not waiting long enough to flip your pancakes.

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.

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".

France – Crêpes

You can't possibly make a list of the world's best pancakes and not include France. Crêpes are unavoidable throughout the country. There are two main types of French crêpes – sweet ones (crêpes sucrées) and savoury ones (crêpes salées). Savoury crêpes are commonly known as 'galettes'.

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.

Why is the first pancake often so ugly that it gets tossed? Pancake experts say that there are some possible reasons, including the amount of butter being used, the temperature of the heating surface, and so on. Perhaps the first one is a "tester." Once it is made, the next batches will be fine.

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).

Flipping your crepe before it is cooked could cause it to tear and create holes. You've got too much air in your batter. Over whisking your batter can create air bubbles that sometimes result in holes in your crepes. To solve this problem, read our tip on avoiding air bubbles.

How to tell if pancake batter is bad? ›

You can potentially get three days out of it, but look for any signs of spoilage, such as a foul smell, before using. If you're preparing pancakes on a Saturday or Sunday morning, there is no harm in making the batter on Friday.

Stuart Farrimond Author of The Science of Cooking,

The first is that heat hasn't yet evenly distributed across the surface of the pan when the first dollop of batter is added.

Okonomiyaki (お好み焼き) is a savory Japanese cabbage pancake. I've seen okonomiyaki referred to as a “Japanese pizza” or “Japanese frittata” in the U.S. The batter is made with flour, tempura scraps (tenkasu), grated yam (nagaimo or yamaimo), and eggs.

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.