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

FAQs

What is the difference between pancakes and Kaiserschmarrn? ›

Kaiserschmarrn are an egg-white leavened pancake often served with fruit and nuts, with the pancake itself being shredded for presentation. This is different than the most typical pancakes served in the US, which are not egg-white leavened, but baking powder leavened, but it is still a type of pancake.

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

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. As a last-ditch attempt to save face, the farmer shredded his disastrous pancake and topped it with sugar and marmalade.

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.

In the South, pancakes are interchangeably called hotcakes, griddlecakes, and flapjacks, though British flapjacks are made with rolled oats cooked in the oven. In the U.S., pancakes are made with flour, eggs, butter, and milk, and cooked on a griddle or frying pan to form leavened flat cakes.

Palacinky - This is what pancakes are called in Northeastern European countries. They are thin and chewy, filled with diced apples, raisins, Nutella, or jams. Some even fill these cakes with cheese, pour yogurt over them, and bake them in the oven.

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.

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).

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.

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.

What makes pancakes more fluffy? ›

Separate the egg white from the yolk. In a small bowl, combine egg yolks, milk, and melted butter. For fluffier pancakes, use buttermilk. The acidity of buttermilk helps to tenderize the gluten in the flour, which results in fluffier pancakes.

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.

Unlike traditional pancakes, Japanese versions often incorporate soufflé-like qualities, creating a unique sensory experience. The key lies in using egg whites, whipped to stiff peaks, and abundant eggs in the batter. This meticulous approach results in a texture that is light, airy, and almost ethereal.

The words flapjacks, hotcakes, and griddlecakes are all used as synonyms for what are most generally and popularly called pancakes. Usage of some of these terms varies by region.

A crêpe or crepe (/kreɪp/ or /krɛp/, French: [kʁɛp], Quebec French: [kʁaɪ̯p]) is a very thin type of pancake. Crêpes are usually one of two varieties: sweet crêpes (crêpes sucrées) or savoury galettes (crêpes salées).

In the US and Canada, pancakes and flapjacks are the same thing, but which word applies is mainly a regional difference. I know in the states we northerners are more likely to say pancake, but down south the flapjack is more likely to be the star of the breakfast table.