Austrian Kaiserschmarrn {torn pancakes}

Kaiserschmarrn (or Kaiserschmarren) is an Austrian dessert also known by the names Emperor's Mess, scrambled pancake, shredded pancake, torn pancake, or Emperor's Pancake.

This easy Kaiserschmarrn recipe is made without raisins in under an hour. Its fluffy, pancake-like texture and sweet taste will make your heart beat faster!

You can prepare torn pancakes in their traditional version, with raisins added to the thick pancake batter. Fry them in a pan, and then cut them into pieces or, just as they are called, torn apart and served dusted with powdered sugar.

The traditional Austrian dish is famous as a sweet main course or as a dessert. Those who visited Austria may have tried this treat at least once.

Serve them traditionally with roasted plums, apricot compote, or apple compote.

🥘 Ingredients

• Unsalted butter or oil
• Eggs - medium-sized
• All-purpose flour
• Milk - whole milk. It can be substituted with a plant-based alternative.
• Salt
• Granulated sugar
• Powdered sugar - for sprinkling
• Optional: raisins and rum

See the recipe card for quantities.

🔪 Instructions

Step 1

Separate the eggs into two large mixing bowls.
To the egg yolks, add the milk, sugar, and a pinch of salt. Whisk until smooth and well combined.

Gradually add the flour while stirring, mixing until you have a thick but smooth batter.

If the batter feels too thick, add a splash of milk. If it's too thin, add a little more flour.

Step 2

In the second bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form.
Gently fold the egg whites into the batter using a spatula, working carefully to keep the mixture light and airy.

Step 3

Heat two large frying pans over medium heat and add a tablespoon of butter or oil to each.
Once hot, divide the batter evenly between the pans and let it cook gently. Do not rush this step. Too much heat will burn the pancakes before they cook through.

When the underside is golden brown, cut each pancake into quarters and flip the pieces one by one.

Cook the other side until golden, then use two spatulas to tear the pancakes into bite-sized pieces directly in the pan.

Step 4

Continue cooking the torn pancakes, stirring occasionally, until all pieces are lightly golden and cooked through.

Sprinkle powdered sugar over the Kaiserschmarrn in the pan and let it melt and lightly caramelize.

Divide between plates, dust with more powdered sugar, and serve immediately with apple compote, roasted plums (aka Zwetschgenröster), or apricot compote.

Enjoy your traditional Austrian Kaiserschmarrn! 🇦🇹

🇦🇹 Fancy more traditional Austrian Recipes?

• Tafelspitz (Austrian prime boiled beef)
• Apfelkren (Austrian apple horseradish sauce)
• Schnittlauchsauce (Chives Sauce)
• Erdäpfelschmarrn (Austrian grated pan-fried potatoes)
• Kandierte Veillchen mit Sekt (Candied violets with sparkling wine)
• Liptauer (Liptauer cheese spread)

🍇 Variations

Variation with rum and raisins. Spice up the emperor's pancake dough with a shot of rum and raisins if you fancy.

Add a shot of rum and 50-100g of raisins to the batter right before step 2.

That is before you whip the egg whites and fold them into the batter.

🍽 Equipment

• Two frying pans - ideally with a non-stick coating
• Food processor or electric mixer
• Two large mixing bowls
• Two spatulas

🌡 Storage

Kaiserschmarrn can be stored in the refrigerator for one to two days, packed in an airtight container.

You can also freeze the shredded pancakes. Let it cool entirely after frying (without sprinkling it with powdered sugar) and put them in a Ziplock bag. Let the air out as much as possible and freeze afterward. This way, the delicious Kaiserschmarrn will keep for several months. It loses a tad of its fluffiness by freezing but is still very tasty.

🙋🏻 FAQ

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📖 Recipe

⛑️ Food Safety

• Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
• Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
• Wash hands after touching raw meat
• Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
• Never leave cooking food unattended
• Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
• Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

For further information, check Safe Food Handling - FDA.