German Recipe: Kaiserschmarrn

Kaiserschmarrn or Emperor’s Mess is a fluffy shredded pancake popular in Germany, Austria and Eastern Europe. A great treat that works well as a dessert.

The word “Schmarren” means shredded pancake and the word “Kaiser” means emperor. Kaiserschmarrn has its name from the Austrian emperor (Kaiser) Franz Joseph I of Austria.

It is made of flour, eggs, sugar, salt, and milk, baked in butter, egg whites are separated from the yolk and beaten until stiff, then the flour and the yolks are mixed with sugar and the other ingredients are added… eat it with Apfelmus or – better – Zwetschgenröster.

Ingredients for 4 portions

  • 30 g raisins
  • 2 tbsp rum
  • 4 eggs, just the yolks
  • 30 g sugar
  • 1 pack vanilla sugar
  • 375 ml milk
  • 125 g flour
  • 4 eggs, just the whites
  • 40 g butter
  • Icing sugar
  • Salt

  1. Soak raisins in rum in a bowl for 30 minutes.
  2. Whisk together egg yolks, sugar, salt and vanilla sugar in a bowl until light and fluffy and the mixture has turned light yellow and creamy.
  3. Stir in milk and gradually add flour, then the raisins.
  4. Beat egg whites until stiff, and carefully fold into the mixture.
  5. Heat butter in a frying pan and pour in the mixture, frying over a low heat until the underside is slightly brown.
  6. Continue turning until everything is fried.
  7. Then chop up. Arrange on a plate and dust with icing sugar.
  8. Serve with stewed plums or compote.