If you have been to the southern part of Germany or Austria, you probably seen or eaten this dish already: Kaiserschmarren or translated Emperor’s Mess. It is basically a big pancake that has been shredded, served with applesauce or compote. A nice dish any time of the day. For breakfast as well as for lunch or dinner… or anytime in between ;)
If you made typical American pancakes already, you probably know all there is to know. The dough is similar, some like it with raisins, some don’t. The pancake you have to make for a “Kaiserschmarren” is slightly bigger than a regular pancake. Ok much bigger… it’s only one big pancake at the end :P You make it in a pan until it is cooked through and has a nice color and then you shred it. That’s it basically. Some confectioners’ sugar on top and the sides and you’re done.
The only thing you have to be careful… do not let it burn! It does not matter if you can’t flip the pancake perfectly – nobody will notice at the end anyway – but if it burns, you are doomed ;) No thick layer of confectioners’ sugar can save you there. If it’s burned, it has to go to the trash (or the belly of my bf who basically eats everything).
To make your “Kaiserschmarren” perfect, you also need some homemade applesauce and/or plum compote. These sides make the dish pure soul food you want to eat all day long ;) Luckily I also added a nice recipe for a plum compote, so the result will be d-e-l-i-c-i-o-u-s! I promise!
INGREDIENTS / ZUTATEN
For the Zwetschgenröster (plum compote):
10 oz. (300g) damson plums or regular plums
1/4 cup (60ml) water
1/4 cup (60ml) plum wine
1/4 cup (50g) sugar
1 cinnamon stick
a piece of lemon rind
For the Kaiserschmarrn (pancake):
3 medium eggs, divided
pinch of salt
1 tbsp. sugar
3 tbsp. all-purpose flour
1/2 cup (120ml) milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1-2 tbsp rum raisins**
1 tbsp. clarified butter
some sugar
confectioners’ sugar for dusting
**mix some raisins with rum and let soak for 2 days
Für das Zwetschgenröster:
300g Zwetschgen (oder Pflaumen)
60ml Wasser
60ml Pflaumenwein (oder mehr Wasser)
50g Zucker
1 Zimtstange
ein Stück Schale von einer Bio-Zitrone
Für den Kaiserschmarrn:
3 Eier (M), getrennt
1 Prise Salz
1 EL Zucker
3 EL Mehl (Type 405)
120ml Milch
1/2 TL Vanille Extrakt
1-2 EL Rumrosinen**
1 EL Butterschmalz
etwas Zucker
Puderzucker zum Bestäuben
**einfach ein paar Rosinen in etwas Rum für 2 Tage einweichen lassen
DIRECTIONS / ZUBEREITUNG
2. Divide the eggs for the pancake batter. Add the egg yolks to a large bowl and the egg whites to another and whip with a pinch of salt until stiff peaks form.
3. Add the sugar and flour to the bowl with the egg yolks and mix until combined. Add the milk and vanilla extract and mix well. Fold in the stiff egg whites, then add the rum raisins and carefully fold in.
4. Add the clarified butter to a large coated pan and heat up. As soon as the pan and butter are hot, add the batter and cover with a lid and fry over medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes. Check from time to time so nothing burns. As soon as the bottom has a nice golden brown color and the top is not liquid anymore flip the pancake. Fry until golden brown on that side as well, then tear the pancake apart to get small pieces. Sprinkle with some sugar and let caramelize for a moment. Dust with confectioners’ sugar and serve with the plum compote or applesauce.
2. Für den Kaiserschmarrn die Eier trennen. Das Eigelb in eine große Schüssel geben und das Eiweiß in einer zweiten Schüssel mit der Prise Salz steifschlagen.
3. Den Zucker und das Mehl zu den Eigelb dazugeben und verrühren. Milch und Vanille Extrakt dazugeben und glattrühren. Den Eischnee vorsichtig unterheben. Die Rumrosinen dazugeben und unterheben.
4. Das Butterschmalz in einer großen, beschichteten Pfanne erhitzen. Wenn Pfanne und Schmalz heiß sind, den Teig einfüllen und alles mit einem Deckel abdecken und für 2-3 Minuten bei mittlerer bis hoher Hitze anbraten. Zwischendurch checken, damit nichts anbrennt. Wenn der Teig unten eine gute Farbe bekommen hat und oben schön gestockt ist, das Ganze umdrehen und dann ebenfalls so lange anbraten, bis auch diese Seite eine schöne Farbe bekommen hat. Den Teig zu kleinen Stücken zerrupfen, mit etwas Zucker bestreuen und kurz karamellisieren lassen. Zum Servieren mit Puderzucker bestreuen und mit dem “Röster” oder Apfelmus servieren.
Craving more? Keep in touch on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest for new post updates and more. You can also contact me with any questions or inquiries!
Here is a version of the recipe you can print easily.
Kaiserschmarrn aka. Shredded Pancake aka. The Emperor’s Mess
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 10
- Total Time: 30
Description
Delicious shredded pancake from Austria. You can make it as a dessert or a main dish – depends on how much you want to eat ;)
Ingredients
For the Zwetschgengröstl (plum compote)
- 10 oz. (300g) damson plums or regular plums
- 1/4 cup (60ml) water
- 1/4 cup (60ml) plum wine
- 1/4 cup (50g) sugar
- 1 cinnamon stick
- a piece of lemon rind
For the Kaiserschmarrn (pancake)
- 3 medium eggs, divided
- pinch of salt
- 1 tbsp. sugar
- 3 tbsp. all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup (120ml) milk
- 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1–2 tbsp rum raisins**
- 1 tbsp. clarified butter
- some sugar
- confectioners’ sugar for dusting
- **mix some raisins with rum and let soak for 2 days
Instructions
- Wash the (damson) plums, stone and cut into 6 slices each. Set aside. Add the water, plum wine, and sugar into a small pot and mix. Add the cinnamon stick and lemon rind and bring to a boil. If you don’t want to use alcohol, just replace it with some more water. As soon as the sugar has dissolved, add the plums, reduce the heat and let cook until the plums are soft. Take off the heat, let cool down, then remove the cinnamon stick and lemon rind. You can make the plum compote 1-2 days in advance and store in the fridge.
- Divide the eggs for the pancake batter. Add the egg yolks to a large bowl and the egg whites to another and whip with a pinch of salt until stiff peaks form.
- Add the sugar and flour to the bowl with the egg yolks and mix until combined. Add the milk and vanilla extract and mix well. Fold in the stiff egg whites, then add the rum raisins and carefully fold in.
- Add the clarified butter to a large coated pan and heat up. As soon as the pan and butter are hot, add the batter and cover with a lid and fry over medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes. Check from time to time so nothing burns. As soon as the bottom has a nice golden brown color and the top is not liquid anymore flip the pancake. Fry until golden brown on that side as well, then tear the pancake apart to get small pieces. Sprinkle with some sugar and let caramelize for a moment. Dust with confectioners’ sugar and serve with the plum compote or applesauce.
Notes
- Enjoy cooking!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2