andrejthechef
AustriaPancakesDessertVegetarian

Kaiserschmarrn mit Zwetschkenröster

A fluffy pancake torn into golden pieces, dusted with icing sugar and served with stewed plums.

prep
15 min
cook
15 min
total
30 min
serves
4
level
medium
Kaiserschmarrn mit Zwetschkenröster, a dish from Across Austria

Kaiserschmarrn translates roughly to "emperor's mess," and that torn, rustic look is entirely intentional: a fluffy, egg-rich pancake cooked until golden, then torn into rough pieces right in the pan.

Whisking the egg whites separately and folding them in gently is the one step that actually matters here; it's what gives the whole thing its signature airy, soufflé-like texture.

Part of our 20 best Austrian recipes list.

method

  1. For the plum compote, simmer the plums, water, sugar and cinnamon stick together for 15 to 20 minutes, until soft and slightly thickened. Remove the cinnamon stick.

  2. Whisk the egg yolks, flour, milk, 2 tbsp sugar and vanilla together into a smooth batter.

  3. Whisk the egg whites to soft, billowy peaks, then fold them gently into the batter in two additions, keeping as much air in as possible.

  4. Melt the butter in a large, wide pan over medium heat. Pour in the batter, scatter the raisins over if using, and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until the bottom is golden and the top is mostly set.

  5. Using two forks or a spatula, tear and flip the pancake into large, rough pieces directly in the pan.

  6. Sprinkle a little extra sugar over the pieces, and continue cooking, turning occasionally, for 3 to 4 minutes, until caramelized in spots and cooked through.

  7. Dust generously with icing sugar, and serve hot with the plum compote alongside.

chef's tips

  • Whisking the egg whites separately and folding them in gently is what gives Kaiserschmarrn its characteristic fluffy, airy texture; skip this step and it turns into a dense, flat pancake.
  • Tearing the pancake into rough, uneven pieces is traditional and intentional, not a sign anything went wrong; a neat, whole pancake is not the goal here.
  • Kaiserschmarrn translates roughly to "emperor's mess," supposedly linked to Emperor Franz Joseph, and the torn, rustic presentation is baked right into the name.
  • Stewed plums (Zwetschkenröster) are the classic pairing, though a simple apple compote or just a dusting of sugar works if plums aren't available.