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    Home » Recipes » Desserts

    Kaiserschmarrn Recipe (Czech Trhanec)

    Published: Apr 5, 2021 · Modified: Jul 13, 2024 by Petra Kupská | Cook Like Czechs · 4 Comments

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    Let’s have some fun with a regular pancake and turn it into a delicious Kaiserschmarrn, also known as "Trhanec" or "Šmorn" in Czech! I promise you will love this sweet treat. Curious? Then get to the kitchen, hurry up!

    Kaiserschmarrn Recipe

    ➜ What Is Kaiserschmarrn

    Kaiserschmarrn is a sweet Austrian dessert made with raisins. It resembles a big soft pancake, torn into bite-sized pieces while being fried in the pan. Then, the fried chips are served on a plate and dusted with powdered sugar.

    Kaiserschmarrn is popular in Austria and across the whole of Central Europe, like south Germany (Bavaria), Slovenia, or Hungary.

    We know this sweet delicacy as “trhanec” or “císařský trhanec” here in the Czech Republic.

    ➜ Meaning

    The name Kaiserschmarrn consists of two German words: Kaiser and Schmarrn. Kaiser means Emperor, Schmarrn could be translated as a failure, something that didn’t quite work. 

    You see, both words describe exactly what a Kaiserschmarrn is – a shredded pancake!

    ➜ History

    You may wonder why I am introducing an Austrian dish here on a blog with Czech recipes. But trust me, it makes sense! 

    The Czech lands were a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until 1918. Therefore, Czech cuisine has a lot in common with the Austrian one. Besides Kaiserschmarrn, great examples are also traditional apple strudel or Wiener schnitzel.

    And how did Kaiserschmarrn come to be? 

    According to one legend, it was prepared by the Empress Elisabeth of Austria (1854–1898) herself when she failed to flip the pancake and tore it into pieces. 

    Another legend says that the Kaiserschmarrn was prepared by a farmer who unexpectedly had the imperial couple over for lunch. Nervously, he shredded the pancake into several smaller pieces and, to cover his mistake, spread plum jam on it.

    Nowadays, you can enjoy Kaiserschmarrn mostly in Viennas cafés. Also the Austrian alpine huts have this delicacy traditionally ready for the hikers and skiers on their menus. 

    In Czech restaurants, this sweet is not so common. If you’re lucky, you’ll find it under the name “trhanec”.

    ➜ Ingredients

    You can prepare Kaiserschmarrn from a few basic ingredients that you probably have in your cupboard at home.

    kaiserschmarrn ingredients
    • All-purpose flour
    • Eggs; with the yolk and white separated
    • Milk
    • Unsalted butter; 2x1 Tbsp, each tablespoon for frying of one pancake's side
    • Salt
    • A handful of raisins, soaked in brown rum ahead (optional)
    • Granulated sugar
    • Powdered sugar; for the final icing
    • Jam for serving

    ➜ Instructions

    The batter for Kaiserschmarrn is straightforward. You only need a 10-inch (25 cm) non-stick pan with a properly fitting lid.

    STEP 1: Sift the flour mixed with salt into a bowl. In a clean bowl, whisk the milk, granulated sugar, and egg yolks. Stir the egg mixture into the flour until a pancake batter is created. Let it rest for 15 minutes.

    STEP 2: Meanwhile, whip the egg whites into stiff snow and then gently fold them into the batter.

    kaiserschmarrn batter

    STEP 3: In a large frying pan (with a lid), melt 1 Tbsp butter over medium heat. Pour in the batter and sprinkle with raisins. 

    kaiserschmarrn in a pan

    STEP 4: Cover with the lid, wait until the underside is browned, then use two forks to tear the thick pancake into bite-sized pieces. At this point, add the 2nd Tbsp butter to the pan. Flip the shredded pieces and fry them until golden. 

    kaiserschmarrn

    ➜ Serving

    Serve dusted with powdered sugar as a dessert or a light lunch. If you want, you can add a bowl of good jam.

    kaiserschmarrn

    Cook’s Tip

    • The Kaiserschmarrn pancake should be about 1-inch high. If the batter layer is higher, the bottom will be cooked through, while the middle will still be runny.
    • It is important to fry the pancake over medium heat. If you turned the heat too high, Kaiserschmarrn would be burnt downside. Be patient, please!

    More Czech sweets:

    • Loupáčky – sweet crescent rolls with poppy seeds
    • Bábovka – marble bundt cake
    • Kolache – authentic Czech!
    • Puffed pancakes – Czech svítek

    Tried this recipe?

    Leave a review down in the comments! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

    Other readers and I love hearing what you think. Stay in touch by following me on Facebook and Pinterest. For more Czech stuff, subscribe to my newsletter!

    Kaiserschmarrn recipe

    Kaiserschmarrn Recipe

    Author: Petra Kupská | Cook Like Czechs
    Let’s indulge in making a Kaiserschmarrn, known as "Trhanec" in Czech! It is a puffed pancake, torn into small pieces and served with fruit jam. A classic from Viennese cafes that we Czechs have happily adopted as our own.
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    Prep Time: 20 minutes mins
    Cook Time: 15 minutes mins
    Total Time: 35 minutes mins
    Servings: 2 pancakes

    Tap or hover to scale

    Ingredients 

    • 1 cup all-purpose flour
    • 2 egg yolks
    • 2 egg whites
    • 1 cup milk
    • 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
    • 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
    • 1 handful raisins optionally soaked in rum ahead
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 3 Tablespoons powdered sugar for the final icing
    • ⅓ cup fruit jam for serving

    Instructions 

    • Sift 1 cup all-purpose flour mixed with ¼ teaspoon salt into a bowl. In a separate clean bowl, whisk together 1 cup milk, 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar, and 2 egg yolks. Stir the egg mixture into the flour until a pancake batter is formed. Let it rest for 15 minutes.
    • Meanwhile, beat 2 egg whites to stiff peaks and gently fold into the batter.
    • Melt ½ Tablespoon of the butter in a large nonstick skillet with a lid over medium heat. Pour in the batter and sprinkle the raisins on top.
    • Cover with the lid and wait until the underside is browned. Then, use two forks to tear the thick pancake into bite-sized pieces. At this point, add another ½ Tablespoon of butter to the pan. Flip the shredded pieces and fry them until golden.
    • Serve warm, generously dusted with powdered sugar, and accompanied by a bowl of fruit jam on the side.

    Notes

    • The basic recipe makes 2 Kaiserschmarrn pacakes.
    • Serve dusted with powdered sugar and a bowl of fruit jam as a dessert or a light lunch.
    • The Kaiserschmarrn pancake should be about 1-inch high. If the batter layer is thicker, the bottom will be cooked through while the middle will still be runny.
    • It is important to fry the pancake over medium heat. If the heat is too high, the Kaiserschmarrn will burn on the bottom. Be patient and maintain medium heat.

    Nutritional estimate pro serving

    Calories: 753kcal | Carbohydrates: 124g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 239mg | Sodium: 422mg | Potassium: 494mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 52g | Vitamin A: 810IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 206mg | Iron: 4mg
    Servings: 2 pancakes
    Calories pro serving: 753
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: Austrian
    Keyword: European Recipes
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    Do you like the recipe?I would be happy for your feedback! Please, rate the recipe and share your opinion or questions in comments bellow. Thank you very much.
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    Comments

    1. Linda says

      April 10, 2021 at 10:17 pm

      Aren't these called palacinke?

      Reply
      • Petra Kupská says

        April 11, 2021 at 3:11 am

        Ahoj Linda, thank you for your comment. Palacinke, or palačinky (plural), are a bit different. They are ultra-thin fried in one piece, you do not tear them into pieces, at least not intentionally. The finished palačinka (singular) is then spread with different fillings, typically with jam in the Czech. You can roll the filled palačinka or simply fold it. In short, palačinky are similar to French-style pancakes. I hope this helps. Best wishes from the Czech Republic, Petra

        Reply
    2. Kristena says

      October 20, 2021 at 9:32 pm

      I want to try this! You know, my Czech relatives on both my mom and dad's side came to the US during Austro-Hungarian rule. Some of their immigration documents say "Austria" eventhough they were clearly Bohemian.

      Reply
      • Petra Kupská says

        October 23, 2021 at 5:00 am

        Ahoj Kristena, I'm sure you'll be pleased! Kaiserschmarrn is a German word, German is the official language in Austria. If your ancestors came from South Moravia (part of the Czech Republic), it is very likely that their immigration documents mentioned Austria! South Moravia and Austria are adjacent to each other. Otherwise, the Austro-Hungarian monarchy broke up in 1918 when the independent Czechoslovak Republic was formed. Czechs and Slovaks lived in one state until 1992 when they split into two separate countries. By the way, the formation of Czechoslovakia is dated 28 October, so next week is a public holiday!

        Reply

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    Hi, I am Petra, a born-and-raised Czech and self-taught cook with 25+ years of experience. I am here to show you that you can cook Czech food—even if you live abroad or never learned it growing up. With clear steps and trusted guidance, Czech cooking becomes simple, joyful, and meaningful, right in your own kitchen.

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