"Kaiserschmarrn" ... What is that?

Viennese Kaiserschmarrn

The word "Kaiserschmarrn" is a very popular sweet dessert in Austria and Bavaria (Germany) and is derived from the words "Kaiser" (Emperor) and "Schmarren" ( shredded). Called as such because it was the favorite dessert of the Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph under the Habsburg Dynasty. To date, it is one of the top desserts you can order when you visit one of the coffee shops in Vienna. It is a fluffy pancake that is baked in butter and traditionally served with an apple sauce.

It is so simple to make and yet it tastes heaven....a light fluffy shredded pancake composed of flour, egg, sugar, salt and milk, it is baked in butter then shredded , dusted with sugar as toppings and served with apple sauce or "apfelmus". The latter is a sauce made of cooked and press apples added with sugar. It is simple to make but a ready made one in glass bought from the shop tastes also delish.

My Version

There are many versions on how to make the "Kaiserschmarrn"...I have my own version too and mine is laden with strawberries and Raspberries freshly picked from my container garden... and added to that, I sprinkled it with Strawberry Syrup, then sprinkled confectioner´s sugar on top and voila!!!

Recipe - "Kaiserschmarrn"

Ingredients 2-3 Servings

200 g of flour
30 g of sugar
1 pinch of salt
4 eggs
300 ml milk
40 g butter
fresh strawberries
fresh raspberries
4 pieces crushed walnut for topping
1 confectioner´s sugar to sprinkle

You will need 2 bowls... separate the egg yolk and egg whites.

Preparation
1... Mix the flour, sugar, salt and yolk with the milk into a smooth batter.

2... In a 2nd bowl, beat the egg whites until it becomes stiff. With a spatula, fold this into the prepared batter in the 1st bowl.

3... In a large frying pan or in a skillet heat the butter until it bubbles a bit... then slowly pour the batter onto the pan turning the heat to medium. Wait til the batter becomes solid in form, then turn the side to finish it.

To make the "Kaiserschmarrn" golden brown in color put the skillet in the preheated oven and bake it at 180°C/356°F for about 10 minutes.

4... Take the "Kaiserschmarrn" from the oven and put it on a platter, shred it by using two forks. Top it with fresh strawberries and raspberries, crushed walnuts ...sprinkle with strawberry sauce (store bought) and sugar. Best served fresh from the oven or heat in the microwave before serving.

Note: If strawberry sauce is not available in your area, use strawberry marmalade and add a a bit of water to liquify its consistency in the microwave for about 1 minute.

Enjoy!

Stay safe everyone!

GIF by @gremayo