Kaiserschmarrn is a legendary Austrian dessert made with eggs, flour, sugar, and milk, cooked in butter, and served hot with powdered sugar or plum chutney. It originated from a dish created for the last Austrian emperor, Franz Joseph. Some cooks add rum-soaked raisins or a liqueur whipped cream, while others make a savory version with sausage and mushrooms.
Also called smanni, kaiserschmarrn is considered a type of shredded pancake or omelet. It is made with eggs, flour and sugar and cooked in butter. Served hot, it is often presented as a dessert. Of all Austrian desserts, this is one of the most legendary, particularly due to its origin story.
The legend of the origin of kaiserchmarrn is still told today, although there are many different versions. It is said that the last Austrian emperor, Franz Joseph, wanted something special created for his cook to eat. His cook whipped up this schmarnn, which is sometimes translated as “mess,” and so it became known as the kaiser’s schmarrn, which has evolved over the years to the name it bears today, kaiserschmarrn.
It’s made the same way as an omelette, even though the ingredients are different. An omelette contains only eggs and perhaps a splash of milk or water. Kaiserschmarrn has eggs along with flour, sugar, vanilla and milk.
These ingredients are mixed together and poured into a pan filled with melted butter that has been heated on a stove. The omelet-shaped pancake is turned during the cooking process so that all sides turn golden brown. Once the cooking process is done, it is shredded. Kaiserschmarrn is served hot with powdered sugar on top or with hot plum chutney.
Some cooks caramelize the sugar before the cooking process is complete. After the pancake is shredded, the sugar and additional butter are added to the pan. The sugar and butter are then cooked until the sugar turns into caramel. Before serving, more sugar is also sprinkled on in this version.
A popular thing to add to this traditional Austrian dessert is rum-soaked raisins. The raisins are sprinkled liberally on the kaiserschmarrn. The sauce created by soaking raisins in rum can also be poured over dessert for added flavor. Other cooks like to add a liqueur whipped cream to the top of the dessert for an extra kick.
Kaiserschmarrn can be quite satisfying. Although it is often thought of and served as a dessert, there are those who enjoy serving this dish as a breakfast. There are also those who choose, instead of adding sweetness to the fried pancake, to add savory ingredients, creating a heartier dish that can be served throughout the day as a meal. Adding bits of sausage and mushrooms can make for a delicious and filling dish.
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