Dreamy Alpine Ski-Trip Kaiserschmarrn

I don’t know about you but for me a true ski (actually snowboarding, but whatever) trip to the big slopes is not complete without a plate of kaiserschmarrn for lunch at a mountain cafe. It’s also not complete without drinking my 1:1:1 ratio coke, sprite and fanta mix nearly every day, but that’s for another time. ;D

My family used to take us to the Alps in Austria and one of the great things about Austria is that they have kaiserschmarrn – this huge pancake with rum-soaked raisins served with powdered sugar and thick vanilla sauce. Turns out it isn’t hard to make at home, just make sure you’re using a big frying pan as the batter is quite fluffy.

Makes 4 servings.

Ingredients

• big handful of raisins
• some dark liquor (like rum, amaretto or whatever you have)
• 4 large eggs (yolks and whites separate)
• 2 tbsp sugar 
• 1 tbsp vanilla sugar
• 400 ml // 1 ⅝ cups milk
• 150 g // 1 cup plain flour
• 2 tbsp butter
• powdered sugar
• small jar of applesauce/pureed apples, optional

For the vanilla sauce:

• 1 egg yolk
• 150 ml // ⅝ cups milk
• 60 g // ¼ cups sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ tbsp flour

Instructions

1. Before we start, Place the raisins in a small bowl and pour over the liquor and perhaps a tablespoon of water to cover the raisins. Microwave the bowl mix for 15-30 seconds and let them soak for 10-20 minutes.
2. I suggest making the sauce first so it has time to cool down. In a small saucepan combine egg yolk, sugar, flour and milk and bring to a boil stirring once in a while. Adjust to low heat and stir the mixture vigorously until thickened. Add vanilla sugar and let it cool!
3. Now to the kaiserschmarrn! In a medium bowl, beat the egg whites to form soft peaks and add a pinch of salt towards the end.
4. In a large bowl, beat the egg yolks, vanilla, and sugar until the mixture turns light yellow. Bit by bit add in the milk and flour and combine well. Lastly, carefully fold in the egg whites and leave the batter to rest for 10 minutes.
5. Melt butter in a big frying pan over medium heat. Stir the batter a bit before pouring it into the hot pan. Sprinkle the raisins on top and cover the pan. Let it cook for 10 minutes.
6. Flip over and cook about 10 minutes more. Now, you will most likely have to cut up the pancake to flip – I cut mine in 4 big pieces. Then, with a spatula, roughly break apart the pancake into bite-size pieces as it continues to cook until it has become browned and looks ready to eat.
7. Sift powdered sugar on top as much as you want (I like to drown mine) and serve with vanilla sauce and optional applesauce as well. The kaiserschmarrn tastes good both warm and cold.