Food and Beverage Holidays

September 26 - National Pancake Day!

Hey friend,

There are pancakes... and then there are the pancakes I grew up with here in Austria.

Ours are usually thin, soft Palatschinken, rolled around jam and dusted generously with powdered sugar. And then, of course, there is Kaiserschmarrn, which takes pancake batter in an entirely different and very delicious direction.

So for National Pancake Day on September 26, I thought I’d share a few of my favorites.

Whether you want something cozy with your morning coffee, an Austrian classic for dessert, or a pancake filled with ice cream, I have you covered.

Austrian Palatschinken with Apricot Jam

This is probably the pancake that feels most like home to me. Austrian Palatschinken are much thinner than American pancakes. We fill them with apricot jam, roll them up, and finish them with powdered sugar. Simple, warm, and very hard to stop at just one.

To the Recipe

Fluffy Austrian Kaiserschmarrn

If you have never tried Kaiserschmarrn, National Pancake Day is a very good excuse. Instead of serving the pancake whole, you tear the thick, fluffy pancake into pieces while it cooks and finish it with powdered sugar. My version is made without raisins and tastes wonderful with roasted plums, apricot compote, or apple compote. It is one of those wonderfully comforting Austrian dishes that works just as well for an afternoon treat as it does for dessert.

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Pancakes, but Make Them Dessert

Now we are leaving sensible breakfast territory completely. These thin pancakes are filled with vanilla bean ice cream, drizzled with chocolate sauce, and topped with whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles. Part pancake, part ice cream sundae, and definitely a dessert.

To the Recipe

Need Even More Pancake Ideas?

If three pancake recipes are nowhere near enough, I have you covered. I collected 94 pancake recipes from around the world, with everything from thin and delicate pancakes to thick, fluffy stacks, sweet versions, savory ideas, and plenty of unusual toppings and fillings. You could probably celebrate Pancake Day for quite a while with this one.

To the Roundup

So, what would be on your plate?

For me, it is hard to beat a warm Palatschinke filled with apricot jam, preferably with a good cup of coffee nearby.

Although I would never say no to Kaiserschmarrn either.

Happy National Pancake Day! 🥞