Palatschinken (Austrian Crêpes) Recipe on Food52 (2024)

5 Ingredients or Fewer

by: Ursula | Lil Vienna

February24,2015

5

5 Ratings

  • Prep time 10 minutes
  • Cook time 1 minute
  • Makes 6 Palatschinken

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Author Notes

Everyone knows the delicious French crêpes, but of course in Austria we have our own kind. The Austrian type is closer to the French crêpes than the thick American pancakes and yet a little thicker than the French version.
Traditionally they are filled with apricot jam, then rolled up (jelly-roll like) and dusted with confectioners' sugar. One big plus: They are much more forgiving than pancakes or crêpes. Your guests won’t be able to recognize any imperfections, small or large, once they are rolled up and generously dusted with powdered sugar. So they will all look like little masterpieces, no matter what you actually did. —Ursula | Lil Vienna

Ingredients
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/8 teaspoonfine salt
  • 1 cup(8 fluid ounces, 240 milliliters) milk, divided
  • 1 cup(4 1/2 ounces, 130 grams) all-purpose flour
  • Butter, ghee, or neutral tasting oil, for coating the pan
  • Apricot jam, for the filling
  • Confectioners' sugar, for dusting
Directions
  1. Whisk the eggs in a medium bowl until lightly beaten. Add salt and 1/3 cup (80 milliliters) milk and beat until combined.
  2. Add flour and whisk until you get a smooth batter. The batter should be thick and tough so you can barely whisk it—the thicker the batter, the fewer lumps you will have. Add a little milk,1 tablespoon at a time, if it is too hard to stir, then whisk until smooth.
  3. Continue to whisk while gradually adding in the remaining milk.
  4. Heat an 8-inch (or larger) nonstick pan over medium heat. Add 1/2 teaspoon butter or ghee, or oil as needed and spread it carefully with a spatula to coat the bottom of the pan evenly. This is important; otherwise, the butter will disturb the batter.
  5. Pour 1/3 cup batter (for an 8-inch pan, more for larger pans) into the center of the pan and swirl the pan to spread the batter evenly. Once the bottom side is golden in color, flip it with a spatula and cook the other side for about 15 seconds. Invert it onto a plate so that the browned side is touching the plate, with the pale side is face-up. This way, the nice looking side will be outside when you roll it.
  6. Repeat with the remaining batter, adding 1/2 teaspoon of butter/oil for every Palatschinke. If the batter thickens over time, add some milk. You can keep the prepared pancakes warm in the oven at a low temperature.
  7. Spread the apricot jam on the Palatschinken and roll them from one side to the other. Dust the Palatschinken with confectioners' sugar and serve with fork and spoon (the spoon serves as a knife). Enjoy!

Tags:

  • Crêpe
  • Austrian
  • Apricot
  • Cheese
  • Egg
  • Milk/Cream
  • 5 Ingredients or Fewer
  • Father's Day
  • Fall
  • Summer
  • Mother's Day
  • Winter
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See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • Ursula | Lil Vienna

  • Karli

  • lizounet

  • ehum

Recipe by: Ursula | Lil Vienna

Austrian, Cookbook author, Journalist, Food blogger, Globetrotter, (Bread)Baking enthusiast, Recipe-tweaker, Chocolate-lover.

8 Reviews

Karli November 13, 2023

They couldn’t be more perfect. Born and raised in Austria here but live in Los Angeles and I’ve made this exact recipe so many times I keep craving them. I keep the batter in the fridge and add some milk the next day they’re even more delicate

Ursula |. November 14, 2023

Hi Karli,
Happy to hear that this recipe pleases an Austrian in L.A :)
Thank you for giving my Palatschinken a try and for letting me know!

lizounet December 4, 2021

these were my Oma’s signature (only?) dish! all the thin French crepes I’ve made over the years were great but these were, finally, the right ones. thank you!!!

Ursula |. November 14, 2023

Hi,
so sorry for the late reply, I only saw the comment now. Same here: I really enjoy Crepe but I loooooove Palatschinken. So happy that you enjoyed them!

ehum January 26, 2021

very good recipe Ursula! Ich bin ein gebuertiger Oesterricher und hab das Rezept sofort erkannt.
Ich wünsche Ihnen einen schoenen Tag
Ernst Humer

Ursula |. January 27, 2021

Thank you Ernst! I love them. And thanks to your comment, I made them today for lunch :)

Sue April 3, 2015

How many Palatschinken does this recipe make? Thanks!

Ursula |. April 4, 2015

Hi Sue,
as mentioned in the recipe, it's for 6 palatschinken ;-) if you are using an 8 inch pan. If you make them a little thicker, it's for 5 pieces.

Palatschinken (Austrian Crêpes) Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between a Palatschinken and a crepe? ›

Instead of the folded French crêpes, palatschinken are filled and then rolled (jelly-roll style), and traditionally filled with apricot jam. Palatschinken are far more forgiving then crêpes. Add the batter to a hot buttered pan and swirl to make a round shape.

What is the meaning of Palatschinken? ›

Austria's version of pancakes, Palatschinken, are delicious with sweet and savoury fillings, or chopped into soups. Palatschinken are the Austrian version of pancakes or what the French would refer to as crêpes.

What's the difference between a blintzes and a crepe? ›

Blintzes vs Crepes

The main difference is crepes are only cooked once, and be be served plain, without filings. Blintzes, are always served filled, usually with a cheese mixture, and are cooked twice; once when made, and again after they are filled and pan fried.

Why is it called palatschinken? ›

Austria, of course, has to be different and the name Palatschinken derives, first, from the Latin placenta, which simply means 'cake,' and then from the languages of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire: placinta in Romanian, palatsinta in Hungarian, and palatsinka in assorted Slavic languages.

What is the most famous crepe? ›

Crepe Suzette is probably the most famous crepe dish in the world. In the a restaurant, a classic crepe Suzette is often prepared and the chafing dish in full view of the guests. The crepes are served hot with a sauce of sugar, orange juice, butter and the liquor usually Grand Marnier.

Should crêpes be rolled or folded? ›

Traditionally, crêpes are folded or shaped according to the recipe directions. However, there are many recipes that would work well with different types of folds. Crêpes are also very versatile. Once you have the basic crêpe recipe down, you can use whatever ingredients and folds you like.

Why do you add water to crêpes? ›

Eggs: Eggs act as a binder, which means they help hold the batter together. Milk: Milk adds moisture and keeps the crêpes tender. Water: Water helps thin the batter.

Who invented palatschinken? ›

The dish is of Greco-Roman origin. In 350 BCE, the ancient Greek poets Archestratos and Antiphanes first mentioned plakous. Cato the Elder's short work De agri cultura ("On Farming") from about 160 BC includes an elaborate recipe for placenta. Palatschinke still bears the same name of its Greek and Roman ancestors.

What is the history of palatschinken? ›

The history of the “Palatschinke” started in Roman times. After having passed Hungarian and Slovakian regions, the “palacinka” finally reached Austria. Viennese cuisine has been using the term “Palatschinke” in cook books since the 19th century.

Why do Jews eat blintzes? ›

According to historical Jewish customs, blintzes are served on Shavuot as part of a celebration after fasting for 24 hours prior for Yom Kippur. Blintzes have survived through being passed down in Jewish households and cooked as regularly expected dishes during holidays and other large gatherings.

Are crepes healthier than pancakes? ›

What's healthier: crêpes or pancakes? A single crêpe has less fat and calories than pancakes because they don't have the baking powder and, so, are less dense. However, they're not less calorific if you're stacking up double the amount of crêpes vs pancakes, so bear this in mind before you get carried away.

What is the Russian version of crepe? ›

They are large, thin, crepe-like pancakes. That's right, Russian blini are not small rounds you usually see served in Russian Tea Rooms or at posh events. They are full size crepes.

What are the two types of crepes? ›

Crêpes are usually one of two varieties: sweet crêpes (crêpes sucrées) or savoury galettes (crêpes salées).

Is a crepe just a thin pancake? ›

The main difference is that pancake batter has a raising agent in it, such as baking powder or baking soda, and crepe batter does not. This means that pancakes are thicker and fluffy while crêpes are thin and flat.

What is a crepe called in France? ›

une crêpe = (white) wheat batter = very easy French pancake to make at home: can be garnished with savory or sweet toppings – see the recipe below. une galette – buckwheat batter = usually much larger, thin and crispy kind of French pancake which is made with a special baking tool and requires a bit of training.

What's the difference between a Swedish crepe and a regular crepe? ›

The most obvious difference is that crepes are made with a crepe roller and often have savory fillings. Swedish pancakes are made with a pan tilt to make them thin and they are almost always served with sweet fillings (lingonberries and cream, be still my heart).

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