Delightfully crispy and flavorful, these authentic German potato pancakes, Kartoffelpuffer, are fun to make and even more delicious to eat! They can be sweet or savory depending on the toppings you choose or what you serve them with.
A quintessential German treat beloved across every region of Germany, Kartoffelpuffer (German potato pancakes) are not only a favorite dish to serve at home but are also a popular street food found at local Volksfests and holiday events like Fasching, Karneval and Christmas markets.
In particular these German potato pancakes bring back memories of going to my Oma and Opa’s house. Throughout my childhood and through young adulthood my Oma would regularly make these when we went over to their house. My brother and I would play cards at kitchen table with my Opa while my Oma stood over the stove with the crackling sounds and smells of frying Kartoffelpuffer filling the air. Before long, plates of hot Kartoffelpuffer were set out on the table and we helped ourselves to a sprinkle of powdered sugar and generous heaps of applesauce. My Oma knew to make big batches of these Kartoffelpuffer because my brother and I could rarely get enough of them.
What Are Kartoffelpuffer?
Depending on the region of Germany, Kartoffelpuffer are also known as Reibekuchen, Reibeplätzchen, Reiberdatschi and Grumbeerpannekuche.
You may also be familiar with Swiss Rösti. But those are something different. The key difference lies in the size of the grated potatoes: Rösti are shredded whereas Kartoffelpuffer are finely grated. Also, with Rösti the potatoes are sometimes grated raw but more often are parboiled whole in their skins for a few minutes so that the center is still hard, then peeled and grated once they’ve cooled down. Because the potatoes are grated/shredded on the largest setting (in German, “grob geraspelt”) to get large, long strands, parboiling them first prevents the outside of the Rösti from burning before the potatoes are thoroughly cooked through. Grated onions are usually added and sometimes bacon and cheese, depending on the region. Rösti are also fried longer until they are light brown and crunchy.
Kartoffelpuffer on the other hand are made from potatoes that are grated raw and grated finely (allowing them to cook quickly and evenly). The shredded potatoes are wrung out in a clean dish towel and then mixed with egg, finely grated onion and flour and then fried to light golden. The end result is a crispy exterior and soft interior.
Kartoffelpuffer can be served sweet or savory. Most commonly they’re served with apple sauce or other fruit compote, and/or dusted with powdered sugar, but are also served savory-style with a yogurt-herb sauce or with meat as part of a meal.
In a word, they’re simply DELICIOUS!
Kartoffelpuffer Recipe
Let’s get started!
Use a grater or food processor to finely grate the potatoes. You don’t want thick strands. Either place the grated potatoes in a colander and thoroughly squeeze the liquid out with your hands or place them in a clean dish towel and wring it to squeeze out the liquid.
Place the drained grated potatoes in a bowl along with the grated onion, eggs, flour and salt. Use your hands to knead the mixture together until you have a thick, tacky mass. Don’t let this mixture sit for long before frying it.
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Heat some oil in a non-stick pan over medium-high heat. Once hot, add 1/3-1/2 cup (depending on size preference) of the potato mixture to the frying pan and flatten it with the back of a spoon to form pancakes. Fry the Kartoffelpuffer on both sides (about 3-5 minutes) until golden brown. Place the fried potato pancakes on paper towels to briefly blot them and then immediately serve them while hot.
Serve with applesauce, fruit compote, or powdered sugar or serve it savory-style with some herbed yogurt, quark or creme fraiche or with meat and gravy.
Guten appetit!
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For more authentic German recipes be sure to try our:
- Spaetzle
- Kaesespaetzle
- Schnitzel
- Jagerschnitzel
- Currywurst
- Sauerbraten
- Rouladen
- Rotkohl
- Maultaschen
- German Potato Soup
- Swabian Potato Salad
- Semmelknödel
- German Potato Dumplings
- Zwiebelkuchen
- German Bread (Vollkornbrot)
- Bratwurst
- Obatzda
Kartoffelpuffer (German Potato Pancakes)
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 pounds starchy potatoes, peeled and very finely grated (RAW, not cooked)
- 1 small yellow onion, very finely grated
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour (or more if needed)
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- neutral-tasting oil for frying
Instructions
- Thoroughly wring out the liquid in the grated potatoes by placing them in a colander and squeezing them with your hands or by placing them in a clean dish towel and wringing out the liquid.
- Place the drained grated potatoes in a medium-sized bowl with the grated onion, eggs, flour and salt and use your hands to work it into a tacky mixture. Add a little more flour if needed. Do no let the mixture sit for long before using it, use it immediately.
- Heat a few tablespoons of oil in a non-stick pan over medium-high heat and place 1/3 to 1/2 cup of the mixture (depending on size preference) in the hot pan and flatten into pancakes with the back of a spoon. Fry on both sides for 3-5 minutes until the Kartoffelpuffer are golden. Place them briefly on paper towels.
- Serve immediately while hot with applesauce, fruit compote or powdered sugar. For a savory version serve with herbed yogurt, quark or creme fraiche or with meat and gravy as part of a meal.
Nutrition
Originally published October 24, 2017
Jerry says
Great recipe however meine Mutter und Oma, (mom and grandma), always added nutmeg for that savory flavor. The rest of your recipe turned out Fantastic, thank you!
Karen C says
Love this recipe, just like my mothers. It’s delicious!
Kimberly Killebrew says
Thank you so much, Karen!
rose naef says
i added all ingredients but forgot to drain out water, what do I do?
Zak says
This is almost like the recipe my mom had from a old German cook book translated into English but her version also had diced apple and black pepper, if ye want it slightly more savory sub the apple for garlic and it is still very good.
micke says
Could you use frozen hash browns from market ?
Judy D says
Yes you can. Let them thaw and drain. Add onions etc. I’ve done it with good success.
Rita Murray says
I use chopped fresh parsley in them too
Fry in canned Crisco as they retain there crispy greatness. As I make about 75 to 100 for our expanded family dinner along with sauerbraten and fixings they crisp up quickly under the broiler.
Darlene says
Can you make these ahead of time and reheat them?
Kimberly Killebrew says
Hi Darlene, you can but they’re best right out of the skillet while they’re still crispy. You can get back a little of the crispiness if you reheat them in the skillet.
Anonymous says
One of my childhood favorites, and still is.
Basil says
Absolutely delicious and I grate an apple into the mixture and it changes to whole taste
I want to try adding sweet potato next time
Kimberly Killebrew says
Fantastic, Basil, I’m glad you enjoyed them, thank you, and those are both delicious touches!
Tony Kost says
My Grandmother from Germany lived with us in the early 50’s. She made Kartoffelpuffer for the three of us brothers. It was one of our favorite meals. We were each 6 years apart but the contest was there to see how many each of us could eat. Oma always made enough.
Becki Rogers says
Ignorance here; what is the difference between shredding and grading the potato for potato cakes?
Kimberly Killebrew says
Hi Becky, I go into detail about this in the blog post, distinguishing between the two, but shredding produces larger pieces than grating.
Walter says
My German grandma made potato pancakes. Ohh so good. Now I have never had a salad spinner. Does anyone know if it would be easier to rid the potatos of the water.
Anonymous says
You put the greated potatoes in a towel and squeeze the water out,that’s
Liz says
They look and sound divine but I live on my own and always look for recipes that freeze well. Have you frozen these before and/or after cooking?
Wilfried says
Wow, I’m a German expat, living in Australia for many years. I know they’re simple but forgot one step, squeezing the liquid out. Now the recipe is just like mum’s. 😋
Anonymous says
I’m a German expat of 30 years, now living in California. This is exactly how my Grandmother and Mother used to make them and I make myself a batch regularly here to bring back the memories. Btw, they’re also very tasty topped with a slice of German prosciutto (found at Trader Joe’s) and dollop of crème freche, sour cream or Greek yogurt.