Etiquette and the “Emperor’s Pancake”

It was a lot like eating with Queen Victoria… As you left her table, you were still famished –‘As Royal Court etiquette dictated that everyone stop eating as soon as the Kaiser put down his fork, the young officers at the end of the table often managed no more than a tantalizing smell of the delicious “Kaiserschmarrn.”’

A Famous German Pancake

Near the turn of the century, Austrian Emperor Franz Josef I, reportedly ate the pancake with such relish that he frequently finished eating before the rest of the Royal table had been served.

As Royal Court etiquette dictated that everyone stop eating as soon as the Kaiser put down his fork, the young officers at the end of the table often managed no more than a tantalizing smell of the delicious “Kaiserschmarrn.”

“Schmarrn” soon came to mean “nothing,” as someone is not worth a “schmarrn.” It also translates as “fluff” which accurately describes the golden, souffle-like pancake.

Kaiser’s Pancakes

Truly fit for a King, this oven baked pancake is an easy adaptation of the German-Austrian “Kaiserschmarrn” or Emperor's Pancake. 

Serve the pancake immediately, hot from the oven, dusted with powdered sugar or with a fruit sauce. Divide the pancake into servings by tearing with two forks.

For variation, fresh fruit or raisins soaked in rum may be added as the last ingredient before baking. Pour 2 cup of blueberries, apples or peaches into the center of the batter in the Dutch oven. Stir lightly. Soak raisins in rum 2 hour, drain and add to batter.

Recipe may be doubled. Add 15 minutes to the baking time.

2 tablespoons butter/mar.


garine 2 eggs, beaten


1½ cups milk 1 cup flour


1/4 teaspoon baking powder


1/4 teaspoon salt


1. Preheat oven to 325°.

2. Melt butter in a 5-quart non-stick finished Dutch Oven or a 10-inch skillet over low heat. Combine remaining ingredients and mix until nearly smooth. Pour into Dutch Oven or Skillet. Bake 45 to 50 minutes in preheated oven until golden brown. Slide pancake onto serving plate. Cut or tear into wedges. Garnish with powdered sugar. – Recipe from The Desert Sun, 1979

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia