Kartoffelpuffer, also known as Reibekuchen, are delicious German potato pancakes with crispy edges and soft centres. Traditionally served with sweet applesauce (apfelmus in German), these golden potato pancakes are a much-loved German classic.
They are enjoyed at home as well as served at Christmas markets and other German celebrations such as Fasching and Karneval. You can also serve Kartoffelpuffer with other fruit compotes, such as plum, cherry, or berry.
With a side of homemade applesauce, these crispy German potato pancakes make a simple and delicious dish that’s especially good served fresh from the pan.
Why You Will Love These German Potato Pancakes
- Crispy and golden: Grated potatoes are fried until beautifully crisp around the edges.
- Simple ingredients: You only need a handful of everyday ingredients to make these traditional Kartoffelpuffer.
- Sweet and savoury: Serve them traditionally with applesauce or try a savoury topping instead.
- Great for sharing: Make them for a German-themed meal, family lunch, or as part of a festive spread.
What Are Kartoffelpuffer?
Kartoffelpuffer are traditional German potato pancakes made with grated potatoes, onion, egg, and a few simple ingredients. You fry the mixture in a pan until the edges turn crispy and golden, while the centres stay soft and tender.
You may also know Kartoffelpuffer as Reibekuchen, a name that varies by region in Germany. Traditionally, Germans serve these crispy potato pancakes with sweet applesauce, creating a delicious contrast between the savoury, golden pancakes and the sweet fruit sauce.
Why Serve Potato Pancakes with Applesauce?
Sweet applesauce makes the perfect accompaniment to crispy German potato pancakes. The fresh, fruity sweetness contrasts beautifully with the savoury, golden Kartoffelpuffer, creating the traditional combination enjoyed throughout Germany.
German Potato Pancakes (Kartoffelpuffer) with Applesauce
Ingredients
Ingredients for the Apfelmus (Apple Sauce)
- 550 g Apples about 4 apples, peeled and chopped
- ½ Vanilla Pod split and seeds scraped out
- 3 tbsp Water (45 ml / 1.5 oz)
- 2 tbsp Sugar (25g / 0.9oz, to taste)
- 1 tbsp Lemon Juice (15 ml / 0.5 oz)
Ingredients for the Kartoffelpuffer (German Potato Pancakes)
- 1 kg Potatoes about 6 medium potatoes
- 200 g Onion 1 large onion
- 1 tsp Cornstarch
- 2 Large Eggs
- 1½ tsp Salt
- Pepper to taste
- 125 ml Sunflower Oil (3.5 oz) for frying
Instructions
Instructions for Apple Sauce
- Place the chopped apples, vanilla pod, seeds, and water in a saucepan.
- Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer over low heat for 10 minutes until the apples are soft.
- Remove the vanilla pod.
- Blend the apples until smooth, then stir in lemon juice and sugar to taste.
- Let it cool and refrigerate before serving.
Instructions for Potato Pancakes
- Peel and grate the potatoes and onion using the coarse side of a box grater.
- Place the mixture in a sieve set over a large bowl. Using your hands, squeeze out as much liquid as possible and put the grated potato in another bowl.
- Let the liquid sit for a few minutes, then pour off the watery part and add the remaining starch back to the potatoes.
- Mix in the cornstarch, eggs, salt, and pepper until combined. Return the mixture to the sieve to allow any remaining excess liquid to drain away while cooking.
- Heat a generous amount of sunflower oil in a non-stick frying pan over medium heat.
- Spoon in portions of the mixture and flatten them carefully.
- Fry each pancake for about 6-8 minutes per side, or until golden and cooked through.
- Place the finished pancakes on paper towels to absorb excess oil on both sides. Serve warm with apple sauce.
Notes
The Tools You’ll Need to Nail This Recipe
|
|
|
|
|
Description: Ideal for making the homemade applesauce to serve with your Kartoffelpuffer. |
Description: A handy grater for finely grating the potatoes and onion for crispy Kartoffelpuffer. |
Description: Great for frying Kartoffelpuffer until golden and crispy with less sticking. |
Description: Useful for draining excess liquid from the grated potato mixture before frying. |
Ideal for making the homemade applesauce to serve with your Kartoffelpuffer.
A handy grater for finely grating the potatoes and onion for crispy Kartoffelpuffer.
Great for frying Kartoffelpuffer until golden and crispy with less sticking.
Useful for draining excess liquid from the grated potato mixture before frying.
Ways to Serve German Potato Pancakes
- With applesauce: The traditional sweet accompaniment.
- With sour cream: A creamy savoury option.
- With smoked salmon: A delicious option for a more substantial meal.
- As mini potato pancakes: Make smaller pancakes for appetizers or party food.
- With cinnamon and sugar: A simple sweet variation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Kartoffelpuffer and Reibekuchen are two common German names for potato pancakes. Regional names and recipes can vary throughout Germany, but both are made with grated potatoes and fried until crisp and golden.
German Potato Pancakes are best fresh.
Definitely! Try a perfectly poached egg and fresh tomato or sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar for something different.
Squeeze out as much moisture as possible from the potato mixture before frying.
Kartoffelpuffer and hash browns are similar because both are made with grated potato, but they are not quite the same. Kartoffelpuffer usually include onion and egg and are traditionally fried until crispy and served with sweet applesauce.
More German Recipes to Try
If you enjoy traditional German recipes, here are a few more favourites from The Party Toad, from hearty savoury dishes to classic German baking.
- Traditional German Rotkohl (Red Cabbage) – A sweet and tangy German red cabbage side dish that pairs beautifully with hearty meals.
- German Potato Salad – A classic German potato salad that’s a delicious choice for a family meal, braai or German-inspired spread.
- Traditional German Goulash – A hearty dish with tender beef and a deep paprika-infused sauce.
- Traditional German Heidesand Cookies – browned butter cookies with a rich, buttery flavour and a hint of vanilla.
- Traditional German Butterkuchen – made with a yeast dough topped with cubes of butter and sprinkled with sugar and almonds, that caramelises beautifully as it bakes.
Save These German Potato Pancakes for Later
If you love traditional German recipes, save this recipe to Pinterest so you can easily find these crispy Kartoffelpuffer when you’re ready to make them.
Recipe Credit
This Kartoffelpuffer recipe comes from Dr. Oetker’s website and worked beautifully as written. I reduced the quantity of applesauce to better match the number of pancakes, resulting in the perfect ratio of sauce to crisp, golden Kartoffelpuffer.