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Oma's Traditional Potato Pancakes (Kartoffelpuffer / Reibekuchen)

My German potato pancakes (kartoffelpuffer) are crispy, golden, & just like Mutti made ... perfect with applesauce or a sprinkle of sugar.

Ingredients:

• 5 - 6 potatoes, peeled (see hints below)
• 3 large eggs
• 1 small onion, finely grated (optional)
• 1 teaspoon (6 grams) salt
• 4 tablespoons (32 grams) all purpose flour or potato starch
• butter and oil for frying (see hints below)

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C). Place a cookie sheet in the oven.
2. Line a plate with paper towels and set aside.
3. Grate the potatoes, either with a box grater or the grating blade of your food processor.
4. Drain the grated potatoes (in batches) by putting them into a clean dish towel and squeezing to remove as much moisture as possible.
5. Put the drained potatoes into a large bowl. Add the eggs, grated onion, salt, and flour. Mix well.
6. Heat some butter and oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
7. Using a large spoon, drop tablespoonfuls of the potato mixture into the hot butter/oil mixture. Use the back of the spoon to flatten them out.
8. Fry over medium-high heat until golden brown, about 3 to 4 minutes, then flip them over and continue frying until they’re cooked through and crispy brown, about another 3 to 4 minutes. If they are frying too fast, lower the heat to medium.
9. Remove the pancakes to the plate lined with paper towels to remove excess oil and then transfer them to the oven to keep them warm. Continue until all the batter is used up, adding more butter or oil as needed.
10. Serve sprinkled with sugar, or with applesauce or sour cream on the side.

Notes/Hints:

• I use Yukon gold potatoes, but any starchy potatoes will work. Grate the potatoes as fine or as coarse as you wish. 
• Change the quantities as needed. Depending on how little or how much liquid is in your squeezed potatoes, you may need to add an extra egg yolk or you may need to add more flour. 
• Use a mixture of butter and oil for frying. Canola oil is great and it keeps the butter from burning.
• Adding the onion is optional. You could add green onions instead.
• Add some freshly ground black pepper to the mixture.
• Authentic german potato pancakes call for peeling the potatoes. Keeping the skin on when you have nice, new potatoes, though, is healthier (and quicker)

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Updated on May 12, 2026