German Potato Pancakes (2024)

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see ourfull Disclosure Policyfor details.

Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

Authentic, easy to make comfort food at it’s finest! Theseclassic German Potato Pancakes, served with a side of applesauce or sour cream, are just what you need to kick off your Oktoberfest, and make a great snack any time of the day!

Visiting Germany is at the upper part of my bucket list.

Well, all of Europe is, of course (this wanderlust won’t quit,) but especially my homeland.

My father’s side of my family is German, and with my mother’sside being Polish, I naturally gravitate to all food Bavarian in nature. Bratwurst and Kielbasa, Sauerbraten and Sauerkraut, the flavors that many turn their noses up at I embrace with open arms.

Bring on that Oktoberfest food!

This page includes step by step instructions, as well as tips and notes. If you’d like to skip all that, feel free to scroll down to the full, printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.

German Potato Pancakes (aka Kartoffelpuffer)

Ahhh, Oktoberfest. A16-dayGerman food and beer festival.

Totally my kinda gig.

OK, so there’s plenty more to do during this 200ish-year-old (albeit spotty – some years had no Oktoberfest due to war) national celebration. From games and rides to parades and music new and old, think of it as a big state fair with something for everyone to enjoy.

And, since it’s synonymous with Germany and Oktoberfest, there’s also plenty of beer to go around. Here’s something to think about: Oktoberfest celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1910, where something like 120,000 liters of beer were served. That’s quite a bit, right?

Hang on, your mind is about to be blown.

Fast-forward 100 years or so, and that number has shot up to over 6.7 million liters. 6.7 MILLION LITERS.Do you have any idea how much that is?! A liter, in our silly American metric conversions, is not quite 34 ounces. That’s almost the equivalent of 3 bottles of your typical American beer. So, to break it down, 20 million bottles of beer on the wall…in 16 days. Between 6.4 million merrymakers.

Kartofelpuffer, or potato pancakes, area typicalOktoberfest food.

But they’re actually more well-known for being found at Christmas street markets or during winter festivals.

You know…Christmas really isn’t all that far away. And since these totally pass as Oktoberfest fare, we’re just gonna go for it, k?

Besides, you could liken these babies to American hash browns, but in pancake form. They’re known by all different names around the world, but are prepared very similarly no matter where you are.

Turns out us German folk aren’t the only ones who love comfort food.

My Nana used to make these from time to time, and she always served them to with a big bowl of applesauce for dipping. I think that might have been my favorite part at the time – I was an applesauce addict at one point, and until I did research for this recipe, I always thought she had that at the table just because I loved it so much. Turns out it’s one of the two most common sides.

Bubble burst.

I’m hoping to get to Oktoberfest one of these years down the road.

Although honestly, at this point I just really want to see that many bottles of beer. Clearly, no one parties quite like the Germans!

If you love this recipe, please consider leaving a 5 STAR RATING! If you really love it, leave us a comment and let us know – we appreciate all forms of feedback!

LET’S CONNECT!

Join in on the fun inour Facebook group!Feel free to share YOUR favorite recipes, ask questions, help out your fellow home cooks, and see what’s new with The Crumby Kitchen (so that you never miss a new recipe)! If you’d like to check it out, you can request to joinHERE.

ORDER OUR #1 BEST SELLER COOKBOOK!

German Potato Pancakes (Kartoffelpuffer)

Authentic, easy to make comfort food at it’s finest! These classic German Potato Pancakes, served with a side of applesauce or sour cream, are just what you need to kick off your Oktoberfest, and make a great snack any time of the day!

5 from 2 votes

Print Pin Rate Save

Course: Appetizer, Side Dish, Snack

Cuisine: German

Keyword: german potato pancakes, Kartoffelpuffer

Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour

Servings: 12 pancakes

Calories: 110kcal

Author: Erica

Ingredients

▢ 2 pounds large russet potatoes 3-4; washed, peeled, & shredded
▢ 2 shallots shredded
▢ ½ cup green onion chopped
▢ ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
▢ 2 eggs
▢ Kosher salt
▢ Ground black pepper
▢ ¼ cup vegetable or canola oil
▢ Sour cream for serving
▢ Applesauce for serving

Instructions

Use a box grater or food processor to shred potatoes and shallots easily. Place shredded potatoes & shallots in a strainer set over a bowl and let drain, squeezing mixture until dry.
Transfer to another bowl, then slowly pour off the potato water, leaving the milky starch at the bottom of the bowl. Pour this back in with the drained potato mixture.
Mix in green onion, flour, and eggs, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Work the ingredients with your hands until well combined.
Heat 1⁄4 cup oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Working in batches, measure out ½ cup potato mixture and drop it into the oil, flattening it into pancake with the back of a metal spatula. Fry for 3-4 minutes per side, flipping once, until golden brown and cooked through.
Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate or baking sheet. Repeat with remaining potatoes, adding more oil to skillet if needed.
Serve with sour cream or applesauce on the side.

Nutrition

Did You Make This Recipe?Snap a pic, post it, and mention @CrumbyKitchen or tag #crumbykitchen for some Instagram love!

Grab your fork and a beer stein and dig in to all these delicious Oktoberfest recipes below from my fellow #SundaySupper Tastemakers!

Appetizers (Vorspeisen)

German Pancake Soup (Flädlesuppe) by Caroline’s Cooking
German Potato Pancakes by The Crumby Cupcake
Homemade Pretzels with Kids by Hardly A Goddess
Kräuterbutter (German Herb Butter) by Tara’s Multicultural Table
Latke and Sauerbraten Poutine by Monica’s Table
Obatzda – Bavarian Cheese Spread by Sunday Supper Movement
Warsteiner Fondue by A Day in the Life on the Farm

Breakfast (Frühstück)

German Apple Pancake by The Chef Next Door
Peach Fritters by Pies and Plots

Condiments (Würze)

Pickled Red Onions by What Smells So Good?
Spicy Beer Mustard by Food Lust People Love

Dessert (Nachtisch)

Apple Tart by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
Kaiserschmarrn Recipe by Plated Cravings
Nana’s Gluten Free German Chocolate Cake by Gluten Free Crumbley
Rote Grütze (Fruit Pudding) by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings

Main Dish (Hauptgericht)

Bavarian Sausage & Cabbage Soup by Food Done Light
Beef Goulash Recipe by Positively Stacey
Beer Mac and Cheese by Moore or Less Cooking
Berlin Potato Soup by My Imperfect Kitchen
Bierocks by Mindy’s Cooking Obsession
Bratwurst Sheet Pan Dinner by A Mind Full Mom
Burgers with Bacon-Sauerkraut Jam by Palatable Pastime
How to Make Traditional German Sauerbraten by Cosmopolitan Cornbread
Oktoberfest Beer Brats by Wholistic Woman
Oktoberfest Chicken Chili by Fantastical Sharing of Recipes
Oktoberfest Fondue 3 Ways by Momma’s Meals
Pork chops with Sauerkraut and Apples by Brunch-n-Bites
Roasted Apple & Beer Chili For Oktoberfest by Sue’s Nutrition Buzz
Sausage, Pepper, and Onion Kebobs w/ a Boiled Cider Drizzle by The Freshman Cook
Schwenkbraten (Grilled German Pork Chops) by Curious Cuisiniere

Side Dish (Beigabe)

Fried Potatoes German Style by My Life as a Cookbook
German Potato Salad by Tramplingrose
Ginger Beer Sauerkraut by Cricket’s Confections
Herbed Spaetzle by The Hungry Goddess
Krautsalat (German Coleslaw) by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
Oktoberfest Potatoes by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks