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Homemade German potato pancakes served with applesauce on a white kitchen table, shot from above in natural light.

German Potato Pancakes

Crispy, golden German potato pancakes made with grated potatoes, onion, and simple ingredients — authentic, easy, and delicious any time of day.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Rest Time 2 minutes
Total Time 32 minutes
Servings: 4 cupcakes
Course: Breakfast, Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: European, German
Calories: 270
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 pounds Potatoes (Russet or Yukon Gold) Peeled and grated
  • 1 large Onion Grated
  • 2 Eggs Lightly beaten
  • 4 tablespoons All-purpose flour For binding
  • 1 teaspoon Salt Adjust to taste
  • 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper Freshly ground
  • 0.5 teaspoon Paprika Optional, adds flavor
  • Vegetable oil For frying
  • Applesauce Optional for serving

Equipment

  • 1 Box grater or food processor For grating potatoes and onion
  • 1 Large mixing bowl To mix batter
  • 1 Clean kitchen towel For squeezing out moisture
  • 1 Skillet (cast iron or non-stick) For frying pancakes
  • 1 Spatula To flatten and flip pancakes
  • 1 Paper towel To drain excess oil
  • 1 Measuring spoons & cups For precise measurements

Method
 

  1. Wash, peel, and grate potatoes and onion; squeeze out moisture.
  2. Combine potatoes, onion, eggs, flour, salt, pepper, and paprika.
  3. Warm oil in skillet over medium-high heat.
  4. Drop spoonfuls of batter and flatten; fry 3–4 minutes per side until golden.
  5. Transfer to paper towels to remove excess oil.
  6. Enjoy hot with applesauce or sour cream.

Notes

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.