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Reibekuchen

Crispy-edged potato pancakes grated fresh and fried until golden, served with a mountain of applesauce — the Rhineland’s favorite snack, and a Christmas-market legend.

⏱ 25 minPrep time
🔥 20 minCook time
🍽 4Servings
🏷 German KitchenCategory
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Reibekuchen crispy potato pancakes with apple sauce

Crisp-edged, golden potato pancakes with a soft, almost creamy center — Reibekuchen are Germany’s favorite way to use up a bag of potatoes. Grated potato and onion are squeezed dry, bound with egg and fried until shatteringly crisp.

They’re a fall and winter market classic, served piping hot with a big spoonful of applesauce. The contrast of salty, savory pancake and sweet sauce is pure magic.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. Grate the potatoes and onion on the large holes of a box grater.
  2. Wrap the mixture in a kitchen towel and squeeze out as much liquid as you can.
  3. Stir in the eggs, flour, salt, pepper and nutmeg.
  4. Heat 1/4 inch of oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
  5. Drop spoonfuls of the mixture into the oil and flatten with the back of the spoon. Fry 3–4 minutes per side until deep golden and crisp.
  6. Drain on paper towels and serve hot with applesauce.

💡 Chef tips & storage

Squeezing the potatoes dry is everything — excess moisture makes soggy pancakes. Keep the fried batch warm in a 200°F oven while you finish the rest.

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Recipe details

Prep25 min
Cook20 min
Servings4
CategoryGerman Kitchen
PublishedAugust 17, 2026
Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →