Berliner Krapfen are sometimes also called Berliner Pfannkuchen (pancakes) but I know them just as “Berliner”. That’s also what you are saying when you buy them at a bakery in the North of Germany. In the South of Germany they might refer to them rather as Krapfen or Berliner Pfannkuchen.
It seems that something similar is sold in the US as Beignets. They are basically like doughnuts but with jam in the center instead of having a hole in the center.
How to make Berliner Krapfen Video
Candy Thermometer for oil temperature at amazon:
Berliner vs. Donuts
They are very similar. It’s just that Americans steal the center and then sell that separately.
Maybe cutting the hole in the center had a practical purpose? If your oil is too hot, the Berliner will be nice and brown on the outside pretty fast while the center is still raw dough. Maybe American bakers tried to avoid that by making the dough into a ring? Quite possible.
A bad Joke with Berliner Krapfen
While you can buy Berliner Krapfen all year, they have a definite place at two special occasions in Germany: New Years Eve and Carnival (German Karneval … like Mardi Gras). And people try to be specially funny (I’d rather call it silly) at that time and claim that there is one of the Berliner Krapfen filled with mustard instead of jam. Although I have heard this on many parties, I have never heard that anybody really had one with mustard in it.
Berliner Krapfen Seasons
As mentioned above, you can buy Krapfen all year but they are a MUST at New Years Eve. We eat them after midnight, so the new year starts sweet. That’s how we do it in North Germany. There might be different traditions in other parts of Germany that I don’t know about.
The other time is, when we have our Carnival season, usually sometime between late January and early March. It’s the time when people want to indulge before catholic lent starts. This is specially celebrated in the region around Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, Köln (Cologne) … we call that area “Ruhrpott”. The people there are quite different from the people in the rest of Germany.
Fillings & Toppings
Most of the time, Berliners are filled with jam. Mostly cherry or strawberry jam but sometimes also peach jam. But you can also get them with a filling of vanilla pudding or newer days even with Nutella.
In the video I cover the Berliner with confectioners sugar. That is one way to do it, the other way is to use a royal icing made from confectioners sugar and water. Often, that glazing also gets some sprinkles on top. Some also make a chocolate glaze. I like the powdered sugar version, it reminds me of snow.
Freeze them for Later!
If you want to make them ahead or can’t eat them all – don’t worry! They freeze really well! Once thawed, just warm them up in the oven for a few minutes and then enjoy them as if they were fresh. I already made our New Years Eve Berliner. Looking forward to eating them, is basically the only thing that keeps me awake until after midnight.
Pin Berliner Krapfen to Pinterest
Berliner Krapfen
Equipment
Ingredients
Dough Ingredients
- 500 g Flour All Purpose
- 7 g Dry Yeast
- 50 g Sugar
- 2 ct Eggs
- 2 ct Egg Yolks
- 125 ml Milk lukewarm
- 2 tsp. Vanilla Sugar or some vanilla extract
- 100 g Butter, soft or melted and cooled
Other Ingredients
- 1 l Oil high smoke point like peonut oil
- 3-4 tbsp. Jam or Vanilla Pudding for filling
- 4 tbsp. Sugar for decoration
- 5 tbsp. Confectioners Sugar for decoration
Instructions
- First, mix the flour and the yeast.
- Next, add the remaining ingredients to the flour, except for the butter.
- Start mixing and while mixing, slowly add the soft butter.
- Mix for 6 to 7 minutes.
- Let the dough rise until it has doubled it size (about 40 – 60 minutes).
- Divide the dough into portions of about 90g.
- Shape the dough into spheres (see instruction in the video), cover with a towel and let rise again for about 30 minutes until they have clearly increased in size.
- Heat the oil to 185°C / 370°F. It will cool down somewhat when you add the Berliner. Keep it at about 175°C / 350°F once the Berliner are frying – not less.
- Take one of the dough portions and put it into the hot oil with the smooth top first. Then close the lid of the pot so the bottom can rise while the top is frying.
- Once the top has a golden brown color, turn the Berliner and fry the bottom.
- Remove once the bottom has the right color and place on a plate with sugar, covering the top in sugar.
- Bake all Berliner in the oil as described and sugar the top.
- When all Berliners are baked and cooled to the touch, fill the piping bag with jam.
- Push the piping tip into the Berliner from the side and fill it with the jam – about ½ to 1 teaspoon.
- Last, sprinkle a good amount of confectioners sugar on the top.
- You can eat them warm or cold but they should be as fresh as possible. You can also freez them and thaw them later, reheat a bit in the oven and enjoy warm.
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I loved your video, you make it look easy. My husband is from Berlin but we live in North Carolina. We go to Germany every year, but unfortunately, this year we did not go because of Covid. I will be making these soon.
I can confirm that mustard Berliner exist.
Not that great tasting since the custom is from northern germany where the mustard is often particular spicy.
Ouch! I’m sorry you had to experience that … yikes! They should at least use the Bavarian sweet mustard for that!