Berliner Pfannkuchen — Print Recipe

A golden, sugar-dusted yeast doughnut filled with bright plum or raspberry jam — the festive treat devoured during Carnival season across Germany.

Ingredients

500g all-purpose flour
80g sugar
7g instant yeast
200ml warm milk
80g softened butter
3 egg yolks
1 tsp vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
Vegetable oil for frying
200g plum or raspberry jam
Powdered sugar for dusting

Instructions

1 Mix flour, sugar, yeast, and salt. Add warm milk, egg yolks, vanilla, and softened butter. Knead 10 min until smooth and elastic.
2 Cover and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour until doubled.
3 Punch down dough. Divide into 12 pieces, shape each into a smooth ball. Place on a floured tray, cover, and let rise 30 min.
4 Heat oil to 170°C (340°F). Fry doughnuts 3-4 min per side until golden brown. The pale stripe around the middle is the mark of a properly fried Berliner.
5 Drain on paper towels and cool slightly.
6 Fill a piping bag with jam. Insert the tip into each Berliner from the side and pipe in about 1 tbsp of jam. Dust generously with powdered sugar.

Did You Know?

During Carnival season, bakeries produce Berliner with one filled with mustard instead of jam — finding the mustard Berliner is considered both a prank and a badge of honor.