TikTok's Scrambled Pancakes Are A Crime Against Breakfast

Chefs often try to make their mark on the gastronomic landscape by turning dishes inside out — or presenting a fresh take on something familiar. But, in their invention, might assume that's as easy as making it look odd, with nary a consideration for how it actually tastes. One recent TikTok video embodies this mentality by introducing netizens to the scrambled pancake, and plenty chimed in to make their feelings known about this irreverent take on a traditional breakfast item. However, the video uploader issues a redirect at the end indicating the post may have been a joke.

@archivedchef

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♬ original sound – Archived Chef 🍯

One of the main appeals of a conventional pancake is the fluffy texture, which can't occur unless a pancake sits in the pan long enough for the baking soda in the batter to fully activate. By scrambling the mix before it rises, you'll likely come away with a spectrum of overly crispy bits and larger pieces that are flat and doughy. Sugary toppings like maple syrup will blanket every shard as opposed to getting just the right amount in every bite, and naturally sweet garnishes such as blueberries and strawberries will be overwhelmed by the candied coating. The delicate texture of the berries will also have an unwelcome mouthfeel when chewed along with extra doughy batter. Scrambled pancakes lack finesse, but a more elegant version exists that's been around for over a century, and in its birthplace, it's called a kaiserschmarrn.

Before TikTok, there was kaiserschmarrn, a dish that originated in Austria around the turn of the 20th century. Meaning "emperor's mess," the prevailing theory about its inception is that the meal was once served to Franz Joseph I — the Emperor of Austria at the time – by a farmer's wife he had taken shelter with as he traversed the Alps one year. Visually, it is comparable to a funnel cake, except it isn't deep-fried.

The traditional way to prepare them includes adding raisins and shredding the batter – not scrambling it like eggs. Before tearing into the dough, it should be sufficiently browned on the bottom and have sugar added on the top side that will caramelize, adding a bit of sweetness. The dessert fare is often accompanied by applesauce and Zwetschgenröster – a variation of a plum compote. It's served this way in Austria to this day, and is generally finished with an eye-catching dusting of confectioner's sugar.

The kaiserschmarrn differs from the scrambled pancake in the TikTok video by way of specific ingredients used for the mix, but the meal also requires more cooking finesse than simply scrambling batter in a pan. Many in the comment section expressed jubilation upon seeing how easy the dish looks to produce. However, the reality is that making a kaiserschmarrn properly takes more effort than forming perfect pancakes without error.

Scrambled pancakes may not be a hit with adults, but children with no preconceived notions about what a pancake is might be a touch more forgiving with their feedback. Sweet treats are generally a knockout with kids, so the extra sugary coating that adults may find offensive should be well received by little ones. The dish also looks like a cereal version of the classic breakfast food, which may be more familiar to them. Instead of scrambling immediately, wait for the mix to brown more on the bottom than in the TikTok video. This will give the bits a little more fluff.

You could also experiment with innovations that don't require scrambling. Because children often eat first with their eyes, a colorful variation using red velvet in the mix could be just the thing to get your young ones excited at the breakfast table. You may want to grab a sheet pan to make these pancakes as it will likely have kids pleading for another helping. 

For a fun spin on flapjacks for kiddos with less sugar, consider mixing in peanut butter just as if you're making a savory sauce and garnishing the final product with their favorite fruit spread for a tempting PB&J pancake. Of course, sometimes a simple stack of traditional pancakes made into the shape of a little teddy bear on their plate smiling up at them is all that's needed to bring them some joy in the morning.