German pancake soup (Flädlesuppe) is a simple combination of broth with pancake 'noodles' that's tasty, comforting and perfect for a cold day.

bowl of German pancake soup viewed form overhead with coils of pancake and chives to side

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While I was brought up going to Austria and Southern Germany quite regularly, it was always in the summer rather than during Oktoberfest. In fairness, it's not as if I would have fully enjoyed it until I was an adult anyway.

Instead, I made it to the original Oktoberfest in Munich when I was in university. I remember the huge steins of beer, which were good, and the huge tents largely filled with corporate groups, which was not so good. But I can't remember much about what we ate (if we did eat there, in fact).

close up of German pancake soup topped with chives

However I do remember enjoying this German pancake soup on visits to the area as a child. Given the cooling temperatures here and the colds that have been making it in to our house recently, this is the perfect thing to be eating around now.

I remember a number of dishes fondly from my visits to Austria as a child. There were sausages in there, of course, but also a number of others. Some I make myself now, like Wiener schnitzel, spaetzle, German potato pancakes and Kaiserschmarrn.

We also often had goulash soup and German pancake soup for lunch especially in the mountain huts, although for whatever reason, I haven't really made either. Having now made German pancake soup, though, I really don't know why as it's both easy and so wonderfully comforting.

What is German pancake soup?

German pancake soup is basically a bit like chicken noodle soup or Scotch broth, except with strips of pancake in the broth. Given how simple it is, it's important that you have a good quality broth and so it's worth making yourself if you can.

It is typically made with beef broth, but you can also make this vegetarian by using vegetable stock instead. You then make some simple crepes, roll them up and slice them, then put them in the bowls with the warm broth over the top. A few chives to garnish, sometimes some lightly sauted vegetables added, and then you can enjoy the comforting deliciousness.

Tips for making your own stock

It's so easy to make your own stock and as with most things, it's generally better than bought versions. A couple tips I have picked up to make it even more tempting!

Freeze bones as you have them then when you are ready, use what you need to make stock. It's such a simple tip but has meant I make stock much more. Especially beef bones are often smaller, so it's worth collecting a few.
Freeze leftover stock you don't need immediately in ice cube trays, then pop them out into a bag, ready to use when you need, whatever amount you need.
While you'd typically use carrot, onion and celery in with the bones to make stock, you can vary this depending on what you have. And if they're no longer perfect or you just have peel from making something else, that's fine for stock.

This German pancake soup is easy to make, using only a few ingredients and taking just a few minutes to make. It's a simple dish, but so comforting and has that same cold-busting feel as the likes of chicken noodle soup and Scotch broth. Whether it's part of your Oktoberfest celebration or not, it's one to enjoy again and again.

Looking for more comforting broth-based soups? Try these!

Wonton soup (with delicious wontons in there!)
Spanish garlic soup (sopa de ajo, very simple but tasty with soaked bread and egg)
Avgolemono soup (has lemon and egg but still essentially broth-based and delicious!)
You'll also find soups, snacks and more in the appetizer recipes archives.

Plus get more German recipes to complete your Oktoberfest meal.

bowl of German pancake soup from overhead

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