Oma's Scalloped Potatoes – Mega Lecker Kartoffelgratin

by: Gerhild Fulson  / Oma Gerhild shares easy, authentic German recipes you can trust—rooted in family tradition and featured in her cookbooks.

Published: June 07, 2010, Updated: April 09, 2025

​Oma's Scalloped Potatoes are a foolproof German treat, with layers of potatoes baked in heavy cream—naturally gluten-free and irresistibly delicious.​

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German scalloped potatoes made with whipping cream, of course (gluten-free!)

These are the easiest scalloped potatoes you can make. Why? Because this is such an easy and fool-proof way to make them.

In German this is called "kartoffelgratin" and is so German - it uses heavy (whipping) cream, of course!

And, that makes it gluten-free! No, this isn't the low-fat way to eat potatoes, but my recipe for scalloped potatoes is among the most delicious.

My method works all the time. It's great for first-time chefs because it's so delicious AND easy! What a great way to eat potatoes, German-style! 

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• No Mess: If you've made scalloped potatoes before, you know the mess 'the flour and milk method' makes - when it boils out of the baking dish all over the oven or is still watery when you serve (or worse, yet, lumpy!). That doesn't happen with this method!
• The Best Part of This Dish: Why, it's the top crust, of course. That's why I always use a fairly large dish, so the potato layer is not too thick and there's a large top surface. Make sure you grease the dish well. 
• Very Easy to Make: If you have really new potatoes, you can always leave the skin on and that makes this recipe even easier. That does make it healthier. Just wash the potatoes really well!

Can You Use a Cast Iron Skillet and an Air Fryer?

You sure can!

Simply halve the recipe and you get a wonderfully crispy top layer. Lecker!

Making scalloped potatoes in a cast iron skillet and baked in my air fryer oven. A regular oven works perfect as well.

I use this cast icon skillet, and it fits perfectly in this air fryer. If you don't want the top quite so crispy (our favorite), just take it out of the fryer a few minutes earlier.

Ready to Make These Scalloped Potatoes?

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Oma's Scalloped Potatoes – Mega Lecker Kartoffelgratin Rezept

​Oma's Scalloped Potatoes are a foolproof German classic, featuring layers of tender potatoes baked in rich heavy cream—naturally gluten-free and irresistibly delicious.​

Prep Time:

20 minutes

Bake Time:

1 hour 30 minutes

Total Time:

1 hour 50 minutes

Servings:

6-8 servings

Ingredients:

• 5 - 6 pounds (2.3 - 2.8 kg) potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
• salt and pepper
• 2 - 2½ cups (480 - 600 ml) heavy (whipping) cream
• 1 - 2 cups (100 - 200 g) grated cheese, preferably Emmentaler (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C)
2. Grease casserole dish (a larger shallow dish is better than a deep one - there's more crust to enjoy!)
3. Place separated potato slices in the dish in rows, as if you were shingling a roof, by overlapping rows. Once your dish is almost full, push the rows back so that they are almost vertical against the back of the dish. Now keep adding rows of potato slices, pushing back as the dish is filling. (Your rows will almost be vertical in the end.)
4. Sprinkle with salt and freshly ground pepper.
5. Pour heavy cream over the potatoes.
6. Bake, uncovered, for about 60 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese, if using, and continue baking for about another 30 minutes or until potatoes are tender and top is nicely browned.

Notes/Hints:

• Sprinkle 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme or marjoram.
• You can add 1 sliced red onion to the potatoes, if you wish.
• Yes, you can omit the cheese, if you really want to. 
• You can also add some caramelized onions. Yum. 

*  *  *  *  *

Unless otherwise noted recipe, images and content © Just like Oma | www.quick-german-recipes.com

Recipe updated: April 09, 2025

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Oma's Scalloped Potatoes – Mega Lecker Kartoffelgratin Rezept

By Oma Gerhild Fulson

​Oma's Scalloped Potatoes are a foolproof German classic, featuring layers of tender potatoes baked in rich heavy cream—naturally gluten-free and irresistibly delicious.​

Cook time: 2 hours total time
Yield: 6 - 8 servings
Ingredients: potatoes, heavy (whipping) cream, cheese, seasonings,

For the full recipe, scroll up ...

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Hi, I'm Oma Gerhild! As a food writer and cookbook author, I'm always looking to find ways to pass on my German heritage using local ingredients. Quick and easy. That's my goal. Wunderbar food. That's the result.