How to Make an Easy & Tasty French Crepe Recipe
Wondering how you could possibly make crepes at home? You’ll be happy to know it’s not as difficult as it looks. All you need are six ingredients.
Brunch brings you the opportunity to eat breakfast, lunch, and dessert all at once. It’s three meals served in one glorious sitting, and it’s as fancy or as casual as you and your crew make it. It’s also a great excuse to enjoy a hair of the dog cocktail without judgment and a way to get out of washing two sets of dishes.
As lovely as it is to grab a table at your favorite restaurant, sometimes they’re difficult to find, and other times staying in is much more appealing. But what if you could enjoy a popular brunch favorite in the comfort of your home? We’re talking crepes.
You may be wondering how you could possibly make crepes at home, but you’ll be happy to know it’s not as complicated as it seems. All you need are six ingredients you likely already have in your pantry, some basic steps to follow, a pinch of patience, and a bit of practice. We’ll walk you through it all here.
To start, we’ll go through what a crepe is, some crepe-making tips, and on to this easy French crepe recipe and some FAQs.
What exactly are crepes?
Crepes are essentially an extremely thin pancake, almost like a soft, sweet tortilla. They’re flat because crepes recipes skip the leavening agents, like baking soda and baking powder used to give pancakes their fluff. Typically, various flavorful ingredients like jams, spreads, and such fill the inside of crepes, much like a burrito. What you put in it will depend on how you’re serving the crepe. While they’re mostly a breakfast or brunch food filled with fruit, berries, and other sweet toppings, they make for a tasty dinner wrapped around meat and vegetables or a dessert with even sweeter ingredients.
Some crepe-making tips
Once you’ve mixed your batter, let it sit in the fridge for 30-60 minutes. Chilling it will increase the flavor by giving the other ingredients time to seep in and hydrate the flour. Buttering the pan between each crepe will prevent them from sticking, add a richer flavor, and give them a more golden color. While some say you can skip this step if using a non-stick pan, it’s the extra flavor and color that make this tip worthwhile. Additionally, after you pour your batter into the hot pan, swirl it around to stretch the batter as far and thin as you can. Flip your crepes after 10-15 seconds.
Making the ultimate crepes recipe
This recipe makes 16 crepes, depending on your pan size. It takes two hours of prep time, including chill time, and 20 minutes to cook.
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Ingredients
4 large eggs
2 1/4 cups milk
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1/4 cup melted butter
A pinch of salt
Directions
If you own a blender, place all the ingredients inside and mix for one minute until it’s smooth. To ensure no lumps are in the batter, scrape the sides and blend again. Alternatively, you can whisk the ingredients by hand in a large mixing bowl.
Place the batter in the fridge for one to two hours.
Before you take your batter out of the fridge, prepare your fillings and sides so they’re ready to go when the crepes are.
Once your batter is chilled, preheat a small skillet over medium heat, keeping in mind that you may want to adjust according to your stove as you go.
Melt a small amount of butter in the bottom of your pan, lift, and swirl it around to coat.
Once you pour your batter in the center, swirl it around again to stretch and thin it out. Your first ones may not turn out perfectly, but they will still taste delicious.
As the bottom browns, the batter on top will lose its shine after 10-15 seconds, which means it’s time to flip. Cook the other side for 10-15 seconds and remove it from the pan.
Repeat until you run out of batter.
To keep your crepes warm as you cook, you can place them on a pie plate under some foil or in the oven at 200℉. Doing this will help you serve them all at once.
Once ready, serve warm with your desired fillings and toppings.
Nutritional values
Calories: 127
Carbohydrates: 14 grams
Protein: 4 grams
Fat: 5 grams
Saturated fat: 1 gram
Cholesterol: 44 milligrams
Sodium: 30 milligrams
Potassium: 77 milligrams
Sugar: 2 grams
Original recipe: Lauren's lates
Crepes FAQs
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Are crepes healthier than pancakes?
Technically, one crepe is lower in calories than one pancake. However, the nutritional values are determined by how much you eat and what you use to fill or top them.
How do I make sweeter crepe batter?
To make sweeter crepe batter for dessert, add more sugar. With this recipe, you can double the amount to two tablespoons instead of one.
Is crepe batter the same as pancake batter?
Crepe batter is almost the same as pancake batter, but not entirely. Pancake recipes often call for leavening agents like baking soda and baking powder, which helps make them fluffy. However, since the ideal crepe is flat, these ingredients are omitted.
What can I eat alongside my crepes?
You can fill or top your crepes with almost anything. Popular choices are fruit, berries, whipped cream, homemade ice cream, peanut butter, jam, marmalade, ricotta, cream cheese, Nutella, flavored sauces, cinnamon, and extra sugar. For sides, you can fry up some bacon and serve it alongside a coffee drink or mimosa.
What ingredients can I add or substitute for crepes?
For a more savory crepe recipe, add a quarter teaspoon of salt and a quarter cup of fresh chopped herbs. For sugar-free crepes, simply skip the sugar in this recipe.
You can also find crepe recipes with no butter and without eggs, in which another ingredient like oil is a substitute. However, since it changes the ratio of the other ingredients, a quick search may help you find a recipe suited to your needs.
Why are my crepes crispy?
The skillet may be too hot if your crepes are turning out crispy. You can tell if the batter starts to set once it hits the pan instead of spreading when swirling it around. Adjust the heat and try again. Since everyone’s stove is different, make a note of the ideal temperature for next time.
Cut the crepe
While it may seem complex, you too can make the perfect crepe for breakfast, brunch, or any meal. Even if the first ones are imperfect, you can eat them as a quick snack and try again. Once you have a bit of “crepexpertise” under your belt, your house will no doubt become your friends’ and loved ones’ favorite go-to spot for brunch, thanks to your delicious crepes.
To make mealtime even simpler, you can order ingredients with Gopuff, and they’ll get to you within minutes. They’re like your shopping superhero sidekick that delivers daily essentials to your doorstep in a flash.
Happy cooking, and happy creping.
