simple crepes recipe

not that we ever need a special occasion to make crepes, but father’s day would be a great excuse to break out the crepe pan.

i have loved crepes since i was a kid, probably because my mom loved them. stella would eat crepes for every meal if i allowed it. some days she eats them like a pancakes with maple syrup, but her favorite way to eat crepes is with nutella and loads of fresh berries. maybe even a bit of whipped cream. she loves her sweets that’s for sure.

over the years i have tried may recipes for crepes. the basic ingredients are the same; flour butter, water, milk, and eggs, but the recipe i use the most is from Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking for savory dinner crepes, i leave the recipe as is, but when making them for breakfast i like to add vanilla and a bit of sugar.

how to make perfect crepes

a blender works best for mixing the batter. you can whisk it by hand but the smoother the batter the better texture in the finished product. if you do not have a blender, whisk the eggs into the flour, then add the milk, water and butter. then you will want to strain the batter to get rid of any lumps.

when making crepes it’s important to let the better rest for at least two hours. this gives the gluten a chance to develop. i find the my crepes turn out perfectly light and tender when i let the batter rest overnight.

use a crepe pan. i have a seriously tiny kitchen, so i try to keep my kitchen utensils and equipment to a minimum, but a good crepe pan makes a big difference, and they aren’t expensive at all. i have been using this 10-Inch Crepe Pan for years and love it.

slowly heat your pan over medium heat and brush the entire pan with melted butter; i find that by greasing the pan in between each crepe ensures they all flip perfectly

work quickly – the batter will begin to cook as soon as it hits the hot pan, so swirl as soon as you pour;  shake your pan while cooking to loosen the crepe and flip as soon as the bottom is lightly browned and the top is set. an Offset Spatula works well here, but i have also been know to use my hands

keep your crepes in a stack with wax paper in between each crepe, cover the stack with a clean kitchen towel and keep in a warm oven (no more than 200 degrees)

simple crepes recipe

Print Recipe

Yield: 14 -10 inch crepes

simple crepes recipe

Prep Time: 10 minutes plus rest time

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 2 hours 40 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup milk
• 4 large eggs
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 Tbsp sugar
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 4 Tbsp melted butter
• 1 tsp vanilla

 

Directions:

• add ingredients into the jar of a blender, and blend on high until smooth (about 1 minute)
• cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours
• lightly brush a crepe pan with melted butter, and heat over medium until the pan is hot
• lift pan off the heat, and tilt pouring a 1/4 cup of batter into the center of the pan
• working quickly, tilt the pan in all directions to spread batter evenly over the bottom
• shake pan from time to time while cooking to loosen the crepe, and when the bottom is lightly browned, carefully flip using an offset spatula (this will take about 1 minute)
• brown the other side for about 30 seconds, and then slide the crepe on to a rack
• cool slightly before stacking (make sure you keep parchment or wax paper between the crepes to prevent sticking)
• crepes may be covered and kept in a warm oven while you complete cooking

         

slightly adapted from mastering the art of french cooking from julia child

not that we ever have crepes leftover, but if you do, stack the cooled crepes with parchment or wax paper in between them to keep crepes from sticking together. place the stack in a zip-top bag, and keep in the fridge for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

to warm the crepes you can use a warm skillet brushed with a bit of melted butter, you can warm then in a 300 degree oven for about 15 minutes (wrap crepes in foil first), or pop them in the microwave for about 10 seconds.

practice really does make perfect, so i suggest you use father’s day to perfect your crepe making skills.

enjoy!