Crêpes – Easy Recipe for Thin French Pancakes with Filling

Crêpes – Thin French Pancakes for Dinner, Brunch or Dessert

Crêpes are thin, soft pancakes with origins in France. They are easy to make, can be prepared in advance and work beautifully with both savoury and sweet fillings.

This makes crêpes a perfect dish when you want to cook something that feels a little more thoughtful, yet is still simple. Serve them for lunch, dinner, brunch or dessert.

The main difference between crêpes and regular pancakes is the thickness. Crêpes are cooked thin and should have a soft, slightly elastic texture, making them easy to fold or roll around the filling.

Basic Crêpe Recipe

This recipe makes around 8–10 crêpes, depending on the size of your frying pan.

Ingredients

• 3 dl plain flour

• 6 dl milk

• 3 eggs

• 1 pinch of salt

• 2 tbsp melted butter

• Butter for frying

Method

1. Whisk together the flour and half of the milk until smooth. This helps prevent lumps.

2. Add the rest of the milk, eggs, salt and melted butter. Whisk until the batter is smooth.

3. Let the batter rest for 15–30 minutes. This makes the crêpes easier to cook and gives them a better texture.

4. Heat a frying pan over medium heat and add a little butter.

5. Pour in a thin layer of batter and tilt the pan so the batter spreads evenly across the base.

6. Cook for about 1 minute on each side, until the crêpe has a light golden colour.

7. Place the finished crêpes on a plate and cover with a clean kitchen towel to keep them soft.

Tips for Perfect Crêpes

• The batter should be thinner than regular pancake batter.

• Use medium heat to avoid dry or burnt crêpes.

• Lightly butter the pan between each crêpe.

• Let the first crêpe be a test to find the right temperature.

• Cook the crêpes thin so they are easy to fold and fill.

Savoury Crêpes

Savoury crêpes are perfect for lunch, dinner or as a starter. Fill them, roll them up and place them in an oven dish. Top with a little grated cheese and bake at 225°C for about 10 minutes.

Delicious Savoury Crêpe Fillings

• Creamy mushrooms with parsley

• Ham and cheese

• Chicken with crème fraîche and herbs

• Spinach and feta cheese

• Prawns with dill and lemon

• Goat cheese, honey and walnuts

Sweet Crêpes

Sweet crêpes are ideal as a dessert or for a more indulgent brunch. They can be folded, rolled or served open with toppings.

Delicious Sweet Crêpe Fillings

• Berries and whipped cream

• Chocolate spread and banana

• Lemon and sugar

• Apple compote and cinnamon

• Vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce

• Jam and crème fraîche

Drinks to Serve with Crêpes

For savoury crêpes, a fresh white wine is often a good choice. Look for a wine with good acidity, especially if the filling contains cheese, crème fraîche, seafood or herbs.

Drinks for Savoury Crêpes

• Sauvignon Blanc

• Riesling

• Chardonnay without too much oak

• A light red wine for crêpes with mushrooms or cheese

For sweet crêpes, coffee, tea or a glass of sparkling wine works well. If the crêpes are served with berries, lemon or fruit, an off-dry sparkling wine can be a lovely match.

Drinks for Sweet Crêpes

• Coffee

• Tea

• Sparkling wine

• Off-dry sparkling wine with berries and fruit

Can You Prepare Crêpes in Advance?

Yes, crêpes are great to prepare ahead. Cook them in advance and store them in the fridge with baking paper between each crêpe. They keep well for 1–2 days.

Warm them gently in a frying pan, oven or microwave before serving.

You can also freeze crêpes. Place baking paper between each crêpe and freeze them in an airtight bag or container.

Crêpes are a simple and versatile basic recipe that suits many occasions. With the same batter, you can create savoury crêpes for dinner and sweet crêpes for dessert.

The secret is a thin batter, the right heat in the pan and a filling that brings out the best flavours.