Easy Crepe Recipe

Easy Crepe Recipe – Things are about to get fancy with these light, tender, and slightly sweet crepes. Make them for breakfast filled with your favorite fresh fruit or Nutella, then dust with powdered sugar, and serve them with a dollop of homemade whipped cream on the side. They are perfect for a Mother’s Day breakfast in bed.

A stack of freshly made crepes on a plate

There’s something really comforting about pancakes and crepes. Here in our house, we never skip a week without some sort of pancake. I usually alternate between African-Style Pancakes or my famous Fluffy Pancakes. My son approves. I can tell because he always cleans his plate. 😆

But this time, since Mother’s Day AND my birthday are fast approaching, I’m doing “pancakes” my way. Fancy French pancakes, a.k.a. crepes, are now on the menu!

Content…

What Are Crepes?
Recipe Ingredients
How to Make Them
Recipe Variations
Tips and Tricks
Make-Ahead Instructions
Serving and Storage Instructions
FAQs
What to Serve
More Breakfast Recipes to Try
Conclusion
Watch How to Make It

What are Crepes?

Basically, they’re a French version of pancakes but thin and delicate. I was raised in a French colonized country, which is why crepes bring back so many happy childhood memories. Interestingly, we didn’t have them for breakfast usually. It was more of an afternoon snack or dessert.

One thing I love about crepes is that you can fill them with just about anything! You can make them savory, stuffed with egg, spinach, ham, cheese, and even bacon. Or, if you have a sweet tooth like me, you can fill them with Nutella, jam, strawberries, bananas, whipped cream – your call. The possibilities are endless! 😋

Recipe Ingredients

Eggs – This ingredient gives crepes their signature texture and keeps them stretchy enough to resist tearing when filled.
Milk – A creamy ingredient that provides the batter with a runnier texture and thinner consistency than traditional American pancakes.
Flour – A kitchen staple that is the basis for all baked goods! 🤩
Butter – Creamy richness and flavor amp up the comfort-food factor to this simple batter.

How to Make Easy Crepes

Make the Batter

Blend the Ingredients – Mix in eggs, milk, vanilla, sugar, salt, water, flour, and butter in a blender. If you don’t have a blender, mix these ingredients by hand with a bowl and whisk.
Rest – Let the batter rest in the refrigerator for about an hour or more or overnight.

Cook the Crepes

Heat a skillet over medium-high heat, then lightly coat the hot pan with vegetable oil, cooking spray, or clarified butter.
Pour – Pour in about a ⅓ cup of batter, depending on your frying pan’s size.
Spread – Tilt the pan so that the batter spreads across the bottom of the pan.
Cook the crepe for about 1½ minutes or until the bottom is light brown.
Flip – Lift with a spatula, turn and cook the other side.
Serve crepes warm with fresh fruit, whipped cream, and powdered sugar.

Recipe Variations

This recipe is intended for sweet crepes. If you want savory ones, omit the sugar and vanilla and add ¼ teaspoon salt to the batter instead.
Make gluten-free crepes by using an all-purpose, gluten-free flour mix.
Make dairy-free crepes by using dairy-free milk and dairy-free butter substitutes. Coconut milk and coconut oil are two tasty substitutes that lend a tropical flavor to sweet crepes – trust me, it’s delish! 😁

Easy Crepe recipe filled with whipped cream and fresh strawberries

Tips and Tricks

Let the crepe batter rest for an hour (or overnight) in the fridge if you can. It creates a light and airy crepe that won’t easily tear when cooked and folded. This tip is especially helpful if you are cooking for a crowd.
Make sure to use a pan with a thick bottom, so it heats evenly. Start by slowly heating the pan to the desired temp. Before pouring the batter, make sure the pan is hot enough; otherwise, your crepe will end up sticking to it.

Pro Tip: Don’t flip the crepe too early. Wait till the bottom is light brown and the edges are starting to brown. That way, it won’t be as apt to tear.

Make-Ahead Instructions

This recipe is even better when you make the batter ahead of time! Mix it up and store it in the fridge for 1-2 days beforehand. When you are ready to make the crepes, give the batter a whisk before you start pouring it into the pan.

You can even cook the crepes ahead of time, although they taste better fresh. Simply cook them, allow them to cool, and store them in an airtight bag in the fridge for 3-4 days. Reheat them briefly in a skillet on medium heat before adding your filling of choice.

Easy crepes filled with chocolate, drizzled with more chocolate sauce, and served with fresh pineapple

Serving and Storage Instructions

Serve crepes fresh out of the pan. Add your choice of filling and roll or fold them up. Add a pretty garnish (powdered sugar for sweet crepes is beautiful 😍) and dig in!

Store any leftover crepes sans fillings in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Microwaving these will make them rubbery and gross, so always reheat crepes on the stovetop. Put the skillet on medium heat and let the crepes heat back up for a minute or two on each side.

You can also freeze them for four months in a freezer-safe container. Just make sure to thaw them completely in the fridge before trying to do anything with them, as they will break.

Crepes with whipped cream and strawberries for breakfast

FAQs

How are crepes different from pancakes?

As already mentioned, crepes are thinner and more delicate than pancakes. The reason: pancakes are made with a leavening or raising agent like baking powder, and crepes are not.

How are crepes eaten?

I like to fold mine up and eat them with a fork and knife, but you can roll them too. Some people even roll them up and serve them wrapped up in a napkin like a burrito. 🌯

What do crepes taste like?

Crepes have a subtle egg taste and are generally less sweet than waffles or pancakes. However, the simple batter is easy to customize, so you can add spices, sugar, extracts, and more to create your own unique flavor.

What to Serve With Crepes

Definitely top your crepes with some homemade whipped cream! You can also whip up your own caramel sauce to drizzle over them if you’re feeling extra fancy.

I like to serve these guys with a special hot drink too. Try a chai tea latte or a pumpkin spice latte for a truly decadent pairing. You could also opt for a simple cup of coffee or a hot ginger tea; both are equally delicious. ☕️

Happy crepe-ing!

More Breakfast Recipes to Try

Conclusion

Don’t be intimidated by this recipe’s fancy name. Crepes are suuuper easy to make and will make you feel like a fancy French chef. Once you’ve given them a try, drop your favorite crepe-filling ideas in the comment section below. I can’t wait to hear how you’re making crepes your own!

Watch How to Make It

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This blog post was originally published in April 2018 and has been updated with additional tips.