Crepe Basics
March 17, 2009 > 18 Comments
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I’ve received quite a few questions about preparing crepes. I’ve also noticed from some comments that people are a little hesitant about making crepes. I used to feel the exact same way! But let me assure you, it really is SO easy.
For convenience sake, I’m going to post my crepe recipe agian here, just so you can have all the information in one spot.
Basic Crepe Recipe
- 6 eggs
- 1 1/2 c. milk (or 2/3 c. powdered milk and 1 1/3 c. water)
- 1 1/2 c. flour
- 4 T. butter, melted
- 1/4 c. sugar
- 2 t. vanilla extract
- 1/2 t. maple extract (optional)
- 1/4 t. salt
1. Combine all ingredients and whisk until smooth, or mix in a blender.
2. Melt 1 t. butter in a skillet. Pour 1/4 – 1/3 c. batter into the center of the skillet, and lift and tilt skillet to spread over entire bottom. Cook until lightly browned (the top will start to look dry, especially around the edges). Flip and cook another 45-60 seconds, or until browned.
And the crepe tips that work for me:
- For really smooth crepes, I prefer to prepare the batter in a blender or even in my Kitchen-Aid. I can do a pretty good job with a whisk, but there are always going to be clumps I miss. That means lumpy crepes, and although they taste just as delicious, they don’t look as nice.
- I use an 8 inch skillet. It makes perfectly sized crepes.
- I melt some butter in the skillet for the first crepe and usually that’s enough to last throughout the whole batter.
- That first crepe is always my experiment one (or what I call the cook’s crepe). I use to test the heat of my skillet and to get my timing down for the remaining batter. Plus, since it is going to absorb must of the butter, it gets a little too crispy to roll up like the other crepes. Personally, I like buttery, crispy crepes, so that’s what I nibble on while I make the rest.
- Crepes are pretty easy to read. As long as you keep the heat about medium, you can easily judge when to flip without burning the side that is cooking. The top of the crepe will appear dry, especially around the edges. The crepe in this picture is about 10 seconds away from being flipped. See how the edges are getting dry but the middle is still moist? That’s okay because that middle section will cook quickly once it’s flipped.
- Crepes are also very malleable. I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve had a crepe tear or fall apart when I flipped it.
- I use a spatula or a fork to flip the crepes. If I get a batch that is a little more stubborn, I’ll use both. I use the fork to begin lifting one edge of the crepe and then slide the spatula under to flip it.
The holes in that top crepe are from uneven skillet tilting while pouring the batter into the pan, not from tearing.
The above recipe is what I use for breakfast or dessert crepes. For savory crepes, I reduce the milk to 1 1/4 c. and leave out the sugar and extracts.
Stop by We Are THAT Family for more Works For Me Wednesday.
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18 Responses to “Crepe Basics”
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March 17th, 2009 @ 10:05 pm
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
I am so excited to try these very soon. I will let you know how it goes.
March 17th, 2009 @ 10:22 pm
I LOVE crepes, but I to am afraid to make them. I am going to have to try so that I too can see how easy they are to make! Thanks!
March 17th, 2009 @ 11:04 pm
Thanks! I’m bookmarking this! Your such a great cook!
~Kim
March 17th, 2009 @ 11:49 pm
I made crepes for the first time last Sunday. I’m going to try your recipe next time. I didn’t butter the skillet – I think that might be an important step.
I also can’t wait to try your pizza meatloaf.
March 18th, 2009 @ 9:33 am
oh man!! thank you so much for this!! i was hesitant to try to make crepes but this give me more confidence!!! thank you
March 18th, 2009 @ 12:24 pm
I love crepes!!!!!
Had my first one in Ireland this past summer…
NAOmni
March 18th, 2009 @ 1:28 pm
These look so good. I have not had crepes in ages. Maybe I will make some soon.
March 18th, 2009 @ 3:41 pm
we love crepes and I make them quite often. I love them with lemon juice and powdered sugar.
March 24th, 2009 @ 7:47 pm
Ha! I just did crepes (gluten free version) for my blog. Great minds think alike!
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May 27th, 2009 @ 4:27 pm
I did it! I made a batch today and they were fabulous and just as simple as you said.
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