Crepes are a thin type of pancake that originated in Brittany (North west of France) during the 13th century. The story of how they came about was an accident, the thin buckwheat porridge spilled and became a crispy crepe instead. In France there is a special day known as candlemas which is dedicated to eating crepes all day.
This traditional French crepes recipe is perfect for pancake day, we like to serve ours with strawberries, blueberries, chocolate sauce or maple syrup for a tasty sweet breakfast. For a lunch, they go great with grated cheddar cheese and ham.
Crepes recipe video
Ingredients
- Plain flour (70 g)
- Sugar (1 tsp)
- Milk (100ml)
- Egg (1)
- Cooking oil
Method
- In a mixing bowl or jug combine all purpose plain flour, milk, egg, and sugar with a whisk to form a smooth batter.
- Put a greased frying pan on a medium flame, and in batches pour the batter into the pan; moving it around to spread the batter evenly.
- Once the edges becomes lightly golden, flip the crepe over to cook the other side.
- Fold the pancake into a triangle then put on a plate and add your chosen toppings.
Frequently asked questions
Are these vegan?
These crepes are not vegan, however they can be made suitable for vegans by using a plant based milk, and an egg substitute such as banana or apple sauce.
Are crepes healthy?
Crepes can be enjoyed as part of a healthy balanced diet. Eggs are a great source of protein, milk contains calcium, the sugar can be removed from the recipe to make it healthier and having lots of fresh fruit with your crepes can make them very healthy.
Are Crepes Keto friendly?
No they are not Keto friendly due to them being high in carbs, however, you can replace the plain flour for a keto friendly alternative such as coconut flour, almond flour, flaxseed flour or chickpea flour.
How to pronounce crepes?
Crêpes are pronounced different depending on the region you are from. The British pronunciation is krayps or creps. In France they are pronounced as Crêp.
What are the most popular Crepes fillings?
Crepes can be served either sweet or savoury; the most popular sweet filling for crepes is caramelised butter, and sugar, fruit and syrup, lemon and sugar, Nutella and banana, or jam. The most popular savoury options include ham and cheese, spinach and cheese, caramelised onion with cheese, or ham and mushroom.
What is the difference between crepes and pancakes?
Crepes are a type of thin French pancake that is made without baking powder, they can have toppings or can be filled. A pancake is often made with baking powder and is typically smaller but thicker, they are usually stacked up and have melted butter on top with drizzled maple syrup and sometimes bacon. Even though they are both made with similar ingredients, they are very different in taste and texture.
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