The Authentic French Crêpe Recipe
By Carine Claudepierre
Published on 03/25/2023
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This easy crêpe recipe makes thin and flexible crepes with a restaurant-level quality. It’s an easy recipe, made with simple ingredients, and ready in minutes.
I’m a crepe expert because I’ve spent years making crepes in our family restaurants in the foothills of the Vosges mountains. So you can trust that this recipe has been tested many times over!
French crepes, anyone? You might have tried some of my other classic French desserts like my floating island dessert, my madeleines, or my croffles, so it’s time for the classic of the classics.
I am a French girl born and raised in France, so I am a fan of authentic French recipes and truly French crepes.
It’s very easy to make a crepe batter crepe. All you need are 6 ingredients, a mixing bowl, a whisk, and a non-stick crepe pan.
Crêpes Ingredients
Following is the full list of ingredients to make your perfect French crepe:
- All-purpose flour – this refers to white wheat flour. Other options are white spelt flour or white whole-wheat flour.
- Eggs
- Whole milk or skim milk for a lighter crepe. It will result in crispier crepes. You can also use dairy-free milk alternatives like almond milk, but it makes the crepes slightly crispier.
- Melted butter – you can make crepes without butter. Simply replace with melted coconut oil or olive oil.
- Sugar or sugar-free alternatives like Monk fruit crystal sweetener or erythritol.
- Vanilla essence – most often, the crepe batter is flavored with vanilla extract or orange blossom flower water.
Making The Crepe Batter
- Add the flour, eggs, salt, vanilla extract, melted butter, and sugar into a large mixing bowl.
- Use a whisk or an electric mixer to gradually beat the milk until a smooth batter forms with no lumps. A crepe batter is always thinner than a pancake batter recipe, and that’s normal. Let the batter rest for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, warm the non-stick crepe pan.
Spreading The Crepe Batter
- Oil the pan with an oil spray or melted butter. It takes time and practice to perfectly tilt the pan in a circular motion to spread your batter evenly around the pan. First, I recommend pouring no more than 1/4 cup of crepe batter. Next, make sure the crepe pan is very hot – preheat over medium heat for a few minutes.
- Then, tilt and swirl the pan in a circular motion at the same time you pour the batter – as you see me do in the picture above. The faster you tilt and rotate the pan, the better the crepe batter spread. As a result, it will cover the crepe pan surface with a thin layer that results in the most beautiful thin, and crispy French crepes.
Cooking The Crepe
Once the crepe is lightly brown, use an offset spatula to loosen the sides and flip the crepe. Finally, keep cooking the crepe on the other side for 1 minute.
Store the cooked crepes on a plate and repeat with the remaining batter.
Tips For Perfect Crepes
So what are the tricks on how to make a perfectly thin and crispy French crepe? Let me tell you my secrets.
Choosing The French Crepe Pan
The skillet you use makes a big difference in how the crepe will cook and how thin you can spread the batter.
You must use a non-stick pan for the best results.
It will work in a regular pan, but you will never get such a thin crepe.
Otherwise, use a pancake griddle, but it is more difficult to create beautiful round-shaped crepes on a griddle.
How To Fold A French Crepe
After you cook the crepe, bring it to a plate, add fillings and toppings and fold it.
Most French people roll their crepes, and we eat them with our fingers. Restaurant chefs folded crepes in a triangle shape.
But whether you fold or roll, always add the fillings in the open crepes.
Then put the crepe back into the pan to melt and warm the filling before folding and serving them. Here you go! You now know everything about authentic French crepes!
However, don’t hesitate to ask me more by leaving a comment! I will love to help you design your best crepe parties!
Sweet French Crepe Fillings
The most popular French crepe fillings are not quite healthy as French people love sweet crepe recipes!
But you can put any number of toppings on a French crepe. The typical amount is 1 to 4.
1. A Spread
The most commonly used on their own or associated with other ingredients are:
- Icing sugar
- Sugar or erythritol for a sugar-free topping
- Jam – strawberry, blueberry, apricot, or use my sugar-free chia seed jam for a healthier twist
- Fruit puree – often apple compote
- Honey or maple syrup or sugar-free syrup
- A chocolate spread – Nutella is the most popular chocolate hazelnut spread sold in France. For a healthier, sugar-free Nutella, check out my sugar-free Nutella recipe.
- Peanut butter – homemade or natural peanut butter.
2. Dry Ingredients
- Coconut
- Sliced almonds
- Sugar or powdered sugar
- Cinnamon
3. Other Sweet Crepes Fillings
- Fruits – fresh fruits like fresh berries and bananas are often associated with chocolate spreads or cooked apples with cinnamon and sugar.
- Spirit – French crepes with Grand Marnier are very popular. It is a crepe filled with crystal sugar and then covered with the French spirit Grand Marnier. The crepe is then flambeed and served hot. It is a very spectacular dessert in French restaurants. Other alcohols used in crepes are Cognac in combo with apples. Try my Crepe Suzette Recipe for all the details!
- Whipped cream or cream cheese
Savory Crepe Fillings
If you prefer your crepe savory, there are many ways of making a delicious salty breakfast or lunch with this recipe.
Prepare your crepes and fill them with:
- Smoked Salmon, Crème Fraiche, and Dill: place the salmon and crème on your cooked crepe while still on the hot pan, fold the sides, and add the dill just before serving.
- Bacon, Sour Cream, and Onions: Cooked the bacon on another pan, spread the sour cream on the crepe, add the bacon and sliced onions. Cook for about a minute and serve.
- Ham and Cheese: Place some of your favorite cheese on the crepe still on the hot pan, add a layer of sliced ham, and spread some more cheese. Fold the crepe in half and cook for another minute.
- Egg Crepe: Prepare a sunny side up egg, place it on the crepe (still on the pan), and add a touch of bearnaise sauce or my 3-Ingredient Alfredo Sauce.
- Mushroom Crepe: This is my favorite version. Prepare my Mushroom Sauce and pour it on the middle of the crepe, cook for another minute, and serve hot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find below my answers to the most common questions on this crepe recipe.
French people eat crepes anytime for afternoon tea, birthdays, and breakfast but always with many friends or family members. We invite friends to crepes parties all the time.
French loves eating crepes as a social thing. In France, some families have a crepe-party maker that allows six people to sit around the table, and everyone can cook their small crepes in front of them.
It is a fun simple food that gathers everyone around the table and welcomes creativity as anyone can add their favorite crepe fillings.
You can make the French Crepe Batter with a blender instead of using an electric beater. Make sure to blend on low or medium speed.
Yes, you can make this crepe recipe without a mixer, it works just as well with a hand whisk.
The best crepe recipe must make soft, sweet, flexible crepes with a hint of vanilla and a neutral taste to accommodate all fillings.
I strongly feel like this recipe is the best. I’ve never tried one that makes French crepes as authentic as this one.
And I know I’m not the only one with more than five hundred 5-star ratings, you have decided this is the best recipe!
Making a crepe cake with this recipe is very simple! Stack eight to 10 crepes and add any of your favorite fillings in between them.
You can then top them up with fresh fruits and a raspberry jam.
This recipe is perfect when filled with sweet ingredients, but you can absolutely make a version with savory fillings for brunch.
Add spinach, pan-fried mushrooms, grilled chicken, tomato slices, and fresh cheese like ricotta for delicate savory crepes.
Each year on February 2 is what French people call ‘La Chandeleur’ – Candlemas in English – or the day when a whole country eats crepes!
It is a tradition, and most French families will eat French crepes for the occasion.
No one knows for sure why crepes are associated with a once-religious holiday, but there are a few hypotheses.
It is possible that crepes – essentially large and thin pancakes – symbolize a round, yellow sun coming back after the winter.
Another possibility is that it’s around that time that winter wheat harvests happen. If flour was made in too large batches, making crepes was a way to use it.
It is such a deeply rooted tradition that I still make crepes on that day even though I moved to New Zealand years ago. The tradition says that we must eat them only after 8 pm.
More Crêpe Recipes
If you like simple, healthy, authentic crepes recipes, you’ll also love these:
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French Crêpe Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cup White Wheat Flour
- 3 Eggs
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
- 1 tablespoon Vanilla Extract optional
- 1 teaspoon White Sugar optional
- 2 cups Milk
- 2 tablespoons Unsalted Butter melted or vegetable oil of your choice
Instructions
- In a large bowl, add the flour, eggs, salt, vanilla extract, melted butter, and sugar if used.
- Using a whisk or electric mixer, beat in the milk gradually until a smooth batter forms with no lumps.
- Heat a lightly buttered crepe pan over medium/high heat.
- Pour or scoop the batter onto the pan, then tip and rotate the pan to spread the batter as thinly as possible.
- Cook until lightly brown on both sides – about 1-2 minutes on each side and serve hot with your favorite fillings.
Notes
Want My Kitchen Equipment?
About The Author
Hi, I'm Carine, the food blogger, author, recipe developer, published author of a cookbook and many ebooks, and founder of Sweet As Honey.
I have an Accredited Certificate in Nutrition and Wellness obtained in 2014 from Well College Global (formerly Cadence Health). I'm passionate about sharing all my easy and tasty recipes that are both delicious and healthy. My expertise in the field comes from my background in chemistry and years of following a keto low-carb diet. But I'm also well versed in vegetarian and vegan cooking since my husband is vegan.
I now eat a more balanced diet where I alternate between keto and a Mediterranean Diet
Cooking and Baking is my true passion. In fact, I only share a small portion of my recipes on Sweet As Honey. Most of them are eaten by my husband and my two kids before I have time to take any pictures!
All my recipes are at least triple tested to make sure they work and I take pride in keeping them as accurate as possible.
Browse all my recipes with my Recipe Index.
I hope that you too find the recipes you love on Sweet As Honey!
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Thank you so much for this wonderful recipe!
My pleasure I am so glad you enjoy the crepes. XOXO Carine.
Thank you for sharing this recipe. My granddaughter loves for me to make these whenever she spends the night. We make homemade lemon curd for the rilling and top with fresh whipped cream and fresh strawberries. That is her favorite. When we can’t get fresh fruit, we make a simple compote. So delicious.
What a lovely story! I love the filling you re using for those crepes, lemon curd is SO good! Thanks so much for sharing with me. XOXO Carine.
Just like the ones I had in Rouen!! They are so good! Thank you for sharing your recipe! It is like being in France again!!
My pleasure! I love Rouen, such a beautiful city. Enjoy the recipes on the blog. XOXO Carine.
I am allergic to eggs and I’ve been looking for a recipe that works well with an egg substitute for a long time and this recipe is the one! Taste great and perfect with both sweet and savoury fillings!
I am so glad to hear that! Otherwise I also have an egg free crepe recipe if you like ! Enjoy the recipes on the blog 🙂 Carine.
Thank you for this recipe, this is soooo goood!
Amazing! I am so happy you love them 🙂 Enjoy the blog recipes. XOXO Carine.
Tried this today and had never made crepes before. Great recipe and so glad I found this!! Thank you!! Turned out yummy 🙂
That made my day! I love when my recipes makes people happy 🙂 Enjoy all the crepes recipes on the blog I have got plenty of healthier options too like chickpea flour crepes or buckwheat flour crepes! Delicious with savory fillings too. XOXO Carine.
My mother is allergic to wheat and a bunch of other things and possibly coconut. I wanted to know if you knew any good recipes without wheat in them, I trust this recipe so I would trust your judgment on what other good recipes there are without wheat.
Sure! I have got plenty of wheat free crepes recipe on my blog. You can try the almond flour crepes, the chickpea flour crepes ( egg free too), the coconut flour crepes or the buckwheat flour crepes – egg free too. All of those crepes recipes are gluten free, wheat free (buckwheat is wheat free, yes) and some are egg free as well. If you said she might be allergic to coonut probably don’t make the coconut flour one of course ! Enjoy all the crepes recipes on the blog. Love to you and your mother. XOXO Carine.
Can I make the batter the night before so it’s ready to cook in the morning?
Yes you can. My mum always did that when I was a kid. It works perfectly. Enjoy the crepes. XOXO Carine.
Hi there, excited to make these this morning. Wondering if I can sub the regular flour for almond flour? Thank you.
No, you can’t use the exact same recipe and just swap flour but you can use my almond flour crepe recipe to use your almond flour.
About how much batter should be poured into the 10″ pan to thinly cover the bottom? My ladle may be larger. I tried to make them once, but they were too thick and doughy. 🙁
You need about 1/3 cup of batter but you can prepare 1/2 cup, pour it gradually while you tilt the pan and stop when it is fully covered and the desired thickness. Like for pancakes, crepes can be thin or thicker, depending on taste. Both works well, it is just longer to cook if thicker. You know it is ready when the border are crispy and lift from the crepe pan by itself. Enjoy ! XOXO Carine.
What if you don’t have a crepe pan.
Hi, You can cook this batter in any non stick frying pan, the same that you will use for a pancake recipe. Enjoy! XOXO Carine.
Delish.! I used 4 packets of Truvia in place of ja sugar
Awesome sugar free idea! Love it !!! Thanks for sharing here. XOXO Carine.
Can I premake batter the night before and store it in the fridge until ready to use in the morning?
Sure ! It won’t be a problem but make sure you store the batter in a plastic airtight container. My mum was doing that all the time as a kid, works perfectly. In the morning, give a good stir in the batter, see if it is thicker, it shouldn’t be if it is add few tablespoon extra milk. Cook as usual, you won’t see the difference. Also, you can pre cook all your crepes the day before, store in the fridge on a plate covered with plastic wrap and rewarm in the pan in the morning. Enjoy the french crepes recipe. A bientot! Carine.
First timer, breakfast on Valentine’s Day, huge hit with the wife. Thank you so much.
What a beautiful comment <3 I send you both lots of love! Thanks for trying my recipes. XOXO. Carine.
Carine hello from India
Please tell me,can I use whole wheat flour instead of all purpose flour?
Sure you can but you may need to adjust your milk amount – add a bit more to reach the same dough consistency. Wholewheat contain more fibre that soak up liquid. The batter will be thicker and more difficult to cook in the crepe pan. Enjoy, XOXO Carine.
I saw a friend share this recipe and knew I had to try it! My husband, 3.5 year old and 1.5 year old DEVOURED them! So simple to prepare and easy to make. I was worried about the flip, but it was never an issue! I’m currently eating one wrapped with bacon as I type this. Yummmm……
Thanks alo0t for this recipe <3 they turned out great 'n yummy
Thanks for the lovely comment ! I am happy you loved them 🙂 Thanks for reading the blog and making my recipes XOXO Carine.
Thanks for sharing this lovely recipe. We are British and love French recipes. Those crepes really taste great, the bets recipe I made for few years and super easy. I can’t wait to make it again.
You are so mice, thanks for this lovely comment. I am so happy when people take few minutes to share a positive comment about my recipe <3 xoxo Carine.
Can I use almond milk?
Sure, any milk will work. Enjoy the crepes! xoxo Carine.
love love love this recipe, made millions times and always a success !
WOW Carine, those are the best crepes recipe I ever made form US. I have been in Paris long time ao and those taste the same as the authentic French crepes I had there! Merci beaucoup. Love, Sam.
Found this on Pinterest. Made them and they were super easy to make and wonderfully delicious!!!!