Crepes Recipe Martha Stewart Recipes Recipe Cards

SWEETENED CREPES

Steps:

• Puree milk, eggs, butter, flour, sugar and a pinch of salt in a blender until smooth, about 1 minute. Pour into a bowl, cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours and up to 1 day.
• Whisk batter until smooth. Heat a 10-inch nonstick skillet or crepe pan over medium heat (pan should measure 8 inches across the bottom of the skillet) and brush with butter. Tilt skillet at a 45 degree angle, pour in a scant 1/4 cup batter, and swirl to evenly distribute in a thin film across the bottom. Cook until edges of crepe turn golden, 45 seconds to 1 minute. Flip and cook just until set, about 30 seconds more. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Repeat with remaining batter, whisking between crepes, buttering pan every other crepe, and stacking finished crepes. Cool completely.

CLASSIC CREPES

Steps:

• Sift flour and salt into a large bowl. Whisk together milk and eggs in a medium bowl. Pour milk mixture into flour mixture, whisking to combine. Whisk in butter. Strain mixture into a medium bowl, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (or up to 1 day). Batter should be the consistency of heavy cream; add more milk if needed.
• Heat an 8- or 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat, and brush with butter. Ladle or pour 3 tablespoons batter (for small crepes) or 1/3 cup batter (for large crepes) into pan, turning and tilting skillet to coat bottom evenly with batter. Cook until top of crepe appears set, bottom is firm and golden brown in spots, and center is lifted by pockets of air, about 1 minute.
• Run a spatula around edge of crepe to loosen. Slip spatula under crepe, and gently flip in one swift gesture. (If it doesn't land quite right, that's okay; use the spatula to unfold or rearrange it.) Cook until bottom is firm and golden brown in spots, about 45 seconds. Transfer to a plate, and cover. (The first one will not be your finest.) Repeat with remaining batter, brushing pan lightly with butter as needed (every 2 or 3 crepes). Serve immediately.

SIMPLE CREPES

Steps:

• In a blender, puree flour, sugar, salt, milk, eggs, and butter until smooth, about 30 seconds. Refrigerate for 30 minutes or up to 1 day; stir for a few seconds before using.
• Heat an 8-inch nonstick skillet over medium. Lightly coat with butter. Quickly pour 1/4 cup batter into center of skillet, tilting and swirling pan until batter evenly coats bottom. Cook until crepe is golden in places on bottom and edges begin to lift from pan, 1 to 1 1/2 minutes. Lift one edge of crepe with an offset spatula, then use your fingers to gently flip crepe. Cook on second side until just set and golden in places on bottom, about 45 seconds. Slide crepe onto a paper towel-lined plate.
• Repeat with remaining batter, coating pan with more butter as needed, and stacking crepes directly on top of one another. Let cool to room temperature before using, wrapping in plastic wrap and refrigerating up to 5 days, or freezing up to 1 month.

SAVORY CREPES

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in a blender until smooth, about 1 minute. Pour into a bowl, cover and refrigerate, at least 2 hours or up to 1 day.
• Whisk batter until smooth. Heat a 10-inch nonstick skillet (pan should measure 8 inches across the bottom) or crepe pan over medium and brush with butter. Tilt skillet at a 45 degree angle, pour in a scant 1/4 cup batter, and swirl to evenly distribute in a thin film across the bottom. Cook until edges of crepe pull away from pan and turn golden, about 1 minute. Flip and cook just until set, about 30 seconds more. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Repeat with remaining batter, whisking between crepes, buttering pan every few crepes, and stacking finished crepes. Cool completely.

DESSERT CREPES

Steps:

• Place milk, vanilla, and rum in blender. Add yolks, sugar, salt, flour, and then butter. Blend on high speed for 30 seconds. Scrape sides of blender; blend 30 seconds more. Transfer batter to an airtight container; refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight. Brush a 6 1/2-to-7-inch crepe pan or nonstick skillet with oil. Heat on medium until just starting to smoke. Remove pan from heat; quickly pour 2 tablespoons of batter into middle of pan.
• Quickly (in 2 to 3 seconds) tilt pan in all directions so the batter covers entire bottom in a thin layer. Return pan to heat for about 1 minute. Jerk pan sharply back and forth to loosen the crepe.
• Lift edges with a spatula; if underside is golden brown, turn crepe by using two spatulas or by flipping crepe with a toss of the pan.
• Cook about 30 seconds more, until spotty brown. Slide crepe onto a plate. Grease pan again with oil, heat to just smoking, and repeat with remaining batter. To keep warm, cover with an ovenproof dish in a 200 degrees oven. Or make up to a day in advance; reheat, covered with foil, in a 300 degrees oven until warm.

VEGAN CREPES

Steps:

• Combine milk, flour, oil, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a blender; process until smooth and combined. Refrigerate until cool and thickened slightly, at least 30 minutes and up to 1 day.
• Heat a 10-inch nonstick skillet (pan should measure 8-inches across the bottom) over medium, and brush with oil. Pour a scant 1/4 cup batter into pan, turning and tilting skillet to coat bottom evenly. Cook until top of crepe appears set, bottom is firm and golden brown in spots, and edges lift from pan, 1 to 2 minutes. (If batter is too thick and does not spread evenly to edges of pan, whisk in more milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, to reach desired consistency.)
• Slip a spatula under crepe, and gently flip in one swift gesture. (Use the spatula to unfold or rearrange crepe, as needed.) Cook until bottom is firm and golden brown in spots and edges are crisp, 30 to 45 seconds. Transfer to a plate, and cover. Repeat with remaining batter, brushing pan lightly with oil every 2 or 3 crepes, or as needed. Stack crepes and keep covered to keep them tender and pliable.

FRENCH CREPES

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, sift together flour and salt. Make a well in the center. Whisk together milk, eggs, and egg yolk in a medium bowl. Pour milk mixture into the center of the well, slowly whisking in flour mixture from the sides of the well. Add 2 tablespoons clarified butter, and whisk to combine.
• Strain mixture through a fine mesh sieve into a mixing bowl. Cover with plastic wrap, and chill in refrigerator for 30 minutes.
• Remove the batter from the refrigerator. Heat a 6-inch crepe pan or nonstick frying pan over medium-high heat. Brush with clarified butter, and heat until very hot. Add a couple of tablespoons of batter, turning and swirling the batter in the pan to completely coat. Cook until brown on the bottom, 1 to 2 minutes. Flip crepe with a spatula, and cook until golden brown on the other side, about 1 minute. Repeat with remaining batter. As you continue, you will need to use less butter in the crepe pan.

SPINACH-GRUYERE GATEAU DE CREPES

Steps:

• Make the bechamel: Place onion and butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat, and cook until onion is translucent and softened, about 5 minutes. Add flour, and cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes. Whisk in milk in a slow, steady stream. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture has thickened, about 5 minutes. Add 1 cup Gruyere, and stir until cheese melts. Remove from heat, add nutmeg, and season with salt and pepper.
• To assemble: Heat oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add garlic, and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 2 minutes. Add spinach, and cook, stirring occasionally, until wilted, about 2 minutes. Add red-pepper flakes, and season with salt, pepper, and a squeeze of lemon. Let cool slightly. Squeeze out any excess liquid, and coarsely chop.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Reserve 2 tablespoons of bechamel. Mix remaining bechamel and spinach in a medium bowl. Butter a rimmed baking sheet. Place 1 crepe on center of sheet, and top with 3 tablespoons spinach mixture, spreading evenly. Top with another crepe, then 3 tablespoons spinach mixture. Repeat with remaining crepes and spinach mixture, ending with a crepe. Spread reserved bechamel on top, and sprinkle with remaining cup cheese. Bake until cheese melts and turns golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool slightly, then transfer gateau de crepes to a platter. Cut into wedges, and serve warm.

BUTTERED CREPES WITH CARAMEL AND PECANS

Steps:

• Place cinnamon, cloves, milk, eggs, salt, sugar, vanilla, and flour in the jar of a blender or bowl of a food processor. Blend or process until smooth, stopping machine once to scrape down the sides with a spatula.
• Melt 1 tablespoon butter. With the machine running, pour in melted butter. Let stand 2 hours before using. Mixture should have consistency of heavy cream. If it is too thick, add a little water to thin it out.
• Place a 7-inch skillet or crepe pan over medium to medium-high heat. Brush pan lightly with oil. Add 1/4 cup batter and quickly swirl to coat the bottom of the pan; immediately pour any excess batter back into blender jar.
• Cook until edges begin to dry, 45 seconds to 1 minute. Loosen edges with a knife and trim off jagged edges. Using a spatula, turn crepes, continue cooking until golden brown, about 1 minute more; transfer to a plate. Repeat process with remaining batter, stacking each crepe on top of one another as you work.
• Place remaining 8 tablespoons butter in a medium skillet over medium-low heat. Add pecans and toast, stirring frequently, until nuts are toasted and butter is browned, about 10 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer nuts to a small bowl; reserve browned butter.
• Butter a large baking dish and set aside. Lay a crepe flat on work surface and brush with browned butter. Place a scant tablespoon goat milk caramel on one side. Fold in half and press to gently spread out filling. Brush one side with butter and fold in half again. Brush top side with butter and place in prepared baking dish. Repeat with remaining crepes and arrange each in the prepared baking dish in two layers, overlapping slightly. Cover with parchment-lined foil. Refrigerate until ready to serve, up until 1 day. Reserve any remaining caramel.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Place crepes in oven until warmed through, about 10 minutes. Place caramel in a small saucepan and heat over medium-low heat until warmed through. Drizzle over warmed crepes and sprinkle with toasted nuts. Serve immediately.