Every year on February 2nd, we celebrate La Chandeleur in France with a huge crepe party. French crepes are thin, light, supple, and there is not shortage of toppings you can use on them.
Flip it like the French – discover my top 10 tips and tricks for a perfect crepes party:
1. Skip the batter resting time: in a crepe recipe, the batter usually needs to rest for a couple of hours before you proceed to the flippin’. If you don’t have so much time ahead, just gently heat the milk until lukewarm before mixing it with the flour. This way, you can use the batter straight away.
2. No lumps: to avoid lumps, simply sift your flour beforehand.
3. The secret: to enhance the taste of your sweet crepes, add a tablespoon of Grand Marnier, Kirsch, Cognac or Rum in the dough.
4. To get a light texture: for light crepes, replace the milk with beer or cider in the dough. Do not worry if you don’t like alcohol, the alcohol evaporates when cooking.
5. Flavor the crepes batter: have fun flavoring your crepes, adding some cinnamon in the dough, vanilla, orange blossom, lemon or orange zest.
6. Spice things up: to give your crepes a pretty orange color and a subtle taste, infuse 1/4 teaspon saffron with a tablespoon of cognac or rum, and use it in your batter. You can also grate a tonka bean instead.
7. Find your favorite topping: powdered sugar, honey with lemon, melted chocolate or chocolate spread, jam, salted caramel … there are many ways to garnish your crepes! You can even make them in a savory version (just remember not to sweeten your pancake batter in this case).
8. Flip it like the French: flipping the crepes is a very fun French tradition. Can you do it too? ; -) Send us your videos (best in slow motion)
9. Roll, fold and style: you can simply wrap your pancakes and enjoy them as they are, fold them in four, or shape them into beggar’s purses, etc.
10. Serve with a bowl of cider: the French tradition calls for a bowl of cider to drink while enjoying the crepes. For kids, just serve a glass of milk or a hot chocolate.
It’s now time for some inspiration with a few crepes recipes from the blog with different topping ideas. Because we all need a basic crepes recipe, I will start with this one. Then of course there are many others to try. Enjoy and have fun. You will soon master the French crepes as well!
1. Easy French Crepes.
My very best way to enjoy crepes is with sugar and lemon juice. Quite simple, right? The crepes have to be very thin, light, and supple.
2. French crepes Suzette.
Crepe Suzette is a classic French crepe recipe served with a delicious orange (or mandarin) butter and flambé with Grand Marnier.
3. Chocolate mango-coco filled beggar’s purses.
Elegant crepes with a hint of exoticism and wrapped into a lovely purse!
4. Vegan chocolate crepes + caramel sauce.
Perfect thin vegan chocolate crepes made with just a few ingredients and served with a quick and easy homemade caramel sauce. To die for!
5. Saffron-Rum Crepes.
Add some extra taste to your crepes with this subtle version combining saffron and rum together. Sprinkle sugar on top or enjoy flambe with rum!
6. Brittany crepes with goat cheese and salted caramel apples.
A surprising sweet and savory combo. Between cheese and dessert, you don’t need to choose anymore!
7. Chocolate hazelnut spread “Newtella”.
Much better than the leader brand on the market, this homemade chocolate hazelnut spread is palm oil free!
8. Foolproof Dulce de Leche.
Dulce de leche is a thick, creamy caramel sauce made with condensed milk and sugar. This foolproof method is NOT the traditional recipe but it gives the best results with a minimal amount of time and attention.
9. Spiced Pumpkin Butter.
Spiced pumpkin spice butter is wonderful spread on crepes.
10. Healthy pecan spread (dairy free, no added sugar).
A healthier spread with pecans. Just delicious!
You can also make an American crepe party instead, using pancakes instead of crepes: discover my perfect fluffy American pancakes recipe, my lemon and poppy seed pancakes, and even my vegan pink pancakes!
- Easy fluffy American pancakes
- Vegan pink beet pancakes
- Healthy 3 ingredients pancakes
- Lemon poppy seed yogurt pancakes
Between crepes and pancakes, it is just a matter of taste and preferred texture (thin and supple, or thick and fluffy). You can garnish both of them the way you like. Whatever the one you choose, I wish you all a happy crepe party!
Pauline says
February 2, 2017 at 2:04 pmJe ne suis pas douée : ce soir je vais au restau avec des copines francaises et on a raté que c’était la chandeleur quand on a réservé il y a quelques semaines, donc on va dans un restau italien, mais maintenant j’ai carrément envie de crêpes moi!! 😀
Bon bah on fera ca ce week-end alors!! Merci pour les idées!
Delphine Fortin says
February 2, 2017 at 11:17 pmHehe, te voilà plus suédoise que francaise désormais, à en oublier la Chandeleur 😉 J’espère que vous avez passé une bonne soirée italienne, et ne t’inquiète pas, les crêpes c’est toute l’année après tout!
Pauline says
February 3, 2017 at 2:09 pmOui c’était très sympa, mais j’ai dit à Mattias que ce week-end, il y avait forcément un repas crêpes! 🙂
ke says
February 3, 2017 at 11:20 pmHello,
Super ces petits conseils :-). J’adore tes photos, elles donnent vraiment envie.
Bonne soirée
Delphine Fortin says
February 3, 2017 at 11:42 pmOh merci beaucoup, je suis ravie que mes conseils et mes crêpes te plaisent. Très bon week-end à toi! 🙂
ttmp says
February 3, 2018 at 1:58 amThe first crepe is called “mom’s crepe” as well. Kids don’t like to eat an ugly crepe: Mommy is sure to eat at least one!
Delphine Fortin says
February 3, 2018 at 4:58 amHehe, I always call it the “me” crepe! For me it’s the first/ugly one that tastes better 🙂