Make these vanilla crepes at home for a delicious French-style breakfast or dessert! Learn easy technique how to make French crepes at home in a regular frying pan!
Crepes.... so many childhood memories are tied to them. Sometimes I think I make them out of nostalgia for my long gone youth. 🙂 These homemade vanilla crepes certainly accomplish the job of comforting anyone who is lucky to taste them. Who could refuse a sweet French crepe for breakfast and/or dessert?
Especially if you stuff these crepes with ricotta cheese and blueberries or with with apple-cinnamon filling, just like an apple pie! , or just eat them plain, with a cup of sweetened tea or coffee. Dust the crepes with some powdered sugar if you like. They make great comfort food.
These crepes are made using a regular stainless steel frying pan and a non-stick spray. No need for a special crepe maker. Make sure to measure the flour properly, by sifting it first, so that your batter consistency is just right (on the thinner side). Because these are vanilla crepes, you can literally just eat them plain, dusting them with confectionary sugar, or by folding in your favorite fruit preserves. These crepes go especially well with cherry preserves!
Homemade Vanilla Crepes
Ingredients
- 2 cups milk
- 1 ⅓ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (or, up to 1 tablespoon – for more pronounced flavor)
Instructions
- Mix all those ingredients in a large bowl and whisk the mixture until lumps dissolve.
- Heat frying pan until very hot (on high heat on stove top), spray it with a non-stick spray and, using a soup ladle, pour small amount of batter into the frying pan as you roll the pan from side to side just enough to cover the bottom of the pan evenly with a thin layer of crepe batter. Depending on the size of your soup ladle, you could use a whole ladle-ful, or less. It also depends on the diameter of your skillet. The key is to cover the bottom of the pan with just a slightly thick layer of batter, don’t coat it too thickly.
- Let this thin layer of crepe batter cook for 1,2 or 3 minutes, depending on your pan (the subsequent crepes will require much less time to cook than the first time as the pan heats up even more), then flip the crepe to the other side and let it cook for another minute on the other side. This way, you cook each crepe 1-2 minutes on each side. To flip the crepe, pick up the sides of the crepe around its circumference, gradually reaching towards the center of the crepe from all sides, until the crepe separates from the pan. How to know when it’s time to flip the crepe? When you pour the batter, it will be wet in the frying pan but gradually bubbles will be forming and batter will start to dry. When it’s all bubbles and no liquid batter – it’s time to flip! You can see it on my photos below.
- Your subsequent crepes might require much less time to cook, and the more of them you have to make, the faster you will have to flip the crepes, because the frying pan will get more and more heated up. When you cook crepes, your frying pan is always on high heat. This will minimize sticking.
- As each crepe gets done, transfer it to the plate and add each new crepe on top of previous crepe in the stack. Sometimes I like to brush each crepe with softened butter and then top it with the next one.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer:
The nutritional information on this website is only an estimate and is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed. It should not be used as a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Julia, crepes remind me of my childhood, too. Yours look divine...so perfectly browned with the slightly ruffled edges! When I made some a couple weeks ago, I realized my technique was very rusty...LOL...think I need some more practice!
I am one of those people who love crepes but can't make them 🙂 I tried few times and gave up, my grandma knows how to make them ! :)))
You are speaking my language! Mmmm crepes. When I lived in Paris there was a crepe stand right at the entrance of my Metro stop, and, try as I might, I couldn't resist getting a simple beurre sucre crepe after work.
My grandmother gave me her crepe pan, so I really have no excuse not to try these!
So simple and yet so elegant!
These are perfect crepes, so delicate and fantastic looking.
Great recipe!
We often make crepes too, and always in a regular frying pan (although I usually use an 8-inch one). Yours look fantastic! And you've reminded me it's way past due time for me to make some. 😉 Good stuff - thanks.
These are screaming for some chocolate hazelnut butter!
Your crepes look absolutely perfect! I've never made crepes (mostly out of fear - I don't have a crepe pan and I keep imagining disaster) but I do love eating them. Actually, 'adore' would be more of an appropriate word! I have a favourite creperie that I go to... they have a gorgeous Nutella crepe that ticks all the boxes. I will give this recipe a go (time to stop being a wimp!). Thanks!
I'm imagining a zillion things to do with these fabulous looking crepes. To start, I have a lovely bowl of fresh peaches that I would slice and serve with a bit of creme anglaise. Then ............... 🙂
I love all your crepes! I still really need to give them a go - they always look so delicious!
So simple and gorgeous. Love it!!
I have not been brave enough to try making crepes yet...they look so intimidating! Beautiful photos by the way!
Oh, I haven't made crepes like this for such a long time. They look so delicious and you have made them so perfectly. If I make pancakes, I tend to make Scotch pancakes. Have you tried them? Very different from crepes, but super tasty too. Here is my Scotch Pancake recipe. Let me know if you try it Julia 🙂
So evenly thin and perfect!
These are delicious!!! Lovely recipe! I need to try it soon 🙂 All time Russian favorites.
Oooh I love that these are vanilla crepes-I would totally try these with just a little powdered sugar!!