Desperate times call for desperate measures. What is a girl to do after a car breakdown at 6:30am on the way to work, followed by a day filled with equally frustrating circumstances? Find the first available vessel to deliver Nutella to one's mouth! This may not be Julia's way of enjoying crepes, but we surely enjoy them this way. The first time we had Nutella and fruit in a crepe was at the L.A. Farmer's Market in Los Angeles, CA. We became regular visitors throughout our time in California. Conveniently, I already had crepe batter prepared and ready to use in my refrigerator, so the day was not a complete bust. I may not have a vehicle anymore, but I do have crepes. I will survive.
PrintFrench Crepes (Pâte à Crêpes)
- Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Yield: 10-12 crepes 1x
Ingredients
- 1 cup cold water
- 1 cup cold milk
- 4 eggs
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ cups flour
- 4 tablespoons melted butter
Instructions
Prepare the Batter:
- Put the water, milk, eggs, and salt into blender or food processor. Add the flour, then the butter. Cover and blend at top speed for 1 minute. If bits of flour adhere to the sides of the blender, scrape down sides with rubber spatula and blend for a few seconds more. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight. (Note: The batter should be a very light cream, just thick enough to coat a wooden spoon If, after making your first crêpe, it seems too heavy, beat in a bit of water, a spoonful at a time. Your cooked crêpe should be about 1/16 inch thick.)
Method for Making Crêpes:
- Brush or spray skillet or crêpe pan with cooking oil. Set over medium-high heat until the pan is just beginning to smoke.
- Immediately remove from heat and, holding handle of pan in your right hand, pour with your left hand a scant ¼ cup of batter into the middle of the pan. Quickly tilt the pan in all directions to run the batter all over the bottom of the pan in a thin film. (Pour any batter that does not adhere to the pan back into your bowl; adjust the amount for your next crêpe accordingly.) This whole operation takes 2 to 3 seconds.
- Return the pan to heat for 60 to 80 seconds. Then jerk and toss pan sharply back and forth and up and down to loosen the crêpe. Lift its edges with a spatula and if the under side is a nice light brown, the crêpe is ready for turning.
- Gently, using a spatula or by grasping the edges with your finger, turn the crêpe over and brown lightly for 30 seconds.
- As they are done, slide the crêpes onto a rack and let cool several minutes before stacking on a plate.
- Grease the skillet again, heat to just smoking, and proceed with the rest of the crêpes.
Notes
Note: Scorched and messy crepes can be very frustrating. Until you get lots of practice and are very comfortable with your technique, I recommend cooking the crepes at a lower heat and taking plenty of time to make them. I've made lots of crepes and I still always prefer to add the batter to a slightly warm pan and then cook over medium-low heat. It takes longer, but the results are far more predictable and you don't have to throw away any crepes.
Adapted from: Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child, Simone Beck, and Louisette Bertholle
Dessert Crepes
Ingredients:
Prepared crepes, as directed above, originally posted here: Pâte à Crêpes (Crêpe Batter)
Nutella
Strawberry or banana slices
Whipped cream, optional.
Directions:
Heat crepe pan over low heat and warm up a prepared crepe in the pan. Gently spread a few tablespoons (or your desired amount) of Nutella on one half of the crepe. Allow to melt a bit, then top with sliced fruit. Gently fold over the crepe and remove to a serving plate. Top with whipped cream if desired.
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