Perfect Homemade Crepes (2024)

Learn how to make homemade crepes without any special equipment needed! This easy recipe makes delicate, buttery, and wonderful crepes, perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dessert. Either savory or sweet – the possibilities for filling them are practically endless!

Once you’ve made this crepe recipe, put them to good use in our favorite cheese blintz recipe!

Several years ago, I bought a great little travel book, Are we there yet? which was a lifesaver while on a 12-hour car ride with the kids. Part of it included a bunch of tongue twisters. That was so much fun, we started making up our own. Mine was Clara Cooked Crispy Crepes. Say that 10 times fast!

It inspired me to make up a batch when we got home and I’ve been making them regularly ever since.

What is a crepe?

Crepes are essentially very thin pancakes, made from pouring a thin batter into a hot buttered nonstick skillet. The sweet and savory options are practically endless. This crepe recipe is basic in the sense that it’s simple, but it’s definitely not boring. Something about them tastes so special – maybe because of their delicate nature, and the fact that they’re not as commonly made as regular pancakes or waffles.

Crepe Recipe Ingredients

For these easy crepes you’ll only need 6 basic ingredients (scroll down for ingredient amounts, directions, and print option.)

• Eggs – eggs are a key ingredient in crepes, since they bind the batter together.
• Milk – I like to use whole milk, which makes the crepes a little thicker. 2% works great, too, if you want them thinner.
• Flour – All-purpose flour works for perfectly delicate (and non-chewy) crepes.
• Sugar – just a little sugar gives crepes a subtle sweet flavor and also lends to their tender nature.
• Salt – this brings out the flavor so they aren’t dull. Don’t skip it!
• Butter – some say butter is optional, but I really disagree. Butter not only prevents the crepes from sticking to the pan, but it adds richness to the overall flavor.

Do I Need a Special Crepe Maker or Crepe Pan?

Years ago when I was intimated to make crepes for the first time, I bought a crepe maker. I think I used it twice – it didn’t make the process easier or the crepes taste differently. If you’ve got a good quality 10-inch nonstick pan, you are set. Some even use a blender to make the batter, but a bowl and whisk does the job just fine. Don’t waste your money on special equipment!

How to Make Crepes

Scroll below for the easy printable recipe card and don’t miss the video for visual guidance. Here are some important tips for the best crepes:

• Let batter rest for 20 minutes. Just like when you let bread rise, this helps gluten develop, which results in more tender crepes.
• Use a non-stick pan to ensure even heating and no sticking.
• Cook over medium heat. If the heat is too low, the crepes will take too long to cook. If the heat is too high, they could burn.
• Use butter for the pan instead of nonstick spray or oil. Butter adds richness to the crepes and gives them the best flavor.
• Use a 1/4 cup measuring cup so each crepe is the same size and thickness, and they cook at the same rate.
• Tilt and swirl. Unlike pancake batter that gets ladled into the pan and you wait for bubbles to form, crepes require you to immediately start swirling the batter, making sure they’re thin and cook evenly, not just in the center. Don’t let this part intimidate you! Watch the video for help.

Ideas for Crepe Filling

You can serve crepes rolled, folded, or stacked. Warm or cold. And the possibilities for topping and filling them are practically endless. Here are some of my favorites:

• Homemade whipped cream and fresh berries
• Top with a dollop of homemade raspberry jam or lemon curd
• Spread with a little cinnamon honey butter
• Serve with pan fried honey bananas
• Filled with homemade Ricotta cheese and honey
• Drizzle with some chocolate sauce
• Use this coconut cream pie dip, cannoli dip, or tiramisu dip as a filling for a fantastic dessert!
• Or fill them with the absolute best scrambled eggs!

You can also use crepes to make our cheese blintzes. They are heavenly!

How to store crepes

There are never leftovers when I make crepes, but you can store extras or make a double batch so you have some for later!

If you want to make the crepes ahead of time and store them for later, wait for them to cool, stack (with pieces of parchment paper in between to prevent sticking), and place in a resealable plastic bag. They will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for up to 2 months.

When defrosting them, thaw on a rack before gently peeling apart. To reheat, microwave each crepe for about 15 seconds each.

Crepe Recipe Video

I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full onFacebook,Instagram,Pinterest, andYouTube!