This basic crepe recipe, a French-style pancake can be filled with sweet or savory ingredients for a breakfast or lunch meal. Get creative with the fillings and turn your meal from ordinary to EXTRAordinary!
This recipe was originally published in 2014. It has been updated with new content.
Basic Crepe Recipe
Crepes are light and delicate ultra thin pancakes! Anytime you want a special breakfast or brunch keep these crepes in mind.
What I love about making crepes is that they are super easy to make the you can pretty much fill them with whatever you have in the refrigerator or pantry!
Plus, when I eat crepes they make me feel fancy, like I’m at a restaurant instead in my own kitchen!
How to make basic crepes from scratch
I don’t make crepes very often, but every time I whip up a batch I’m reminded how much we enjoy them!
We usually make them during the weekend when we’re lounging around with no where to rush off to. My son proudly reminded me that he made these for me for Mother’s Day a few years ago!
Whether or not you decide to make sweet or savory crepes, gather the following ingredients:
- All-purpose flour, sifted
- Salt
- Eggs
- Milk
- Water
- Vanilla extract (optional – add when making a sweet crepe)
- Butter (for skillet)
Whisk together all the ingredients until smooth, then heat butter on a medium high heat.
Add ¼ cup of batter and swirl batter in pan forming a thin circular pancake. Cook for about 2 minutes and flip to cook other side. Fill these babies up and enjoy!
Get creative with the crepe fillings!
Once you have a basic recipe you can really get creative with the filling.
Add sweet ingredients
- Pre-made fruit fillings like cherry or blueberry or make this homemade freezer apple pie filling
- Fresh fruits like bananas, diced apples – try a combination of berries like I made here
- Fresh whipped cream
- Puddings or sugar free lemon curd
- Nutella
- Berry Sauce
If you’re craving savory flavors
- Sautéed spinach, leeks or kale
- Mushrooms sautéed in butter
- Eggplant and mushrooms
- Crab
- Ham and cheese
Are you thinking of some of your own favorite ingredients you would fill crepes with?
Can you freeze crepes?
This recipe makes quite a few crepes and YES these can be frozen if you don’t use them all up once you make a batch.
Here are the steps to freeze:
- Cool completely
- Layer each crepe between a piece of parchment or wax paper
- Place in a freezer bag
- Freeze for up to two months
When you are ready to use the crepes place frozen bag in the refrigerator overnight. Each crepe can be warmed on a skillet over low heat or place in the microwave for 10-15 seconds. Fill with your favorite ingredients!
They’re great for a snack too! Fill them with your favorite yogurt or how about a little Nutella with some sliced bananas?
It’s a heavenly combination, and don’t forget the whipped cream!
Basic Crepe Recipe For Savory or Sweet Fillings
Learn to make crepes from scratch and add this to your favorite recipe list! These basic crepes can be filled with sweet or savory ingredients and enjoyed for breakfast, brunch or any special occasion.
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour, sifted
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 teaspoon vanilla (optional - add when making a sweet crepe)
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled
Directions
- In a large bowl whisk together eggs, milk, water, vanilla and butter. Sift in flour and salt and whisk all ingredients together until batter is smooth.
- Heat a skillet with oil or butter on a medium high heat. Add ¼ cup of batter and swirl batter in pan forming a thin circular pancake. Cook for about 2 minutes and flip to cook other side.
- Fill with ingredients of your choice.
Recipe Notes
Low Carb Crepes
The traditional crepes are only 7 carbs each, but it you want to try a grain-free crepes under 3 carbs each, then check out this low carb crepe recipe with ricotta cream.
Stephanie Pass
My family loves crepes. It’s a treat I like to make special for them. I love that your recipe doesn’t have sugar. It’s hard to find one without it. This looks so delicious!
Sandra Shaffer
Thanks, Stephanie! I think we put way too much sugar in our dishes just cause that’s what we’re used to. I’ve been cutting back in my recipes and no one notices, especially since the fruit has plenty of natural sugars!
Nicole Neverman
Lovely! I love crepes and your recipe is great. I’d love to have mine with fruit and cream, much like your photos 🙂 Great post.
Sandra Shaffer
Thanks, Nicole! With such gorgeous fresh berries right now, fruit is the way to go!
Katerina
I love crepes because they are so versatile! You can fill them with practically anything!
Sandra Shaffer
Isn’t that great about crepes?! What ever is in the refrigerator can go straight into the crepe!
Choc Chip Uru
Your crepes look fantastic 😀
The perfect weekend recipe!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Sandra Shaffer
Yes, crepes are great whenever you have time to enjoy, which is usually weekends for us!
Mary Ellen
I love crepes, these look really good!
Sandra Shaffer
Thank you, Mary! Now I’m craving something savory to fill them with!
christine
I always forget about crepes, thanks for the reminder. I love them. I was introduced to them on vacation, by a food truck, no less. Crepes filled w/ nutella and strawberry are my favorite.
Sandra Shaffer
I always forget about them too and it’s such a fun dish! Crepes do seem like a dish you would order while on vacation. Those food trucks are awesome!!
Heidy McCallum
I am loving the Crepes recipe and how colorful the presentation is! This is the perfect Summer Breakfast!!!
Sandra Shaffer
Thank you, Heidy! It was fun to make…and eat 😉
Mackayla Schmidt
I was wondering what you filled yours with? I was also wondering if you know how to make a nice cream cheese filling for them?:)
Sandra Shaffer
Hi Mackayla! You might want to try the filling I use to fill strawberries – https://www.thefoodieaffair.com/2012/04/19/green-chili-frittata-and-strawberries-with-fruit-dip/ or if that is too sweet best 8 Oz of cream cheese, 1/2 cup of powdered sugar with a teaspoon of vanilla together until it’s fluffy. Hope that helps!
Platter Talk
Thanks for this wonderful crepe post, we’ve never made them but certainly enjoy eating crepes. Will give this a try!
Jessica
I love crepes. They are so easy to make and so versatile!
Paula J Kanenberg
I think you have a typo, and mean add 1/4 cup of batter not butter…..
Sandra Shaffer
Yes! That’s correct. Thanks for letting me know!
Stephanie
I love making crepes, especially for brunch or special occasions! So easy to make too.
debi at Life Currents
These look delicious. I love crepes, and my husband makes them for me. I’ll be passing these along to him; I love that they have no sugar!
Lisa@Lisa's Dinnertime Dish
I’ve never made crepes before, but I need to make these soon!
Sandra Shaffer
Oooh, you are in for a treat! Yes, add these to your must try list!
Thomas BLG
I’m a sweet lover and I would probably fill these with chocolate.. but I need to eat healthier so this fruit version is a good alternative.. I will miss chocolate though!! Love crepes.
Michaela Kenkel
My daughter LOVES crepes!! She is going to be so excited when I make your recipe!!
Brandi Burgess
I always order crepes anytime I see them on a menu, but never tried to make them! I think I could do it!!! Thanks for the awesome recipe!
Sandra Shaffer
They’re so easy to make, promise! You can totally make these with no problem.
Julie
I love crepes but must admit that I’ve never made them. Your recipe looks so light and delicious!
Karen (Back Road Journal)
I can’t imagine anyone not loving a crepe…they are so light and delicious. I may be different from most, but the savory crepes are my favorite.
michele
I cant believe how easy you make these seem to be! I love crepes but have always thought they were so hard to make. Your step by step instructions make it seem really doable!
Punam's Indian recipe
Prepared your recipe at home. My family love it so much. It’s like a treat to for them.
Sandra Shaffer
So glad to hear this! Crepes are a treat, but we should make them more often.
Jennifer Stewart
I never really ate crepes until a friend of mine made them for me. Now I am totally hooked! Load them up with nutella and bananas!
Deb
I have always wanted to make crepes but it seems so complicated. Thank you for the great directions, I know I can make them now!!
Angela
Love crepes!! I haven’t made them in far too long. I am really loving your ideas done both sweet & savory fillings! Definitely want to make these very soon!