Home
World Cuisine
French
25 Fancy-Dancy (But Oh So Easy) Crepe Recipes to Jazz Up Your Day

25 Fancy-Dancy (But Oh So Easy) Crepe Recipes to Jazz Up Your Day

April 07, 2021

Skip gallery slides

Crepes may seem intimidating to make at first, but they're actually pretty simple to prepare. Originating in France and traditionally served with either sweet or savory fillings, crepes are a delightfully elegant dish to serve at either brunch or dinner--and every time in between. Our collection of easy crepe recipes features everything from decadent Espresso Crepes with Ice Cream and Dark Chocolate Sauce to savory dishes like Mushroom Crepes Chasseur and Smoked Turkey and Swiss Crepes. Embrace your inner French chef and whip up a batch of crepes today!

Start Slideshow

1 of 25

Berry-Filled Cinnamon Crepes

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Use any fresh fruit to stuff these lightly spiced crepes--a combination of pineapple, mango, and strawberries, for example. As the fruit filling cooks, be sure to stir gently so the delicate berries don't break apart. Start the crepe batter first, as the batter needs to chill for an hour; this relaxes the gluten in the flour so the crepes will be tender. Stack leftover cooked and cooled crepes between wax paper or paper towels to prevent sticking, place in a large zip-top plastic bag, and refrigerate up to five days, or freeze up to one month.

Advertisement

Advertisement

2 of 25

Basic Crepes

Credit: Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Mary Claire Britton and Kady Wohlfarth; Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

A quick and easy meal, crepes make the ultimate addition to the breakfast, brunch, or even dessert table! Although you'll only need about three tablespoons of batter to make each crepe, we found a 1/4-cup dry measuring cup is the best tool to scoop and pour the batter into the pan so the crepes cook evenly. The small amount of sugar gives the crepes a golden appearance and crisp edges. Once they're done, pile on your favorite toppings, such as fresh fruit, whipped cream, or even savory options as well. Crepes are a great invitation to get creative with different flavor combinations.

3 of 25

Creamy Chicken and Mushroom Crepes

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Melanie J. Clarke and Celine Chenoweth

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Buy a rotisserie chicken from the deli counter, and use the breast meat for this recipe. You'll have some leftover chicken for another meal later in the week. If you can't find baby portobello mushrooms, use cremini mushrooms. Look for packaged crepes in the produce aisle.

Advertisement

4 of 25

Louisiana Citrus Crepes

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Jan Gautro

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

You can prepare these crepes with your favorite varieties of oranges and grapefruits. You can prepare the filling up to two days ahead. Cook the crepes up to two weeks ahead, and freeze them. Thaw frozen crepes in the refrigerator for 24 hours, and let them come to room temperature before serving.

5 of 25

Cinnamon Crepes with Peaches and Cream Cheese

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Make the filling and crepes ahead, and chill until you're ready to use them.

6 of 25

Chard, Caramelized Onion, and Gruyère Crepes

Credit: Rob Culpepper; Styling: Cindy Barr

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Nutty whole-wheat pastry flour keeps these crepes light as air.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

7 of 25

Espresso Crepes with Ice Cream and Dark Chocolate Sauce

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Since both the crepes and chocolate sauce can be made ahead, this is the simplest of desserts. If you make the sauce ahead, warm it just before serving.

8 of 25

Mixed Berry Crepes

Credit: Randy Mayor; Melanie J. Clarke

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Frozen berries make these sweet crepes a year-round treat, not just a seasonal splurge. Prepare and refrigerate the filling up to a day ahead.

9 of 25

Chicken, Spinach, and Mushroom Crepes

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Fill tender crepes with a creamy mixture of chicken, cheese, frozen chopped spinach and sliced mushrooms for an elegant but easy weeknight meal. You can make the Basic Crepes ahead of time and freeze them until you're ready to use them in a recipe.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

10 of 25

Nutella and Strawberry Crepes

Credit: Alexandra Grablewski; Styling: Gerri Williams

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Nutella and Strawberry Crepes are a decadent yet easy dessert for busy weeknight. Made with a creamy, chocolate hazelnut spread, this crepe dessert easily satisfies your chocolate craving.

11 of 25

Sweet Potato Crepes with Caramelized Peaches and Pecans

Credit: Oxmoor House

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Some crepes are cooked once, and then filled with sweet or savory fillings. In this recipe, the crepes are filled with a sweetened cream cheese mixture, cooked a second time until the cheese warms and the crepes are golden brown on the edges, and then topped with caramelized peaches and toasted pecans. Use fresh peaches when they're in season.

12 of 25

Apple Crepes

Credit: Ryan Benyi; Styling: Lynn Miller

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Start your mornings off right with this Apple Crepe recipe. It's easy, affordable and a nice change-up from your typical bacon and eggs. This crepe recipe also doubles as a wonderful dessert, especially in the fall when apples are abundant.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

13 of 25

Chickpea-Rosemary Crepes with Pepper Relish

Credit: Ryan Dausch; Styling: Lindsey Lower

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Chickpea flour has more protein than wheat flour, a bonus for vegetarians. Make the crepes in advance for speedier prep, and garnish with additional rosemary, if desired.

14 of 25

Orange-Caramel Crepes

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Top basic homemade crepes with a warm, decadent sauce made from heavy cream, caramels, orange peel, fresh orange juice, and water for a sweet-and-citrusy treat that's out of this world. Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, if desired.

15 of 25

Mushroom Crepes Chasseur

Credit: Photography: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Lydia DeGaris-Pursell

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Chasseur (French for hunter) often refers to a brown sauce of mushrooms, shallots, and wine that's served with game. Here, the hunter is in search of mushrooms. Use any combination of mushrooms you like. With red wine, honey, and vegetable broth, the sauce takes on sour, sweet, and salty tones. To make ahead, stack cooled crepes between sheets of wax paper and freeze in a zip-top plastic bag for up to 3 months. You can make the filling and sauce a day ahead.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

16 of 25

Egg Crepes with Sausage

Credit: Oxmoor House

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

You'll want to prepare the filling first and keep it warm while you make the crepes.

17 of 25

Good Morning Crepes

Credit: Kana Okada

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

These good-for-you breakfast crepes feature turkey bacon and a mixture of scrambled eggs and egg whites folded between pre-made crepes (or whole-wheat wraps, if you prefer). Serve with a drizzle of maple syrup.

18 of 25

American Flag Crepe Cake

Credit: photo courtesy of real simple

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Sure, we love the classic Fourth of July sheet cake decorated with fresh fruit. But this year, we’ve upped the ante, creating a delicious, towering crepe cake that will wow everyone at the party. Though it appears to consist of blue crepes stacked on top of red, as soon as you slice into it you’ll reveal the fun surprise. By creating a blue ring around red batter on the top half of the crepes, every slice resembles an American flag. The big reveal is bound to go down as the best party trick ever.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

19 of 25

Baked Crepes with Mushrooms, Spinach and Gruyère

Credit: Ryan Benyi; Styling: Gerri Williams for James Reps

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

What makes it great: Spinach is a superfood, of course--but did you know that mushrooms are loaded with B vitamins, which help convert food into energy and can help fight illnesses such as heart disease and cancer?

20 of 25

Crepes with Bananas and Hazelnut-Chocolate Sauce

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Melanie J. Clarke

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Don't worry if all your crêpes don't turn out perfectly; there's enough batter to allow for a few mistakes.

21 of 25

Smoked Turkey and Swiss Crepes

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Paige Hicks

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Separate the turkey into eight piles on a plate, and top evenly with cheese so you can quickly top each crepe as it cooks in the pan. Black Forest turkey has a subtle smoked flavor. You can also use oven-roasted turkey.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

22 of 25

Strawberry Lemon Ricotta Crepes

Credit: Romulo Yanes

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

These sweet and creamy crepes feature fresh strawberries, whole-milk ricotta cheese, lemon zest, and a dusting of powdered sugar.

23 of 25

Savory Buckwheat Crepes with Ham and Mornay Sauce

Credit: Lauren Rubinstein; Styling: Kim Phillips

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Use a younger Gruyère (rather than well-aged) cheese to help prevent the sauce from breaking.

24 of 25

Strawberry-Banana Crepes

Credit: Oxmoor House

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Make a French classic gluten-free with this ingenious recipe. You can substitute orange juice for the Grand Marnier, if desired.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

25 of 25

Strawberry-Lemon Crêpe Cake

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Hadas Smirnoff

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

If you’ve ever enjoyed a glass of strawberry lemonade, you know this is a refreshing combination. And this company-worthy crepe cake will make everyone swoon with its ethereal layers and rich lemon filling. Be sure to save the liquid after macerating the strawberries–it’s delicious drizzled over each serving.

Up Next