My pancake conundrum: My husband doesn’t like them. I do. So when it comes to a batch of pancakes it’s either - make a couple of pancakes and let the rest dissipate into inedibility in the fridge, or eat the whole batch. Both options leave much to be desired. I am trying to avoid food waste and I already know that I can’t eat a whole batch of pancakes (without rendering myself totally useless for the rest of the day).
The third, absolutely intolerable and unacceptable, option is not to make pancakes at all. Which is just not going to happen.
The best I can do for now is reduce the pancake or crepe recipes I try by as much as I confidently can and then plan to breakfast on pancakes, or anything similar using the same batter, 2 days in a row (leaving the leftover batter to sit in the fridge overnight, which I think is ok because crepe batter is supposed to benefit from an overnight rest). Hopefully, aside from the breakfast pancakes or crepes, I can work it out so I have friends over to whom I can serve a dessert or appetizer made with the excess batter (maybe Nutella crepes or smoked salmon rolls).
Or I can wait until a brilliant blogger like Suzana of Home Gourmets declares Pancakes to be the theme of the next round of Hay Hay it’s Donna Day!
Chocolate Filled Crepes with Cinnamon Crust
(adapted from Donna Hay Magazine, issue 34, page 138)
- 85 grams caster sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 cup flour, sifted
- 1 tablespoon caster sugar, extra
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 + 1/8 cup (3 oz) single/pouring cream
- 1 cup milk
- 65 grams grated dark chocolate
- 25 grams unsalted butter, melted
- Place the sugar and cinnamon on a plate and mix.
- Place the flour and the extra sugar in a bowl and mix to combine.
- Place the eggs, cream, and milk in a separate bowl and whisk to combine.
- Gradually add the egg mixture to the flour mixture, whisking until smooth. Allow to stand for 20 minutes.
- Heat a lightly greased non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add 1/3 cup of the batter and swirl to cover the base of the pan.
- Cook crepes for 1-2 minutes in each side until golden. Place on non-stick baking paper and repeat with the rest of the batter (or just make the amount you need and place the rest of the batter in the fridge like I did).
- Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of chocolate over each crepe, fold in half, and then fold in half again. Brush both sides with melted butter and press into the cinnamon sugar mixture.
- Cooked the sugared crepes in a lightly greased non-stick pan (high heat) for about a minute on each side, or until the sugar is caramelized.
The combination of the dark chocolate and the subtle cinnamon flavour was perfect! But what really takes this over the edge into goodness oblivion is the caramel-ly exterior, all sweet stickiness and crunchy edges. I can see this being a fantastic dessert but, being a creature of breakfast, I had it in the morning with my coffee...bliss! I’m sure it’ll be great with a bit of vanilla ice cream too!
The recipe I have posted here is my halved version. I made two crepes for my breakfast and then used some of the batter to make smoked salmon rolls (with cream cheese, sour cream, dill, capers, and green onions) for a casual night of drinks at our flat. I know the batter is supposed to be for a sweet crepe, but the crepes themselves weren’t sweet at all so I thought it would be fine to use for a savory appetizer. Be that as it may, I was still left with a little batter that eventually had to be tossed :( So to any pancake/crepe experts out there I have three questions:
1) How long can you keep pancake/crepe batter safely in the fridge?
2) Any other variations you like? Savory and sweet suggestions are welcome!
3) Do you have a really low yield pancake/crepe recipe? :)
Hay Hay It’s Donna Day is a food blog event celebrating Donna Hay’s special yet simple dishes (I love Donna!) and was created by Barbara of Winos and Foodies, and is now under the expert care of Bron of bronmarshall.com
45 comments:
OMG, those Crêpes looks extremely scrumptious!
Cheers,
Rosa
Seriously, who wouldn't like pancakes?! oooh...love those crepes though and it's chocolate filled!
OK these are so going to be made for Sunday brekkie this weekend... brilliant!
Another idea for crepes - have you heard of blintzes? Crepes wrapped around a slightly sweetened soft cheese filling, browned in butter and served with whatever fruit compote you like. Or gasp - toffee sauce!!
Ling
xx
The crepes look beaooootiful. I think hubby is mad not to want them after seeing (and smelling) that. Madder still not to want more after tasting it :)
You can split this one down the middle (from my site). Just use one egg and disregard the half an egg yolk. It'll make 6 crepes.
You can keep uncooked crepe batter in the fridge for a day. Actually it keeps for longer after that but it will thicken due to various reasons, and not be as easy to work with. What you can do instead is cook everything and, with sheets of parchment in between, keep them in an airtight container in the freezer. Incidentally you can also individually wrap pancakes and keep them in the freezer for a month, just pop them into the oven toaster (or those stand-up models, if you have one) for a quick breakfast treat.
I'm afraid I'm not the best person to ask about crepe flavors... I love them ALL! It's only the price at Cafe Breton that limits my choice!
Hi Rosa! Thank you :) I loved them!
Hi Veron! Really! Who wouldn't! Hayayay...he is more a tapa and fried kinda guy :)
Hi Ling! Hope you like them! Yes, I have heard of blintzes and they sound right up my alley :) Just have to wait until I get a bunch of people together to eat it!
Hi Manggy! I knew I could count on you for a full prescription! Thank you thank you for the answers, suggestions, and the recipe...much appreciated!!! :)
Wait...C doesn't like pancakes, but he loves ampalaya??? That is so unbelievable to me that I almost think he's from another planet. Then again, it's just as incredible to me that F doesn't like chocolate. How can these beings exist??? ;-D
Chocolate and cinnamon make a yummy combo...and with a crunchy sugar coating, your crepes look and sound like the perfect way to start the day!
Joey, for those who believe in reincarnation and things like that, you and I must have been sisters or something! We are so connected - I stuck a post it on this very recipe yesterday, to make it next weekend! How crazy is that?? :)
Now, I'm even more inspired to make these.
It's never a good idea to do commenting on an empty stomach. I am seriously salivating over those crepes. I'd give anything for one right about now!
Have you tried freezing leftover pancakes? I freeze our extras on the weekends for weekday breakfast options for me or even dinner when hubs is out. I just take a couple out of the freezer and pop in the microwave for a minute or minute and a half and voila, pancakes a la moi!
Oh wow, these are good reason to wake up in the morning. Or at least makes waking up early less annoying. Gorgeous!
Hi Katrina! Yes, I know, strangeness! You will really find this weird but he doesn’t particularly like sweets. I don’t think he even tried the chocolate éclairs I made (remember, I sent you some?)! I’ve gotten used to him hardly ever eating anything I bake...but I did notice he gravitates more towards the stuff that has fruit in it! So the opposite of me (though I love fruit, I love chocolate more)!
Hi Patricia! Go make these sis! I know you’ll like them :) I know what you mean...you have posted several Donna Hay recipes that I already bookmarked!
Hi Susan! I wish I could send you one!
Hi Stephany! Thanks so much for sharing your freezing tip...I’ll definitely be doing that next time :)
Hi JS! Thanks :) I grumble less in the mornings if there is something yummy on the table :)
Joey, thanks for submitting the perfect crepe to HHDD! I usually keep my batter for a day in the fridge, but my hubby likes pancakes so that makes it much easier. Manggy's suggestions sound great - I'll have to give it a go at half a recipe. Beautiful photos!
Count it be any sinful??? Choc filled crepes and then with Cinnamon Crust...;)
BTW, have you gotten to your belacan yet? Would love to see your dishes here. :)
just the title alone made me melt in my chair...
What can I say, but OH YUM!
Chocolate, cinnamon, crunchy caramel...these are the yummiest crepes!
I want to run to the kitchen and make your version! Fantastic!
Are you kidding? Crêpes, filled with chocolate, dipped in cinnamon and then pan fried? My goodness, I'd have to make a whole batch, we'd be all over those! :)
Hi Suzana! Thanks and thanks for choosing such a great theme! I will be trying Manggy's tips soon :)
Hi Bee! Sinful is my middle name when it comes to food ;) Haven't gotten to using the Belacan yet but I'll be scouring your blog for a recipe to try it out!
Hi Aran! That's how I felt when I saw this recipe :)
Hi Eileen! It was yummy indeed :)
Hi Oggi! I agree :) Well, after my two favorites which are Nutella (big surprise) and butter & sugar :)
Thanks Phemom! Let me know if you try it out :)
Hi Lyb! Well then I wish you were here when I made them to help out in the eating!
Just looking at them made me weak in the knees! Great interpretation!
Our guys are alike in several ways. F didn't care to try your eclairs, either. Which was perfectly fine with me! ;-P I can actually imagine why people enjoy ampalaya, but it just boggles the mind to imagine not liking sweets, especially chocolate!
Did I ever tell you about when F and I watched "Chocolat?" During the movie, I turned to him and said, "See what happens to men who don't like chocolate? They get cranky, repressed, and their wives leave them!!!" ;-D
Those look amazing! And, if you like unique pancakes, check out the menue at Orange With a Peel, a brunch joint in Chicago, Il. They often have a "Flight of Pancakes", which features 4 small services of different pacake and toping combo's, it changes weekly and is seasonal, so yummy!
http://chicampus.com/citylife.php?name=orange
www.katelynsfood.blogspot.com
What an awesome idea! Folding the chocolate inside the crepes and then cooking it again in cinnamon sugar. Okay, I have a Vanilla baking course today, two more baking projects and a visitor coming before I leave home in less than a week, but I feel like I HAVE to try this one out before then.
We are together on this one Joey. Crepes do very well with one and two and even three days resting in the cool of the fridge! It's one more way they are super wonderful. Actually anything you can make a day ahead of serving it is a blessing.
Now about this cinnamon crust, that is genius!
LOve them JOey. They sound delicious.
Hi Helene! Thanks! :)
Hi Katrina! And don’t forget the biking! To each his own I suppose...C will get the occasional unexpected craving for sweets during which he will suddenly want something like a 3 Musketeers bar...the guy who won’t eat my éclairs will eat a 3 Musketeers??? It’s taken me a long time to get used to that ;) Hahahaha! You had me rolling on the floor with your Chocolate quip...must remember that!
Hi Katelyn! Oh my goodness! A flight of pancakes? That is just genius! I wish I could visit that place but it’s quite a ways off from me :) But I will keep it in mind for whenever I get to Chicago!
Hi Bordeaux! The credit goes to Donna herself :) But it’s nowhere near as stunning as your crepe cake! I am still thinking of its loveliness :) Good luck with your Vanilla course and hope to hear all about it!
Hi Tanna! Thanks for the reassurance...I’ll be making more crepes knowing that :) “anything you can make a day ahead of serving is a blessing” -- so true!!!
Hi Barbara! Thanks :) I loved this combination!
This makes my mouth water!
Gorgeous pancakes there, Joey! Plus, I doubt if anyone can ever go wrong with a mix of chocolate and cinnamon. ;)
Hi Follow the Cook! Thanks for stopping by :)
Hi Midge! Chocolate and cinnamon is a winning combination truly :)
great crepes - they look amazing!
I went grocery shopping yesterday and decided to visit a korean mart. I saw this pancake mix and the Korean owner explained to me how it's made. It is really similar to this recipe. I tried it at home and it was really good. The filling wasn't chocolate though. It was like peanut cinnamon.
Jo, this looks so sinful and perfect!! I love the crunchy edge there. I can almost smell and taste the chocolate and cinnamon, sigh. I love pancakes and crepes and waffles, so hey I'll be more than happy to come over and have C's share. ;)
Wow - YUM.
your crepes looks sooooo amazing... :)
Hi Famdoz! Thanks!
Hi Annabanana! That sounds really interesting! I love all the specialized groceries around here – Korean, Japanese, Indian, etc...so many wonderful things to discover!
Hi Nens! We should plan a M.E. breakfast/brunch at my flat one weekend! :)
Thanks Traci! :)
Hi Mikky! Thank you :)
I love crepes!!! Looks very dish joey! Crepes for breakfast is really a treat =)
Hi Jen! Crepes for breakfast is indeed a treat but very easy...justmake this batter the night before so it'll be ready in the morning :)
crepes are one of my favorite foods! sweet, savory, in any form, I am happy. thanks for sharing this ingenious combination!
Hi Lael! I like them sweet or savory too :)
You can freeze crepe batter! Defrosts beautifully with just a stir with a spoon.
Thanks for the recipe.
Jeani
Hi Jeani! Thanks for stopping by! And thanks for that useful tip!
just what i need ! Seriously...
Wowsa. these crepes look so good! I have made savory crepes for dinner several times but will definitely try this recipe for dessert!
thank you!
Hi there twoskinnyjenkins! I really liked this...hope you do too! :)
These look mighty good.
My favorite thing to do with leftover pancakes is pancake soup. Just cut the pancakes into thin strips and put them in some hot broth. Frozen pancakes work fine for this.
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