French Fruit Crepes are fresh, easy to make, and DELICIOUS. Whip them up in less than 30 minutes and an impressive breakfast or dessert is ready to serve!
This post is all about how to make French Fruit Crepes.
Crepes (pronounced krayps) are a famous and traditional street food in Paris, and while you can fill them with anything, fruit crepes always win! Make these delicate French cakes with a thin batter that’s taste resembles pancakes, and stuff them with a savory filling.
Whether you’re making these for breakfast or dessert, this French fruit crepe recipe is perfect for both because it calls for a sweetened, creamy ricotta cheese filling, fresh fruit, and whipped cream. Your guests will go crazy for them, and that’s a major understatement!
Because these sweet cakes look so impressive and gourmet, I want to stress the ease of making them. Techniques and patience are needed when whipping up French crepes, but it is easy and can be accomplished in under 30 minutes.
If you want to make the BEST fruit crepes, expert chefs advise you to rest the batter in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. This resting period ensures thin, uniformed cakes with great texture. But if you’re on a time crunch, skip this step.
Let’s dive into this light and delicious recipe so you can make a five-star brunch or dessert that no one will forget. The equipment, shortcut techniques, and ingredients are probably more straightforward than you’re expecting!
French Fruit Crepes
Ingredients You’ll Need:
French Crepe Batter Ingredients:
- 1 cup All-purpose Flour
- 1 1/3 cup Whole Milk
- 2 tablespoons of softened Unsalted Butter.
- 1/4 teaspoon of Salt
- 1 tablespoon of Sugar
- 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract
- 1 stick of Unsalted Butter, this will be used to coat the pan before each crepe is cooked. You won’t use the whole stick but it’s essential to have a generous amount nearby for the cooking process.
Healthy Fresh Fruit Filling Ingredients:
- Fresh Blueberries, 6 ounces
- Fresh Raspberries, 6 ounces
- Fresh Strawberries, 6 ounces
- 1 tablespoon of White Granualted Sugar
Ricotta Cheese Filling, The Creamy Ingredients:
- 1 cup of Ricotta Cheese
- 2 tablespoons of Powdered Sugar
French Crepe Topping Ingredients:
- Sprinkle with Powdered Sugar
- Dollop of Whipped Cream
Equipment Needed For Easy French Fruit Crepes:
- Blender or Ninja Blender – Using a blender when making crepes helps to cut into the flour and make the batter smooth (which is really important!). If you don’t own a blender you can use a mixer with a whisk attachment.
- Crepe pan or a skillet, approximately 8 inches – The professionals use a crepe pan but a small skillet will work too. What’s nice about the crepe pan is that the edges are lower, which makes sliding and flipping the thin crepe easier, but honestly a skillet will get the job done.
- Measuring spoons and cups
- Pastry Brush, optional.
How To Make This French (Fresh) Fruit Crepe Recipe, Step-By-Step
Step 1: Clean the fruit and towel dry. Cut off the strawberry’s stems and cut them into three ways. Add the strawberries (six ounces), raspberries (six ounces), and blueberries (six ounces) to a bowl with one tablespoon of white granulated sugar and mix. Mash the raspberries and blueberries if you prefer. Set this bowl aside. Tip: Most grocery stores sell mixed berries in the frozen section if that is easier.
Step 2: Add one cup of ricotta cheese to a different bowl and mix in two tablespoons of powdered sugar. Set this bowl aside.
Step 3: Add the flour, eggs, milk, softened butter, salt, sugar, and vanilla to a blender. Process until smooth (about 30 seconds), and be sure to scrape down the sides. Using a blender is recommended to ensure a silky batter.
Step 4: Chill the batter for 30 to 60 minutes. I know I mentioned earlier that you could make French fruit crepes in under 30 minutes, but taking the time to rest and chill the batter so the flour can fully absorb the liquid is recommended. While it’s not the end of the world if the batter has not rested, taking this extra step will result in a delicious crepe with the best texture. Tip: You can chill the batter overnight.
Step 5: Set the stove to medium heat and place your pan down to get hot. Coat the pan with butter. You can use a pastry brush for buttering the pan if you wish. Consider the first French crepe you make to be a tester. Once you get the hang of twirling the pan and motioning your wrist, the process will go quicker. This recipe yields 12 crepes.
Tip: Cook one crepe at a time and recoat the pan with butter before cooking each crepe.
Step 6: Use approximately three to four tablespoons of batter per crepe. Remember, the crepes are supposed to be delicate and thin, so measure the liquid batter to avoid getting a thick cake. A 1/4 measuring cup filled below the brim is a safe bet for an 8-inch pan.
Step 7: Pour approximately 1/4 cup of batter into the center of the hot pan coated with butter and lift the pan away from the heat. Use some wrist motion to swirl the pan, so the crepe liquid covers the 8-inch pan. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook the first side for one to two minutes (but closer to the one-minute mark). After a minute, you should see the edges start to pull away. Lift the crepe to see if it looks light brown underneath. If the color is correct, it’s ready to flip over.
Loosen the edges of the crepe with the spatula and, using your fingers, flip it over. I know the crepe and pan are hot but using your fingers to flip the crepe is better because it’s less likely to tear. FYI: The second side will cook faster.
Step 8: As you cook each crepe, it’s best to stack them with parchment paper in between. This will prevent the crepes from sticking together and makes freezing them easier.
Step 9: To fill the French crepes add two to three tablespoons of sweetened ricotta cheese mixture down the middle of the crepe. Place the fresh fruit filling on the ricotta cheese, then fold or roll the crepe. Sprinkle the outside of the crepe with powdered sugar and add more of the fruit filling and a dollop of whipped cream on top. You can also add vanilla ice cream, chocolate ice cream, or Nutella for a dessert.
Questions & Success Tips For French Crepes And Fruit Fillings
What Are Crepes Again?
In a nutshell, crepes are the French version of pancakes, but they are ultra-thin and delicate. They are often filled with fruit, chocolate (like Nutella), eggs, or a ricotta or cream cheese filling. Fold them up and add whipped cream or cheese on top, depending on what their filling contains.
But Are French Crepes The Same As Pancakes?
The key ingredient difference is that pancakes call for baking powder and crepes do not. Baking powder is a leavening agent that causes baked goods to rise. Because French crepes are supposed to be thin, baking powder is not added.
How Long Does It Really Take To Make French Fruit Crepes?
Preparing the fruit and ricotta cheese filling takes under ten minutes. If you’re resting or chilling the batter, that will take at least 30 minutes. If you’re skipping that part and diving right into the cooking process, this takes the longest (at least 20 minutes).
How Do I Make Easy Fruit Crepes With Pancake Mix?
You can use a pancake mix like Bisquick. Omit the flour, sugar, and salt from this recipe and use a cup of Bisquick instead.
How Can I Make French Crepes Ahead Of Time?
You can prepare the batter in advance but be sure to store it in the refrigerator and keep it covered with plastic wrap. Use the batter within two days.
You can also cook the crepes and store them in the freezer for three months. Use parchment paper between each crepe and seal them in a Ziplock bag.
Are Crepes Healthier Than Pancakes?
Because crepes are much thinner than pancakes, they naturally have fewer calories. However, eating multiple crepes and stuffing them with decadent fillings could change their caloric effect. Fill them with fresh fruit and light whipped cream to keep your crepes healthy.
How Can I Make The Best Homemade (Authentic) French Crepe Recipe?
Using a blender and resting or chilling the batter for 30 minutes to one hour will ensure a crepe that is textured to perfection. Patience is the key to this fruit crepe recipe.
How Many French Crepe Fillings And Toppings Can You Have?
There are no rules for the crepe fillings and toppings you choose. It’s all about what you like. If you want to stuff your crepe with ricotta cheese filling, fruit, and Nutella, DO IT. If you want to top your crepe with whipped cream, ice cream, chocolate, strawberry, or caramel sauce, DO IT!
French Dessert Crepes & Variational Recipes:
French Fruit Crepes
Equipment
- Blender or Ninja Blender
- Crepe Pan or Skillet (approximately 8 inches)
- Measuring spoons and cups
- Spatula
- Mixing bowls
- Pastry Brush (optional)
Ingredients
Batter Ingredients
- 1 cup All-purpose flour
- 1 1/3 cup Whole milk
- 3 Large eggs
- 2 tbsp Softened, unsalted butter
- 1/4 tsp Salt
- 1 tbsp Sugar
- 1 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
- 1 Stick of unsalted butter will be used to coat the pan before cooking each crepe. You won't use the whole stick but it's essential to have a generous amount nearby.
Fruit Filling Ingredients
- 6 ounces, Fresh blueberries
- 6 ounces, Fresh raspberries
- 6 ounces, Fresh strawberries
- 1 tbsp White granulated sugar
Ricotta Cheese Filling Ingredients
- 1 cup Ricotta Cheese
- 2 tbsp Powdered sugar
French Crepe Topping Ingredients
- Sprinkle the top of each crepe with powdered sugar.
- A dollop of whipped cream.
Instructions
- Clean the fruit and towel dry. Cut off the strawberry’s stems and cut them into three ways. Add the strawberries (six ounces), raspberries (six ounces), and blueberries (six ounces) to a bowl with one tablespoon of white granulated sugar and mix. Mash the raspberries and blueberries if you prefer. Set this bowl aside. Tip: Most grocery stores sell mixed berries in the frozen section if that is easier.
- Chill the batter for 30 to 60 minutes. I know I mentioned earlier that you could make French fruit crepes in under 30 minutes, but taking the time to rest and chill the batter so the flour can fully absorb the liquid is recommended. While it’s not the end of the world if the batter has not rested, taking this extra step will result in a delicious crepe with the best texture. Tip: You can chill the batter overnight.
- Set the stove to medium heat and place your pan down to get hot. Coat the pan with butter. You can use a pastry brush for buttering the pan if you wish. Consider the first French crepe you make to be a tester. Once you get the hang of twirling the pan and motioning your wrist, the process will go quicker. This recipe yields 12 crepes. Tip: Cook one crepe at a time and recoat the pan with butter before cooking each crepe.
- Use approximately three to four tablespoons of batter per crepe. Remember, the crepes are supposed to be delicate and thin, so measure the liquid batter to avoid getting a thick cake. A 1/4 measuring cup filled below the brim is a safe bet for an 8-inch pan.
- Pour approximately 1/4 cup of batter into the center of the hot pan coated with butter and lift the pan away from the heat. Use some wrist motion to swirl the pan, so the crepe liquid covers the 8-inch pan. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook the first side for one to two minutes (but closer to the one-minute mark). After a minute, you should see the edges start to pull away. Lift the crepe to see if it looks light brown underneath. If the color is correct, it’s ready to flip over.
- Loosen the edges of the crepe with the spatula and, using your fingers, flip it over. I know the crepe and pan are hot but using your fingers to flip the crepe is better because it’s less likely to tear. FYI: The second side will cook faster.
- As you cook each crepe, it’s best to stack them with parchment paper in between. This will prevent the crepes from sticking together and make freezing them easier.
- To fill the French crepes add two to three tablespoons of sweetened ricotta cheese mixture down the middle of the crepe. Place the fresh fruit filling on the ricotta cheese, then fold or roll the crepe. Sprinkle the outside of the crepe with powdered sugar and add more of the fruit filling and a dollop of whipped cream on top. You can also add vanilla ice cream, chocolate ice cream, or Nutella for a dessert.
Nutrition
Final Thoughts On French Fruit Crepes
I know you’ll fall head over heels in LOVE with this French Fruit Crepes recipe! The step-by-step instructions will help make this breakfast or dessert easy to accomplish and serve. Please share this recipe with your friends and family on social media if you find it DELICIOUS and helpful.
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