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Crepe Cake

17/11/2023

Crepe cake is an elegant and versatile dessert, made up of layers of crepes filled with creams or ganache. The classic version includes sweet crepes layered with custard cream or Nutella. It’s a dish that allows for many variations, so you could also add an Italian touch by adding a mascarpone cream filling or by enriching the crepes with lemon or orange zest. Here is the basic recipe.

Ingredients

  • 250 g of flour
  • 500 ml of milk
  • 4 eggs
  • 2 tablespoons of sugar (optional, if you prefer sweet crepes)
  • A pinch of salt
  • Butter as needed for cooking the crepes

For the custard cream:

  • 4 egg yolks
  • 500 ml of milk
  • 100 g of sugar
  • 40 g of flour or cornstarch (cornflour)
  • Lemon zest or vanilla for flavoring

Preparation

  1. Start with the crepes. In a bowl, mix the flour with the eggs, sugar, salt and gradually add the milk to avoid lumps. Let the batter rest in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes.
  2. To cook the crepes, heat a non-stick pan and lightly butter it. Pour a ladle of batter and tilt the pan to distribute it evenly. Cook for 1-2 minutes per side or until they are lightly golden. Repeat until the batter is finished.
  3. Now prepare the custard cream. Heat the milk with the lemon zest or vanilla, without boiling it. In a bowl, whisk the egg yolks with the sugar until you get a frothy mixture, then add the flour. Remove the lemon zest or vanilla from the milk and pour the milk over the yolks, stirring quickly to not cook the eggs.
  4. Return the mixture to the heat and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly until the cream thickens. Let it cool by covering it with cling film in contact to prevent a skin from forming.
  5. To assemble the cake, alternate a layer of crepe with a layer of custard cream, until all the ingredients are used up.
  6. Let the cake rest in the refrigerator for at least one hour before serving. You can decorate with powdered sugar, fresh fruit, or melted chocolate before serving.

Curiosity

In France, the crepe cake is known as “Gâteau de crêpes” and is often served during Chandeleur or Valentine’s Day. Its versatile nature makes it a favorite for personalized creations, blending different flavors and textures for unique gastronomic experiences. We can consider it a “blank canvas” of pastry where you can let your creativity run wild.