We can all agree that crepes are delicious, and make for great desserts with any sort of sweet filling. But what about a tower of tall, thin crepes coated in rich cream and dripping with a sweet glaze? A crepe cake is exactly that. Instead of using sheets of cake, this recipe uses sheet of crepe to make a delicate, layered dessert. Beautifully easy to prepare, this crepe cake recipe is one of the easiest things to whip up when you are running out of time. Simply make a stack of crepes in advance, and on the day of an event, take them out of the fridge and lather them with any filling of your choice, stacking one crepe above another.
This dish is a regal dessert of layered crepes and cream, born in 19th-century France. The word "crepe" goes back its origins to the French word "crespe," meaning "curled" or "wrinkled." These thin pancakes formed the heart of Brittany in northwest France at the time.
At the same time, French patissiers also began layering crepes with sweet fillings to achieve something that is considered the original crepe cake. This innovation created a craze in Parisian cafes and soon flooded the rest of Europe.
As time passed, crepe cakes evolved within different regions – the French added cream and fruits, while others tried it with chocolate and nuts. While not that common, if you are looking to experiment with your dessert spread, make a crepe cake instead of a normal one for an upcoming birthday or anniversary.
With this recipe, you will be able to recreate this wonderful dish from the comfort of your home, and wow your guests with your culinary skills.
Ingredients:
- 502 ml milk
- 254 ml water
- 2 large eggs
- 65 gm granulated sugar
- A pinch of salt
- 125 gm flour
- 25 gm unsalted butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 260 ml heavy cream
- 155 gm granulated sugar
- 53 gm softened butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 105 gm confectioners' sugar
- 26 gm softened butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Icing sugar for garnish
Method:
- You have to start by combining milk, water, eggs, sugar, and salt into a blender, and mixing until smooth.
- After that, you need to mix flour, melted butter and vanilla extract till the mixture is smooth.
- Then, let the batter rest in the bowl for 30 minutes.
- Heat a non-stick pan over medium heat.
- Then, pour some batter on the pan, and swirl it around to coat the pan evenly.
- Once both sides of the crepe are cooked, you can move on to the rest of the batter. This will give you roughly 12 to 15 crepes.
- You are going to mix heavy cream in a mixing bowl using an electric whisk until stiff peaks form.
- You have to gradually pour sugar into the whipped mixture, and continue whipping until it is well combined.
- Then you need to add softened butter and vanilla extract, and continue whipping until smooth.
- When you begin to assemble the cake, you have to start by placing a crepe on a cake base.
- Then, you need to fill its center with 1 to 2 tbsp of the cream filling.
- This process is going to take you some time and patience because you have to carefully repeat the steps of layering and filling with the rest of the crepes and cream. You need to be cautious to make sure that when you stack the crepes upon each other to create a tower, you are maintaining a straight and even shape, and not a bent one.
- For the glaze of the cake, you need to mix confectioners' sugar, softened butter, and vanilla extract in a small bowl.
- Using a pastry brush, you have to cover the entire cake with this glaze, making sure that the cake is set before you start to brush.
- Before serving, you need to slice this beautiful cake into individual triangles, and sprinkle them with some icing sugar before digging in.
You can also try out other flavors such as chocolate or fruit, and add fresh fruit or nuts for added and accentuated texture.
This tried and tested recipe for crepes is sure to give you a cake that will be a crowd pleaser.