Chocolate Crepes with Raspberries and Cream
Walking through the streets of Paris, it’s impossible not to find yourself following the aromatic trail of a street vendor making warm crepes. Stopping at one of the carts to pick up a delectable cream-filled crepe is always on my to-do list when I visit. My love for these French pancakes is what led me to make these chocolate crepes with raspberries and cream.
Chocolate Crepes
A crepe is the French version of an American pancake. The batter is very similar, albeit much runnier. The amount of batter poured into the pan is also much less so that you get a much thinner cake.
Unlike American pancakes, these chocolate crepes can be enjoyed during anytime of the day. The French typically enjoy sweet ones like these as a dessert rather than a breakfast meal.
Making Crepes
The filling options for these chocolate crepes are endless. You can do chocolate with bananas or strawberries, or sweetened whipped cream with raspberries, like I’ve done here.
In Paris, the crepes you find from street carts are made on a big round, metal griddle. The surface is smooth and the crepe batter is smoothed out into one incredibly thin, round cake using a crepe spreader.
At home, you can create these chocolate crepes with a [easyazon_link identifier=”B015G9F00E” locale=”US” tag=”monpetitfour-20″]skillet[/easyazon_link] and simply tilting your pan in all directions to spread out your batter. The crepe batter can then be flipped over with the help of a [easyazon_link identifier=”B0015DF3CG” locale=”US” tag=”monpetitfour-20″]metal spatula[/easyazon_link].
Serving the Crepes
You can fold your chocolate crepes into thirds like a burrito, or you can fold them in a cone shape like displayed here. For the filling, I simply whipped up some heavy cream with powdered sugar and vanilla extract, and then nestled in some fresh raspberries.
These chocolate crepes are also delicious with Nutella spread inside and fresh strawberries slices layered on top. The best part is that crepes are so easy to make and really don’t require any fancy equipment!
Chocolate Crepes with Raspberries and Cream
Chocolate-flavored French pancakes filled with whipped cream and fresh raspberries.
Ingredients
- 1 egg
- 3 tbsp milk
- 3 tbsp water
- 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp butter, melted and cooled
- 6 tbsp all-purpose flour
for the filling
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 3 tbsp powdered sugar, plus more for dusting at the end
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
- fresh raspberries
Instructions
- In a medium bowl (or a blender), whisk the egg, milk, and water together. Add the cocoa powder, sugar, and melted butter; whisk again to combine. Add in the flour, then whisk until the batter is smooth. The batter should be smooth and runny.*
- Warm a 5 1/2" to 6" skillet over medium-low heat. Scoop approximately 2 heaping tablespoons of batter into the pan, and tilt the pan from side to side in a circular motion to spread out the batter. Let the crepe cook for approximately 15 to 20 seconds before flipping. Use a sharp edge, metal spatula to carefully nudge the edges of the crepe and flip over. You can use your hands to help too. Cook the other side for another 10 seconds or so.
- Transfer the crepe to a wire rack or plate to cool completely. Once all your crepes are cooked, temporarily set them aside and begin preparing your filling. To make the whipped cream, simply whisk the heavy whipping cream on high speed until indentations form. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla, then whisk again until the cream thickens and holds its shape.
- Pipe or scoop a large dollop of whipped cream over the center of each crepe. Top with a few raspberries, then fold the crepes into a cone shape. To do this, simply fold the bottom ends of the crepe in towards each other. Dust with powdered sugar before serving.
Notes
If your batter seems to be on the thicker side, simply stream in a teaspoon of water at a time until it's thinner. You want the batter to be on the soupy side rather than thick or lava-like, like salad dressing or typical pancake batters.
Calories shown represent crepes that are each filled with 2 tablespoons of homemade whipped cream.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2 Serving Size: 2 ServingsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 381
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[easyazon_image align=”none” height=”110″ identifier=”B0015DF3CG” locale=”US” src=”http://www.monpetitfour.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/31Vc2dClIQL.SL110.jpg” tag=”monpetitfour-20″ width=”110″][easyazon_image align=”none” height=”110″ identifier=”B015G9F00E” locale=”US” src=”http://www.monpetitfour.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/31PgFXEArlL.SL110.jpg” tag=”monpetitfour-20″ width=”110″]
How long might these keep if making in advance? Do you think I could make them and fill them with stabilized whipped cream in the morning and have them hold up for a dessert course 8-10 hours later? Or perhaps just make the crepes and don’t fill them until later? Just wondering if you know how far in advance these may keep. Thanks!! They look amazing.
Hi Christa! I would make the crepes in the morning (or the evening before), then to store them: stack the crepes on top of each other with wax paper separating each of them. Place the entire stack in a freezer size ziplock bag. Then about 20 to 30 minutes prior to serving, set them out on the counter to come to room temperature. I would make the cream no sooner than the morning of and I would store that separately until you’re ready to fill the crepes. 🙂
Thanks! Sorry for my confusion but do you mean that you’d make them in them morning and freeze them until the evening (bringing to room temp 20 minutes before) OR do mean just store in the fridge in a Ziploc and then bring to room temp. Thanks in advance for clarifying!
Hi Christa, just store them in the fridge. No need for the freezer. 🙂
C’est si bon Beeta …Un grand merci …..
Also delightful, captivating photos…
🌹
Now you’re talkin’ Beeta! I love crepes and especially chocolate ones stuffed with whipped cream and fresh berries. I’ll take them all please 😉
LOL thanks, Traci! You can have them all! XO
Oh my goodness! These look incredible, Beeta! Like, I would do a face-plant into that pillowy cream kinda incredible! It’s been ages since I’ve made crepes, but after seeing these chocolate beauties, I definitely need to change that! What a wonderful breakfast for upcoming Valentine’s Day too!
Thank you, Kathleen! They’re perfect for spoiling a Valentine with! <3
J’adore les crêpes, ils sont irrésistibles à n’importe quelle heure de la journée. La version chocolat, j’aime encore plus! Quelle belle recette! xo
Moi aussi, Eva! Avec du beurre et du sucre – miam miam! <3
I absolutely love the little crepe stands around Paris – they’re a perfect afternoon ‘pick me up’ when you’ve been exploring all day on foot. And the savory versions are wonderful too – with ham, cheese and egg on a buckwheat crepe. But I’ve never tried chocolate crepes – I’ve been missing out! I have a new crepe pan and now I know just how I’m going to use it first!
The aroma of those warm crepes being made at those stands will draw crowds from near and far! Tell me how you enjoy these if you end up making them! XO
I remember eating crepes as a child. Nothing as fancy as your posting here – just plain crepes sprinkled w cinnamon and sugar but sometimes jam. Thanks for the ‘upscale’ recipe.
Douglas, one of my favorite crepe combinations is actually just a crepe topped with salted butter and sugar! I can appreciate the simplicity and deliciousness of a crepe with sugar or jam <3 Thanks for your kind words!