Crêpes à la Normande

Take Home Chef, Episode 90: Kelley's Menu

INGREDIENTS

For the crêpes:
1 cup/125 g all purpose flour, sifted
4 teaspoons/15 g granulated sugar
Pinch of salt
2 large eggs
1 1/4 cups/325 ml whole milk
1/2 cup/115 ml heavy whipping cream
1 tablespoon/15 g unsalted butter
For the à la Normande filling:
4 Fuji apples (about 1 1/2 pounds/700 g total), cored and cut into thin slices
6 tablespoons/75 g granulated sugar
4 tablespoons/60 g butter
1/2 teaspoon/about 1 g freshly ground cinnamon
1 cup/220 ml Calvados (or dark rum)
1 cup/227 g mascarpone cheese or crème fraîche (optional)

PREPARATION:

To make the crêpes:

  1. In a large mixing bowl combine the flour, sugar and salt.  Then slowly add eggs and 1/2 cup/130 ml of the milk and whisk to form a soft paste. Combine the remaining milk and cream in a measuring cup and slowly add to the flour mixture, whisking to form a smooth thin batter.
  2. Strain the batter into a medium-sized bowl to remove any lumps. Cover the batter and set aside for 30 minutes (this will allow time for the flour to absorb all of the liquid)
  3. Heat a crêpe pan or a heavy 7-inch-/18-cm-diameter, nonstick sauté pan over medium to low heat. Dab some butter on a paper towel and wipe the pan with a little butter.  Pour 3 tablespoons/45 ml of batter into the pan and swirl to coat the bottom thinly. Cook until the edge of the crêpe is light brown, about 1 1/2 minutes.
  4. Loosen the edges gently with a spatula. Carefully turn the crêpe over. Cook until the bottom begins to brown in spots, about 1 minute. Transfer to a plate. Repeat with the remaining batter, wiping the pan with butter as needed, and forming 12 crêpes total.

To make the à la Normande filling:

  1. Place a heavy-based, large sauté pan over a high heat. Add the apples, 2 tablespoons/25 g of sugar, 2 tablespoons/30 g of butter, and the cinnamon. Sauté for 7 minutes or until the apples are golden.
  2. Add 1/2 cup/110 ml of Calvados and simmer for 2 minutes or until the Calvados reduces and the apples are crisp-tender and coated with the sauce. Once cooked, transfer the apples to a bowl and cover to keep warm while you make the Calvados caramel sauce.
  3. Sprinkle the remaining 4 tablespoons/50 g of sugar over the pan and cook over a medium heat without stirring for about 2 minutes or until the sugar begins to melt and brown.  Add the remaining 2 tablespoons/30 g of butter and 1/2 cup/110 ml of Calvados. When the Calvados is added, the melted sugar will harden.
  4. Simmer over a medium to low heat for about 2 minutes, stirring constantly, or until the sugar melts again and a caramel sauce forms.

To serve:

  1. Spoon the apple mixture over one half of each warm crêpe. Fold each warm crêpe in half then in half again, forming triangles.  Place 2 folded crêpes on each of six plates.
  2. Spoon a scoop of mascarpone cheese or crème fraîche atop the crêpes. Drizzle the Calvados caramel sauce over the mascarpone cheese or crème fraîche and crêpes, and serve immediately!
This recipe appears in: Puffs & Pastries

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