Crespelle Sweet Italian Pancakes are classic crepe-style sweet pancakes which make a really delicious dessert with a filling of dried fruits and a little sweet syrup.
Crespelle are really very versatile and can be filled with whatever you have to hand. Spread them with hazelnut spread or peanut butter and jelly for a tasty breakfast or snack.
Traditionally, Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) is the day to use up all the rich foods in the house before Ash Wednesday and the start of the fasting season of Lent.
It’s also traditional to make pancakes, whether you take part in Lent or not, pancakes are a simple and delicious base for sweet or savoury toppings, so well worth using this annual reminder to cook some up.
More Pancake Recipes from Farmersgirl Kitchen
Cinnamon Spiced Pancakes topped with poached plums, an easy dessert recipe.
Crespelle Sweet Italian Pancakes
Ingredients
For the Crespelle
- 100 grams (3.5 oz) self-raising flour
- 300 millilitres (1 cups) semi-skimmed milk
- 2 (2) large free range eggs
- 2 tablespoons (2 tablespoons) caster sugar
- some melted butter
For the dried fruit filling
- 100 grams (3.5 oz) dried fruits mix of dried apricots, cranberries, raisins or whatever you have in your larder
- 100 millilitres (3. fl oz) orange juice
To serve
- 200 millilitres (1 cups) cream or greek yogurt
Instructions
For the Crespelle
- Sieve the flour then simply mix everything together, you can use an electric whisk, liquidiser or stick mixer or put the flour into a large jug and add the eggs and milk gradually mixed with a simple hand whisk
- Add the sugar and leave the mixture to rest for at least 10 minutes. You can leave it for several hours or even overnight.
- Melt a little butter in the pan and when it starts to sizzle add just enough batter to cover the bottom of the pan
- Cook the pancake until it browns underneath (lift it up with a spatula to see) and it should bubble on the top. Then flip it over and cook the other side.
- As you make the pancakes, layer them between sheets of baking parchment and cover with a clean tea towel until you have all your pancakes and are ready to serve.
For the dried fruit filling
- Chop larger dried fruits like apricots and apple into small pieces, put all the fruits into a bowl with the orange juice.
- Heat in the microwave for 3 minutes or until hot. Set aside for 10 minutes for the fruit to soak up some of the juice.
Notes
Nutrition
I’m also adding this to Credit Crunch Munch as this is a cheap, cheerful and filling recipe. CCC is the blog challenge of Fuss Free Flavours and Fab Food 4 All and this month is hosted by My Golden Pear.
I was provided with a Tefal Superior Frypan, I was not paid for this post and all opinions are my own.
Elizabeth says
My husband and I have this ongoing 'debate' about pancakes. I think pancakes have to have a raising agent while he thinks crepes (without a raising agent) are pancakes. It's always amusing every time I make 'pancakes'! 🙂 These look fantastic and I love the idea of wrapping the pancake around the bacon. Too bad you didn't have any maple syrup! Hopefully your kitchen refurb won't take too long now. Thanks for linking up with #ShopLocal and the #NoWasteFoodChallenge!
Janice Pattie says
I know what you mean Elizabeth but 'crepe' is just french and 'crespelle' is Italian for pancake! I guess if it's cooked in a pan, it's a pan-cake 😉
Angela @ My Golden Pear says
It's so easy to forget that a few simple basic ingredients can be so versatile and so tasty. I love the idea of adding a curry sauce – it's a new one for me. Thanks so much for taking part in Credit Crunch Munch.
Janice Pattie says
It's an aquired taste for breakfast but would be great at other times of the day too.
Camilla Hawkins says
You certainly got the most out of your yummy pancakes Janice, they are so versatile. Thanks for entering Credit Crunch Munch:-)
Janice Pattie says
Got to make the most of every scrap 🙂
Karen S Booth says
I LOVE your Winter Fruit pancakes Janice and I am racking my brains what to make this Shrove Tuesday, I think it will be savoury! Karen
London Unattached Food says
Oh thank you for entering the No Waste Food Challenge – I am a really bad guest host I'm just not keeping up!
xx
Janice Pattie says
Not at all, Fiona. It's one of my favourite challenges.
Choclette says
Love pancakes of any description and don't make them nearly often enough. Didn't know there was such a thing as Italian pancakes though, so that's interesting to know.
Janice Pattie says
I think pancakes are the same everywhere, it's just the language that is different, crepe, crespelle, pancake.
Bintu Hardy says
For the amount of pancakes I make I think need one of those pans.
Janice Pattie says
It's a super pan, Bintu. Quite solid and really good quality non-stick
Tina Anand says
I use the Tefal pan at home and it is very good. I find myself using less oil in my cooking as the non-stick in their pans are very good. Excellent for pancake making and your winter fruits version looks delicious!
Janice Pattie says
Thanks Tina. You are right, you do need less oil or butter.
GG says
I didn't know pancakes were an Italian thing. I love all pancakes, these look delicious. GG
Janice Pattie says
I think you get some kind of pancake everywhere!
Cachoo Joo says
Thanks for reminding me about Pancake Day coming up! For some reason the past few years I seem to hear about it right after it'd happened! Great ideas for different kinds – I usually get sweet pancakes of some kind, but know lots of ppl that like savoury ones instead
Janice Pattie says
If you make some tweet me and I'll come and have a look 🙂
Sylvia F. says
They all looks droolworthy! I probably should make some pancakes for Shrove Tuesday as well!
Janice Pattie says
Thank you, Sylvia
Lou, Eat Your Veg says
I've read that very book, just after my daughter Francesca was born!. Such a beautifully written book and packed full of wonderful recipes, including the Crespelle 🙂
Janice Pattie says
It is a delightful book, I believe there is another one written for her other daughter Olivia.
Jane Sarchet says
And now I'm craving pancakes 🙂
Janie x
Janice Pattie says
There's only one remedy for that, Jane!
Jacqueline Meldrum says
The tefal pans are great, aren't they? I love mine, they make pancakes so easy. Although I have to say we have eaten so many pancakes over the last week, that I am truly getting fed up of them now. I do like your winter fruit pancakes, but maybe in a week or two.
Janice Pattie says
I can imagine. I only made these two types and that will probably be it until next year!
Christian Halfmann says
I definitely have to try the breakfast pancakes, next time I will have some bacon.
Sew White says
These look fabulous Janice. I love Tefal pans, I 'd love to get one for pancakes. I only have a huge pan which isn't easy to flip when the time comes. I will try your pancake recipe this week!