Easy Savory Crepes (Make ahead option!)

Name: Savory Crepes
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: 2 large eggs; 1 cup whole milk; 1/4 cup water; 2 tablespoons melted butter; 1 cup all-purpose flour (120g); 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt; avocado oil (or other neutral oil, for coating pan (see recipe note #1)); 4 ounces Gruyère cheese (or Comté, finely shredded); 8 thin slices ham (Jambon de Paris or Prosciutto)

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If the sight of a crepe stand makes your heart leap, you'll understand why I love that Savory Crepes are so easy to make at home. They are a wonderful thing: tender crepes brimming with cheese, and thin, salty ham. Universally adored and conveniently adaptable to endless cheese, meat and vegetable combinations.

With a blender and six ingredients that I bet you have on hand, you can make savory crepe batter in 5 minutes flat. You'll want to let the batter rest in the refrigerator for 30 minutes for the best texture, but then you'll conveniently have a full day to use it.

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Ingredients You Need to Make Savory Crepes
How to Store Crepes
Crepe Making FAQ
What can you serve with crepes?
How to Make Savory Crepes
Savory Crepes
💬 Comments

Ingredients You Need to Make Savory Crepes

savory crepe ingredients on white marble board

Eggs: Large or extra large eggs
Milk: Whole milk
Butter: If you use unsalted butter, increase kosher salt to ½ teaspoon.
Flour: All-purpose flour
Kosher Salt
Neutral Oil: Avocado or other high heat, neutral oil.
Gruyère Cheese: Or Comté, though it can be more difficult to find.
Jambon de Paris or Prosciutto: Or other thinly sliced deli ham or cured meat

Though savory crepes are thin and tender, they're surprisingly sturdy and resilient. When you oil the pan between each crepe, you can cook and stack them - they won't stick together. And, once they've cooled, you can store them in the refrigerator or freezer to rewarm later.

savory crepes layered on a white plate pictured from above

How to Store Crepes

Once crepes have cooled completely, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 2 days. To reheat, arrange crepes (it's okay if they overlap) on a parchment lined baking sheet. Cover with foil and rewarm in a 250˚F oven for 10 to 12 minutes. Or rewarm individually in a non-stick skillet or crepe pan over medium low heat for 10 to 15 seconds.

To freeze cooked crepes, let cool completely then stack with a layer of wax paper between each crepe to prevent sticking. Transfer to a freezer bag and freeze for up to a month. Let thaw in the refrigerator or at room temperature before reheating.

Note that for this savory crepe recipe, there's no need to reheat. Make the crepes up to 2 days in advance, store in the refrigerator and pick up at step 3 of the recipe when you're ready to serve!

Crepe Making FAQ

Can crepes be made ahead?

Yes, you can make crepes ahead of time and I recommend that you do! Crepes hold up beautifully when made ahead of time and make quick work of recipes, sweet or savory, when it's time to assemble your final dish. See instructions above for refrigerating or freezing pre-made crepes.

Will crepes stick together?

When you brush your crepe pan or skillet between each crepe, they won't stick together (even straight from the pan) when you stack them on a plate.

What is the difference between a dessert crepe and a main dish crepe?

The primary difference between a dessert and a main dish crepe (savory crepe) is the filling. This crepe recipe works well for either. If you plan to make only sweet crepes, you may want to add 1 or 2 teaspoons of sugar to the batter.

What can you serve with crepes?

Serve crepes with all kinds of fillings, both savory and sweet. Delicious on their own and welcome alongside other brunch dishes (like Baked Eggs and Breakfast Potatoes or Skillet Potatoes and, of course, French 75 Cocktails!) with Chouquettes for dessert!

Savory Crepe Filling Ideas:

Cheese: Comté, Gruyère, Emmentaler (or other Swiss cheese), soft goat cheese, smoked mozzarella, cheddar
Meat: Jambon de Paris, Prosciutto or other thinly sliced ham or cured meat
Vegetables: sautéed mushrooms, green onions, leeks, spinach, or other tender greens; roasted seasonal vegetables, roasted or sun-dried tomatoes
Garnish: minced chives or other fresh herb like parsley, rosemary, thyme, oregano, chervil, or tarragon

Sweet Crepe Filling Ideas:

Fresh Lemon Wedges and White Sugar (a Parisian classic combination)
Nutella inside, outside sprinkled with powdered sugar and cocoa powder
Fruit Preserves inside, outside sprinkled with powdered sugar
Fresh berries (sliced if large, like strawberries) and whipped cream or sweetened crème fraiche or mascarpone, outside sprinkled with powdered sugar

How to Make Savory Crepes

Step 1: Combine crepe batter ingredients in blender (eggs, milk, water, melted butter, flour, kosher salt) and blend until smooth. Refrigerate batter 30 minutes.

blending crepe batter and pouring into bowl

Step 2: To cook crepes, heat a crepe pan or nonstick skillet over medium heat until hot. Brush with oil and scoop ¼ cup of batter into center, swirl pan to spread in a thin, even circle. Cook until lightly brown and dry looking on top, 40 to 60 seconds (or up to 2 minutes for a deeper golden brown); gently flip with thin, metal spatula and cook 20 to 30 seconds more. Transfer to plate. Repeat with remaining batter.

Step 3: To make savory crepes: preheat oven to 350˚F. Sprinkle cheese on one half of crepe and top with 1 ham slice and a little more shredded cheese. Fold crepe into quarters and place on prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining crepes. Bake 8-10 minutes until crepes are hot and cheese is melted; serve immediately.

Savory Crepes

Marissa Stevens

Take this recipe as a starting point and feel free to take these in your own direction with different savory fillings. Or add a teaspoon or two of sugar to the batter and fill them with something sweet like fruit preserves, nutella, or a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and a sprinkle of sugar.

5 from 12 votes

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Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 20 mins

Refrigeration Time 30 mins

Total Time 1 hr

Course Breads and Quick Breads, Breakfast

Cuisine French

Servings crepes

Calories 206 kcal

Ingredients

2 large eggs
1 cup whole milk
¼ cup water
2 tablespoons melted butter
1 cup all-purpose flour 120g
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
avocado oil or other neutral oil, for coating pan (see recipe note #1)
4 ounces Gruyère cheese or Comté, finely shredded
8 thin slices ham Jambon de Paris or Prosciutto

Instructions

In a blender combine eggs, milk, water, melted butter, flour and salt; pulse a few times to combine and then blend until smooth, about 10 seconds. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. (Recipe note #2)
To make savory crepes, preheat oven to 350˚F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. (Hold off on this step if making crepes ahead of time.)
When ready to cook crepes, place a plate near cooktop and heat a 10-inch carbon steel or non-stick pan over medium heat until hot. Brush a thin layer of oil on bottom of pan. Pour 4 tablespoons (¼ cup) of batter into center of pan; tilt and swirl pan to spread batter in a thin, even layer. Cook 40 to 60 seconds, until top looks dry and bottom is lightly golden brown. (Or up to 2 minutes for a deep golden brown.) Flip with thin spatula and cook 20 to 30 seconds more or until lightly golden brown. Transfer to plate. Repeat with remaining batter, stacking crepes as you go. (Recipe note #3)
Lay one crepe onto work surface. Sprinkle ¼ ounce of shredded cheese on one half of crepe; top with 1 ham slice another ¼ ounce shredded cheese. Fold crepe into quarters and place on prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining crepes. Bake 8-10 minutes until crepes are hot and cheese is melted; serve immediately.

Notes

Oil is a convenient alternative to butter when making crepes as butter has a tendency to burn. If you want to use butter, I recommend clarifying it first so it has a higher smoke point. See this post on how to clarify butter.
Crepe batter will last up to 1 day in the refrigerator.
Transfer cooked, unfilled crepes to sealable plastic bag and store up to 2 days in the refrigerator or freeze for up to 1 month.
If you end up with leftover filled crepes, let cool completely and refrigerate up to one day. Reheat in a 350˚F oven 10 minutes and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 206kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 11gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 79mgSodium: 323mgPotassium: 125mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 322IUCalcium: 156mgIron: 1mg

Keyword baby shower, Christmas morning, Mother's Day

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