Sweet or savory? One way or the other, crepes are a delight. Moreover, they are so versatile that they can be filled with all kinds of fillings. And, if you remember our Gastronomic Calendar, every February 2nd is celebrated the Crepes Day. A great excuse to indulge ourselves. Besides, did you know that they are a symbol of prosperity and good luck? Join us to celebrate Crepe Day and learn more about this date.
But first, let’s start by getting to know a little more about crepes.
This simple dough is very similar to that of pancakes; with the difference that crepes do not have yeast. That is why the result is a thinner and wider disk than the classic pancake, which has a spongier texture.
With this preparation, of French origin, we can make from the sweetest desserts to the richest and most elaborate dinners. As we have already mentioned, they are good in both sweet and savory dishes.
And, such a popular and versatile elaboration, could not be without its own day on the calendar. Let’s take a look at it:
Crepe Day
Every February 2nd is celebrated the day of the Crepe. A celebration that in France is known as La Chandeleur, a day in which all families eat Crepes, usually sweet.
The word Chandeleur, comes from the Latin word candela, candle. And this celebration has its origin in the ancient Roman custom of lighting candles to honor their gods. Celebration that has been maintained (with its variations and evolutions) until today.
Why Crepe Day is celebrated
La Chandeleur, or Candlemas Day, is a day that celebrates the recognition of the Child Jesus as light in the world. This feast is actually of Christian origin. But, in its origins, a pagan feast, it celebrated the approach of spring.
In France, this long-established festival is celebrated by eating crepes, as they are a symbol of good luck and prosperity. In this way we ask that the year comes full of good news, happiness and prosperity.
There is also the tradition of placing a coin in a crepe to receive a gift or very special news during the year.
Celebrate Crepe Day with a great recipe
As on Chandeleur, or Crepe Day, it is tradition to eat this sweet preparation, we are going to see a delicious and simple recipe for you to make your own crepes and celebrate this day. We are going to prepare them with a delicious homemade chocolate sauce. You will see that it is very easy to make.
The dough is not complicated at all. We simply have to mix the ingredients, and beat them very well, until we get a homogeneous texture. Once ready, let it rest for half an hour. After that time, we can start making the crepes. Remember that it is essential that we make them in a non-stick pan or griddle. This way we will avoid that they stick and break when cooking them. The crepes are a very thin dough. So do not add too much each time.
When we have the crepes ready, we only need the chocolate sauce. Simply melt the chocolate in a pot with a little milk. Mix with condensed milk and a pinch of water until you get a homogeneous sauce. Serve your crepes piping hot with the freshly made chocolate sauce. You can also finish decorating your dish with a little whipped cream, or with ice cream (cream or vanilla ice cream will create a delicious contrast, both in flavor and temperature); and you are ready to celebrate Crepe Day in style.
Crepes with chocolate sauce
Ingredients
For the crepes
- 120 g Flour
- 2 eggs
- 1 Tbsp Butter
- 250 ml Milk
- 1 pinch Salt
- 1/2 tsp Sugar
For the chocolate sauce
- 75 g Melting chocolate
- 100 ml Milk
- 50 g Condensed milk
- 1 Tbsp Water
Instructions
We will start by making the pancakes
- For the pancakes, we pour the eggs and milk in a bowl, with a pinch of salt, and beat them well. Add the sifted flour and mix. When you have a homogeneous dough, add the melted butter. If you have a mixer, it won't take long at all.
- Let the dough rest for about 30 minutes, covered with plastic wrap.
- Now, in a non-stick frying pan, pour a little butter. When it is melted, spread it all over the pan. Add a little batter. Move the pan little by little so that the batter is well distributed and the crepes are thin.Let them cook until bubbles start to appear on the surface. Then, turn them over and let them cook on the other side.
To make the homemade chocolate sauce
- In a small saucepan, put the milk and add the chopped chocolate. Keep it over low heat while stirring, until the chocolate melts. Then, add the condensed milk while stirring, and add the tablespoon of water, stir until the sauce is homogeneous.
- Serve the pancakes with the rich homemade chocolate sauce and, if you like, a little whipped cream and they are perfect!
The origin of Crepes
This simple dough has its origins in the Brittany region of western France. It is believed that it was around the 13th century when this recipe was first elaborated. However, it was not until the seventeenth century when they began to gain enormous popularity. It was then when the custom of accompanying crepes with pastry cream, fruits, syrups… began.
And that’s the end of our Crepe Day celebration. If you liked it, remember to leave us your comments, ideas, opinions… We love to read you! And don’t forget to follow us on social networks to keep up to date with all our publications. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram.
