Sweet Italian Pancakes (Crespelle)
These Sweet Italian Pancakes (Crespelle) are classic crepe-style thin pancakes which are so easy to make and perfect for breakfast or as a delicious dessert with a variety of fruit fillings.
Why should I make Crespelle pancakes?
This is an ideal recipe if you need to create a breakfast or dessert at the last minute. The ingredients for the pancakes are very simple and you are likely to have them to hand. Crespelle are really versatile and can be filled with whatever you have to hand.
What is Italian about these pancakes?
Crespelle are Italian-style crêpes, thin pancakes that are similar to French crepes. counterparts but with a distinctly Italian twist. The sweet versions of these pancakes might be filled with jam, chocolate, or fruit preserves, and dusted with icing sugar, and served for breakfast or dessert.
Traditionally, crespelle are most commonly found in Tuscan cuisine where the savoury version is filled with ingredients like ricotta cheese and spinach, then rolled or folded, covered with a béchamel or tomato sauce, and baked in the oven. If you enjoy savoury pancakes then check out my recipe for Seafood Pancakes.
What is Pancake Day or Shrove Tuesday?
Pancake Day, or Shrove Tuesday, is a Christian feast day before the start of Lent. Lent is the 40 days leading up to Easter and is traditionally a time of fasting. The name ‘Shrove Tuesday’ comes from the practice by Christians of attending confession where they were “shriven” (absolved from their sins).
Shrove Tuesday is seen as the last opportunity to use up eggs and fats before the Lenten fast and pancakes are the perfect way of using up these ingredients.
In the UK It’s 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.
Is Mardi Gras the same as Pancake Day?
Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday is the same festival as Shrove Tuesday with the ‘fat’ referring to the fats to be used before Lent. Mardi Gras is celebrated with Carnivals and parades in the southern states of the USA, most notably in New Orleans.
What ingredients do I need to make Crespelle Pancakes?
You only need a few ingredients for the pancakes and they are all things that you are likely to have in your larder or refrigerator. Here is what you need:
- Flour
- Milk
- Eggs
- Butter
- Sugar
Scroll to the end of this article to find the full recipe and all quantities of ingredients, with step-by-step photo instructions.
What kind of flour do I need?
I use self-raising flour for these pancakes. The raising agent gives an extra lightness to the sweet pancakes.
I don’t have self-raising flour, what can I substitute?
If you don’t have self-raising flour you can make it at home using plain (all-purpose flour) and baking powder.
This recipe uses 100g self-raising flour therefore you need to add one teaspoon baking powder to plain (all-purpose) flour, this gives you self-raising flour.
What is baking powder?
Baking powder is a chemical raising agent that is a combination of bicarbonate of soda and cream of tartar. To make homemade baking powder combine ¼ of a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda with ½ a teaspoon of cream of tartar for every teaspoon of baking powder your chosen baking recipe requires.
What kind of milk should I use?
I use semi-skimmed milk because that is what I generally have in my house. You can use whole milk and even skimmed milk.
Can I substitute plant milk?
Although I have not tried plant milk in this recipe, there is no reason why it should not work just as well as dairy milk. I recommend that you try out different types of plant milk to find your own favourite as the flavour and richness of the milk will influence the taste of the pancakes.
What kind of sugar should I use?
I use white caster (superfine) sugar as it dissolves quickly and easily in the batter. However, you can use granulated sugar if that is all that you have, just make sure that you stir the batter well and leave it to sit so that there are no gritty pieces of sugar left.
Can I substitute non-dairy spread for butter?
You can also use plant based spreads as long as they are full fat. Spreadable and low-fat spreads are not suitable as they contain a high proportion of water that will affect the recipe.
Can I make Crespelle Sweet Italian Pancakes ahead of time?
You can can make the batter for the pancakes the day before you want to use them. Keep it in the fridge and check the thickness before using, you may need to add more milk.
You can also make the pancakes ahead of time, layer them with parchment paper so they don’t stick together. Wrap in foil and store in the fridge, you then can warm them in a low oven when you need them. Or put on a microwave safe plate, cover with plastic wrap and heat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes until piping hot.
Can I freeze Crespelle pancakes?
You can make and freeze the pancakes, just put some parchment or waxed paper between each pancake and wrap and freeze. The pancakes take minutes to defrost if you separate them.
Vegetarian
Crespelle pancakes are suitable for vegetarians.
Gluten Free
Pancakes contain wheat flour and are not suitable for a gluten free diet.
For more information regarding any dietary information provided on this website, please refer to my Nutritional Disclaimer.
How should I serve Sweet Italian Pancakes (Crespelle)
British Style
You can use this recipe for the traditional Shrove Tuesday pancakes and serve with a little lemon juice and sprinkled with caster (superfine) sugar.
Italian Style
For a traditional Italian flavour you can fill the pancakes with mascarpone, sweetened ricotta, fruit preserves, or fresh berries. Or fold or roll, dust with icing sugar, and drizzle with honey or chocolate sauce. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream or ice cream for a decadent dessert.
Fruit Compote
Serve the Crespelle with a delicious fruit compote. Here are some ideas for different fruit compotes:
Dried Fruit Compote with Clementine is a great choice to fill these sweet pancakes, especially in winter. The combination of sweet dried fruit, juicy clementine oranges and a little hint of orange liqueur makes it a great dinner party dessert. It is a very easy recipe to make and you can make it ahead of time.
Keep back some of the dried fruit mixture to place on top of the Crespelle and pour over some of the syrup from the dried fruits.
More Pancake Recipes
Crespelle Sweet Italian Pancakes
Ingredients
- 100 grams (1 cup) self-raising flour
- 2 tablespoons caster sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 300 millilitres (1 cups) semi-skimmed milk
- 1 tablespoon butter
Instructions
- Put 100 grams (1 cup) self-raising flour into a bowl or jug. Add 2 large eggs. then start to mix using an electric or a hand whisk. Add the milk and keep whisking until you have a smooth batter that is the consistency of thin pouring cream.
- Add 2 tablespoons caster 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 of the 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 bubbles on top and browns underneath (lift it up with a spatula to see) 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.
- Serve the Crespelle Sweet Italian Pancakes with a variety of fillings (see notes) and whipped cream or traditional Italian ricotta cheese.
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!
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 😉
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 – a new one for me. Thanks so much for taking part in Credit Crunch Munch.
It's an aquired taste for breakfast but would be great at other times of the day too.
You certainly got the most out of your yummy pancakes Janice, they are so versatile. Thanks for entering Credit Crunch Munch:-)
Got to make the most of every scrap 🙂
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
Oh thank you for entering the No Waste Food Challenge – I am a really bad guest host I'm just not keeping up!
xx
Not at all, Fiona. It's one of my favourite challenges.
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.
I think pancakes are the same everywhere, it's just the language that is different, crepe, crespelle, pancake.
For the amount of pancakes I make I think need one of those pans.
It's a super pan, Bintu. Quite solid and really good quality non-stick
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!
Thanks Tina. You are right, you do need less oil or butter.
I didn't know pancakes were an Italian thing. I love all pancakes, these look delicious. GG
I think you get some kind of pancake everywhere!
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
If you make some tweet me and I'll come and have a look 🙂
They all looks droolworthy! I probably should make some pancakes for Shrove Tuesday as well!
Thank you, Sylvia
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 🙂
It is a delightful book, I believe there is another one written for her other daughter Olivia.
And now I'm craving pancakes 🙂
Janie x
There's only one remedy for that, Jane!
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.
I can imagine. I only made these two types and that will probably be it until next year!
I definitely have to try the breakfast pancakes, next time I will have some bacon.
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!