Good morning Ladies and Gentlemen, you are probably about to have for breakfast, and maybe enjoy a delicious Jianbing. But do you know that this Chinese long tradition also has a French sweet equivalent, a popular dessert? I propose to discover its recipe and how to eat it. 

The “Chandeleur” festival

In France we have “Chandeleur” (Candlemas), traditionally a Christian holiday, but today it is well known for being the day during which we eat crepes, the sweet version of Jianbing. 

Chinese Jianbing

Crepes

Recipe for French sweet crepes

The recipe for crepes is actually very easy and doable at home, like the jianbing, even by your children. To prepare enough for 4 people, you need the following:

  •  250 g of flour (wheat flour)
  • 4 eggs
  • 1/2L of milk
  • 2 large spoons of sugar
  • 1 pinch of salt
  • A large mixing bowl
  • A flat frying pan

Step 1

Place all the flour in the mixing bowl. Add sugar and salt into the bowl. Break an egg inside, and whisk it until it is totally absorbed by the flour. Repeat this with all the eggs, one after each other.

Step 2

Now you may gradually add in the milk and stir to mix it with the flour/eggs base. Do it until you get a very liquid and fluid base without lump.

Step 3

Heat a lightly oiled flat griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 60ml for each crepe. Tilt the pan with a circular motion so that the batter coats the surface evenly, or use a tool like the one on the photo.

Step 4

Cook the crepe for about 2 minutes, until the bottom is light brown. Loosen with a fish slice or spatula, turn and cook the other side.

Game and superstition

In France it’s traditional to turn the crepe by grasping the pan with your right hand and flipping the crepe in the air! If you do it successfully while holding a golden coin in your left hand, you will have prosperity for the whole year!

How to eat them?

Now you have seen how easy the recipe is, you may enjoy them as you wish, here are some delicious recommendations. You can find almost all of them in any French restaurant serving crepes, or even in the streets of Paris.

Salted Caramel 

This is an iconic choice. The salted caramel and crepes and a perfect match. Beware not to have it too sweet.

Chocolate and banana

Another iconic association. The warm melted chocolate with banana slices, one of my personal favourite choice!

Fruits

Fruits, simply, for those who want to remain healthy. Strawberries, apple, pear… many fruits can be successfully paired with the taste of crepes.

Honey

A safe and simple option: just lay a drizzle of honey over your crepe, and fold it. You cannot be wrong.

Chantilly cream

This is one of the favourite of the children: adding a lot (and often too much) of Chantilly cream, a typical French whipped cream. Of course, adults are also allowed to taste it. 

Ice cream

Yes, ice cream is very delicious with warm crepes, as it will deliver a tasteful hot/cold sensation into your mouth. A must-have.

Hopefully this article made you now as impatient as I am to eat crepes. But remember, one of the most important thing for the desserts etiquette is to share them with your family and friends!