Fast, foolproof crepes made with simple pantry staples. This batter works perfectly with a crepe maker or a skillet, cooks in minutes, and yields thin, tender crepes ready for sweet or savory fillings. Refrigerate or freeze extras for easy breakfasts.
My kids are obsessed with crepes, and an electric crepe maker is the reason they happen at our house. It takes the stress out of thin, lacy crepes and makes breakfast feel like a little café moment at home. Even better, it is fast. I can dip, flip, and stack a whole plate in minutes, which means no one is waiting around hungry. In this post, I’ll share our tried-and-true crepe recipe, plus the cordless crepe maker we have used and loved for years, so you can make fast, easy crepes at home too.
Table of Contents
The Electric Crepe Maker We’ve Loved for Years
This electric crepe maker makes this whole process fast, easy, and honestly kind of fun. We’ve had this exact model for a few years, and it’s still going strong. The dip-and-flip design means I can crank out a stack in minutes, and the nonstick surface releases those thin, lacy crepes without tearing. Here’s the link to the one I have!
Why We Love This Electric Crepe Maker
- Heats evenly for consistent, ultra-thin crepes
- Nonstick surface wipes clean in seconds
- Compact and lightweight, so it’s easy to store
- No tricky swirling. Just dip, flip, and done
Step-By-Step: How to Use an Electric Crepe Maker
- Preheat – Plug in and heat the crepe maker until the ready light switches on.
- Fill the Tray – Pour batter into the shallow dipping tray. Batter should be the texture of heavy cream.
- Lightly Grease – Rub a tiny bit of butter on the hot plate. Wipe off excess with a paper towel.
- Dip – Invert the crepe maker and dip the plate into the batter for 2–3 seconds. Lift straight up to let excess drip off.
- Cook – Flip the crepe maker upright on its base. Cook 30–45 seconds until the edges lift slightly.
- Flip the Crepe – Flip the crepe maker over a plate and let the crepe slide off. If it clings, gently nudge the edge with a butter knife or spatula.
- Stack and Repeat – Re-dip and keep going.
- That’s it – once you find the right batter consistency, an electric crepe maker turns out thin crepes fast.
Can You Use Pancake Mix With a Crepe Maker?
Short answer: yes, in a pinch. Pancake mix can work on an electric crepe maker if you thin it and add eggs and butter.
Pancake Mix vs. Crepe Batter
- Leavening: Pancake mix has baking powder, which makes the batter puff and gives it a fluffy texture. Crepes have little to no leavening, so they stay thin.
- Thickness: Pancake batter is thicker. Crepe batter is very thin, like heavy cream, so it spreads evenly on the crepe maker into a delicate, lacy sheet.
- Fat and eggs: Crepes rely more on eggs and a bit of butter for tenderness and flexibility. Pancake mix relies more on leavening and sugar.
- Sweetness: Pancake mix is often sweeter. Crepe batter is lightly sweet or unsweet so it works for sweet or savory fillings.
How to Tweak Pancake Mix for Crepes
If you really want to go ahead and use that boxed pancake mix, you’ll want to make a couple of adjustments:
- Whisk 1 cup pancake mix, 1½ cups milk, 2 large eggs, and 1 tbsp melted butter until smooth.
- Rest 15 to 20 minutes.
- Batter should pour like heavy cream. If it drags, whisk in 1 to 3 tbsp milk.
This will get you close, but for ultra-thin, classic crepes, the simple flour, milk, eggs, and butter batter in this post will perform better, especially on a crepe maker.
Easy Crepe Filling Ideas
After we’ve made a pile on the electric crepe maker, we set out a topping bar so everyone can build sweet or savory crepes. There are so many options for fun toppings.
Sweet Crepe Fillings
- Whipped cream
- Nutella
- Fruit: Sliced bananas, berries, grapes, peaches
- Honey
- Maple syrup
- Powdered sugar
- Canned pie filling (apple, cherry, etc.
- Mini chocolate chips
Savory Crepe Fillings
- Ham and gruyere
- Spinach and feta
- Smoked salmon with dill cream
- Roasted veggies and pesto
- Turkey, brie, and cranberry
- Chicken, mushrooms, and thyme
- Scrambled eggs and cheddar
- Tomato, basil, and mozzarella
Crepe Maker vs Skillet: What’s the Difference?
- Crepe maker: even heat, no swirling learning curve, faster batches, thinner results.
- Skillet: you probably already own one; needs a bit more practice and usually makes thicker edges.
Classic and Easy Crepes
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 15 min
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 12-14 Crepes
- Category: Breakfast
Ingredients
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1 cup (130 g) all-purpose flour
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1½ cups (355 g) milk, room temp
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3 large eggs, room temp
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2 tbsp (28 g) melted butter, plus more for brushing
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1 tbsp sugar (omit for savory)
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1/2 tsp fine salt
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1 tsp vanilla (only for sweet crepes)
Instructions
Batter
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Blend milk, eggs, melted butter, sugar, salt, and vanilla until smooth.
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1½ cups (355 g) milk, room temp
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3 large eggs, room temp
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2 tbsp (28 g) melted butter, plus more for brushing
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1 tbsp sugar (omit for savory)
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1/2 tsp fine salt
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1 tsp vanilla (only for sweet crepes)
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Add flour and blend 10–15 seconds just until silky.
- 1 cup (130 g) all-purpose flour
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Rest 20–30 minutes at room temp. This relaxes gluten and reduces tearing.
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Batter should be thin like heavy cream. If thick, whisk in 1–3 tbsp milk.
Cordless crepe maker method
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Preheat maker per instructions. Pour batter into the included dipping tray.
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Lightly butter the hot plate.
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Dip the plate into the batter for 2–3 seconds, lift, and invert.
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Cook 30–45 seconds until edges lift. Flip and cook 10–20 seconds.
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Stack on a plate covered with a towel.
Skillet method
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Heat a nonstick or crepe pan over medium. Lightly butter.
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Pour ¼ cup batter, swirl thinly.
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Cook 45–60 seconds. Flip and cook 10–20 seconds.
Notes
Love using this crepe maker!
📌 Save This Crepe Maker Recipe
Pin now and come back anytime you’re craving fast, easy crepes.
FAQ: Making Crepes
Can I use pancake mix to make crepes on a crepe maker?
Yes, in a pinch. Thin it with extra milk, add eggs and a little melted butter. Classic crepe batter will be thinner and more tender.
Do you have to rest crepe batter for a crepe maker?
Yes. Rest 20 to 30 minutes so the flour hydrates. Your crepes will be softer and less likely to tear.
How thin should crepe batter be for an electric crepe maker?
Like heavy cream. If it coats too thick, whisk in 1 to 3 tablespoons of milk.
How do you clean an electric crepe maker?
Unplug, let it cool, then wipe the plate with a damp cloth. Wash the dipping tray in warm soapy water.
What’s the best way to store and reheat crepes?
Refrigerate up to 3 days or freeze up to 2 months with parchment between each crepe. Reheat in a warm skillet for 10 to 15 seconds per side.
If you’re looking for an ultra-light, high-protein option, check out my cottage-cheese-and-eggs version. It’s a no-carb crepe copycat that cooks fast and rolls beautifully for sweet or savory fillings. > Using Cottage Cheese & Eggs to Make High Protein Pancakes
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