The Best Cheeses To Use In Your Crepes

Crepes are a versatile dish that can be served with a variety of sweet or savoury fillings. While sweet crepes are often associated with fruity fillings, such as strawberries, Nutella, or jams, savoury crepes offer a delightful alternative, with cheese being a popular choice. From farmer's cheese to extra sharp cheddar, the options for cheese in crepes are endless, and can be paired with a range of other ingredients, such as ham, spinach, or mushrooms.

Sweet cheese crepes

Cheese Filling Options:

For the cheese filling, you can use either a cream cheese base or a cottage/farmer's cheese base.

Cream Cheese Filling:

For a cream cheese filling, you will need cream cheese, sugar (granulated or powdered), vanilla extract, and whipped cream. Beat the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Then, mix in the whipped cream. You can also add some lemon zest, bourbon, cocoa powder, or strawberry jam to the mixture for different flavours.

Cottage/Farmer's Cheese Filling:

For a cottage or farmer's cheese filling, you can mix the cheese with cream cheese, cool whip, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract. You can also add an egg to the mixture and beat it in gradually. This filling tends to be a bit more liquidy.

Crepe Batter:

For the crepe batter, you will typically need milk, eggs, flour, sugar, salt, and butter or oil. Some recipes also call for a bit of vegetable oil or water to be added to the batter. To make a savoury crepe with a cheesy flavour, you can add shredded extra sharp cheddar cheese to the batter.

Cooking and Serving:

Cook the crepes in a non-stick skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Add a small amount of batter to the pan and quickly swirl it around to coat the bottom evenly. Cook each crepe for about a minute on each side. You can serve the crepes with a dollop of sour cream, jam, or fresh berries on the side.

Storage:

The crepe batter can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to a day. The cooked crepes can also be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to a week. The cheese filling can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Customizations:

You can fill your sweet cheese crepes with a variety of sweet fillings, such as Nutella, fruit jams, or peanut butter. You can also add a drizzle of chocolate, strawberry, or blueberry sauce on top of the filling. For a citrus twist, add some lemon juice to the filling or a sprinkle of powdered sugar and lemon juice on top of the crepe.

Farmer's cheese crepes

Farmers Cheese Crepes

Overview

Crepes with Farmer's Cheese are a popular dish among Slavic families, often served at weddings, holidays, and other major events. They are also enjoyed as a breakfast, lunch, or snack. The crepes are thin and delicate, filled with a Farmer's Cheese filling that melts when cooked in butter or oil. This dish is slightly time-consuming to make but always turns out amazing and is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

Ingredients

For the Crepe Batter:

• 1 1/2 cups 2% or whole milk
• 4 large eggs, room temperature
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon fine salt

For the Farmer's Cheese Filling:

• 1 1/2 cups Farmer's Cheese, crumbled into a measuring cup
• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 2 tablespoons cool whip, slightly thawed
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar, or 3/4 cup powdered sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Method

Making the Crepe Batter:

Place the ingredients for the crepe batter into a blender in the following order: 4 large eggs, 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, 1/8 teaspoon fine salt, and 1 cup all-purpose flour. In a separate bowl, melt 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter and combine with 1 1/2 cups of whole milk. Pour the liquid over the flour in the blender and blend until smooth and well combined. If the batter seems too watery, add 1-2 tablespoons of flour.

Preheat 2 non-stick small skillets over medium heat and wipe the skillets with an oiled paper towel. Pour about 2-3 tablespoons of crepe batter into the skillet, swirling the batter to evenly coat the bottom. Cook each side until lightly golden, then transfer the crepe onto a cutting board. Repeat with the remaining batter, wiping the skillets with an oiled paper towel between each crepe.

Making the Farmer's Cheese Filling:

In a large bowl, cream together 1 1/2 cups of Farmer's Cheese, 4 ounces of softened cream cheese, 2 tablespoons of cool whip, 1/2 cup of granulated sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.

Assembling the Crepes:

Spread a generous amount of the cheese filling on each crepe, fold the opposite sides towards the center, and then roll the crepe into a log. Refrigerate the crepes until ready to serve.

Serving the Crepes:

Melt about 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter in a skillet over medium heat and saute the rolled cheese crepes until golden brown on both sides. Serve with sour cream, jam, or fresh berries on the side.

Tips and Variations

• The crepes can be made ahead of time and frozen for up to 2 months.
• When making crepes for a large gathering, consider doubling the ingredients to increase the serving amount.
• For a sweet variation, serve the crepes with a blueberry sauce or other fruit sauce.
• For a savory variation, fill the crepes with Polish white cheese, heavy cream, and almond flakes.

Savoury cheese crepes

Overview

Crepes are a versatile dish that can be served as a sweet or savoury option. While sweet crepes are often filled with fruity whipped cream, Nutella, or butter and jam, savoury crepes offer a delicious alternative.

Ingredients

• Milk
• Eggs
• Butter or oil
• Flour
• Sugar
• Salt
• Cheese

Method

• Combine the milk, eggs, butter or oil, flour, sugar, and salt in a blender and mix until smooth.
• Heat a skillet or crepe pan over medium heat and add a small amount of butter or oil.
• Pour the batter into the pan and swirl to coat the bottom evenly.
• Cook until small brown spots appear on the bottom of the crepe, then carefully loosen and flip.
• Repeat with the remaining batter, stacking cooked crepes between layers of parchment or wax paper.
• For the filling, mix the cheese with sour cream, scallions, or other desired ingredients.
• Spread the filling onto the crepes, fold, and serve immediately.

Tips

• It is recommended to let the batter rest for at least an hour before cooking to allow the flour to fully absorb the liquid and create a better texture.
• When oiling the pan, use a neutral oil with a high smoke point, such as avocado oil.
• For a sweet option, add 1-2 teaspoons of sugar to the batter.
• Get creative with your fillings! Savoury crepes can be filled with a variety of cheeses, meats, and vegetables.

Ham and cheese crepes

The Batter

To make the batter, add 1 1/4 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon of melted butter, milk, and 2 eggs to a blender and process until smooth, for 1 to 2 minutes. Set the batter aside for at least 20 minutes.

Filling

For the filling, you will need sliced ham, shredded Gruyère cheese, and sliced onions. You can also add Dijon mustard.

Cooking

Heat butter in a skillet over medium heat and cook the onions until they start to turn golden brown. Coat a crepe pan or non-stick skillet with melted butter. Pour about 1/4 cup of batter into the pan, swirling it to thinly coat the bottom. Cook until small brown spots appear on the bottom of the crepe, then loosen the crepe from the pan using a spatula and gently flip it. Slide the crepe onto a plate and repeat with the remaining batter.

Assembly

Spread some mustard over half of the crepe, then cover with ham slices, sautéed onion, and cheese. Fold the other side over the filling, pressing down slightly, and heat until the cheese starts to melt. Fold the crepe in half again.

Serving

Cream cheese crepes

The Cream Cheese Filling

For the filling, you will need cream cheese, heavy cream or whipping cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Some recipes suggest adding a touch of cinnamon, grated orange zest, or lemon juice to add extra flavour.

Start by making the whipped cream. Add the heavy cream and powdered sugar to a medium bowl and whip until stiff. Begin at low speed, then increase to medium once the mixture has thickened, and finish on high speed. Be careful not to overmix, as the cream can turn grainy and eventually into butter.

In a separate bowl, whisk the cream cheese with vanilla extract until combined. Then, gently fold the cream cheese mixture into the whipped cream. You can use a mixer on low speed or a spatula to combine the two.

Preparing the Crepes

You can make your own crepes or use store-bought ones. If you are making your own, a basic crepe batter typically includes flour, milk, eggs, and melted butter. You can also add a pinch of salt and some sugar if you like your crepes sweeter. Mix the ingredients in a blender until smooth, and let the batter rest for at least 20 minutes.

Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat and add a small amount of butter or oil. Pour the batter into the pan, swirling to coat the bottom evenly. Cook each crepe for about 2 minutes, or until small brown spots appear, then carefully flip and cook the other side for another minute or so. Stack the cooked crepes between layers of parchment paper or waxed paper.

Assembling the Crepes

Once your crepes and filling are ready, it's time to assemble. Spread a generous amount of filling onto each crepe, leaving some space around the edges. You can also add some sliced fresh fruit, such as strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries, for extra flavour and texture. Fold in the sides and roll up the crepe to enclose the filling.

Serving and Storing

You can also make them ahead of time and store them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, simply place the crepes in a skillet over medium heat with a little butter until warmed through.

Variations

While the classic cream cheese filling is delicious on its own, there are endless variations you can try. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Lemon Cream Cheese Filling: Add the zest of one lemon for a bright, citrusy note.
• Chantilly Cream Cheese Filling: Add a touch of vanilla extract for a subtle, sweet flavour.
• Bourbon Cream Cheese Filling: Add a splash of bourbon for a boozy twist.
• Chocolate Cream Cheese Filling: Add cocoa powder for chocolate lovers.
• Strawberry Cream Cheese Filling: Stir in some strawberry jam or jelly for a fruity touch.
• Honey Cream Cheese Filling: Drizzle in some honey for extra sweetness.

Frequently asked questions