Raspberry Vanilla Custard Crêpes

A silky, smooth vanilla custard makes a wonderful filling for crêpes.  In this case, we drizzled a raspberry sauce made with frozen or fresh raspberries over the crêpes. 

For the crêpes

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups milk
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 pinch salt

1. Sift the flour into a medium bowl.  Make a well in the center. 
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, sugar, vegetable oil, and salt.  Add to the flour and whip to a smooth batter.  Refrigerate the batter for two hours.
3. Heat a nine-inch crêpe pan on medium high heat.  Brush with butter.
4. Measure batter into the hot pan.  Immediately tilt and rotate the pan so that the batter covers the bottom of the pan in a thin layer. 
5. Cook until bubbles appear and the bottom of the crêpe is a nice even, golden brown.
6. Use a pallet knife or thin, sturdy spatula to turn the crêpe.  Cook the second side only it is a blonde color, not as dark as the first side.
7. Remove the crêpe to a sheet of parchment paper or waxed paper and repeat with the rest of the batter.

For the custard

1 cup milk
1 cup whipping cream
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
5 large egg yolks
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt

1. To scald, bring the milk and cream mixture to just below a simmer.  Do not boil.  Set aside.
2. Mix the cinnamon, egg yolks, sugar, and salt together.  Immediately drizzle in the hot milk mixture while whisking constantly.  (This tempers the eggs.) 
3. Place the milk mixture back on low heat and stir in the tempered egg mixture.  A silicone or high heat spatula is best for stirring so that you can scrape the egg mixture from the bottom of the pan.
4. Continue stirring and cooking until the temperature reaches 170 degrees.  Do not overcook.  Remove from the heat and set in a sink of cold water.  Stir several times to assure that eh custard cools evenly.
5. Pour the hot custard through a strainer to ensure a smooth custard.  Cover with plastic, pressing the plastic tight against the custard, and refrigerate until chilled.

For the raspberry sauce

You can make your raspberry sauce in one of two ways:

Mix a handful of fresh or frozen raspberries into warmed raspberry syrup.  Or follow this recipe:

1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/2 cup water
1 cup individually frozen raspberries

1. Combine the sugar and cornstarch in a medium saucepan. Gradually add the water, stirring with a whisk. Continue stirring until the sugar dissolves.
2. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring regularly. You should have a thick sugar syrup.  Add the raspberries.

To assemble your crêpes

1. Fill your crêpes, folding as desired, with the vanilla custard. 
2. Spoon raspberry sauce on the crêpes. 
3. Top with whipped cream. 

Printable Version