This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
Is there not something incredibly inviting about layers upon layers, thin and symmetrical, glued together with a shimmer of pastry cream? Whimsical to look at and comforting to eat. Beautiful, flared edges. Imperfections giving it character, as each crepe comes off the pan a little different. And easy to make. Yes, EASY! Even when lots of layers might seem intimidating.
I’ll be the first to admit I suspected the joke would be on me when attempting a crepe cake for the first time. But it’s truly a breeze to make compared to other types of cakes! And maybe even therapeutic. In fact, it’ll be my new go-to gluten-free dessert recipe for special occasions.
The version you see here is a scrumptious trio of cocoa, espresso, and hazelnut. Chocolate lovers, I’m looking at you with this one.
You’ll begin by making the crepe batter in a blender. Everything goes in at once, simplicity at its best. A mix of teff flour and dutch-processed cocoa (one of the only alkalized, organic cocoa powders on the market, ensuring consistent results in each recipe) makes for a chocolatey, malty flavored crepe that lends itself so well to cake.
Don’t be too worried about each crepe turning out perfect – you’ll be able to hide imperfections quite easily with the cream.
French in origin, a crepe cake is usually filled with pastry cream, which is quite involved and uses upwards of 5-6 egg yolks. I didn’t want to have to find another use for the leftover egg whites, nor want it to be a complicated technique.Instead, the base of this filling is cream cheese and greek yogurt, blended with more cocoa, espresso powder, and toasted hazelnuts.
During testing, I tried the filling with and without vanilla extract, and couldn’t believe the difference it had in bringing out the true flavors of the other ingredients. Another reason I love Rodelle, they make their vanilla with the highest quality Bourbon vanilla beans from Madagascar. The difference in floral, balanced flavor is noticeable, and why it’s the only vanilla in my kitchen.
You can make the crepes ahead of time, just be sure to let them cool separately, then slide into a plastic bag and store for one day in the refrigerator. And you can make the pastry cream ahead of time too! Just be sure to let it sit out about an hour before you plan on assembling.
tag @heartbeetkitchen on instagram and hashtag it #heartbeetkitchen
Alanna
August 31, 2018
Rodelle vanilla and cocoa are THE BEST and this crepe cake is everything I want rn!
amandapaa
September 1, 2018
Obsessed with their cocoa. So rich!
Ruby
August 24, 2018
Amanda this is STUNNING! I have only once attempted a crepe cake and it was a slippery messy disaster, hah. This has inspired me to try again with your beautiful recipe! <3
Sherrie
August 22, 2018
I am one hundred percent making this. I love the imperfect edges and creamy filling. I also love how you styled this on the grey and pink plate. Brilliant, babe! xo