Candlemas is just around the corner, and with it comes a glorious parade of crêpes! Chocolate spread, honey, melted chocolate, chestnut cream… Hard to resist when you have a sweet tooth! But does the thought of indulging fill you with dread? How do you enjoy a crêpe night with friends without undoing all your hard work? Don’t worry, ladies! Even if you’re watching your figure, you can absolutely say yes to a crêpe party and savour every delicious bite without falling out with your scales or your wardrobe. Who says you can’t enjoy Candlemas without the guilt? Not us! So grab your crêpe pans with confidence — we have a few clever tricks to make this celebration a truly indulgent yet guilt-free moment.
Step one: lighten up your crêpe batter!
How do you treat yourself without regretting it afterwards? Simple! It all starts with the batter. For perfectly light crêpes, here’s our little secret. This is our favourite crêpe batter recipe — made with beer. Airier and with an extra depth of flavour, your beer-based crêpe batter is sure to impress your guests!
THE RECIPE
Ingredients (serves 4) :
- 3 eggs
- 300g plain flour
- 22cl beer
- 10cl plant-based milk (almond, rice, oat… your choice!)
- 7g butter (optional)
- 1 pinch of salt
- 2 pinches of sugar
Method :
It couldn’t be simpler! Blend all the ingredients together and leave the batter to rest for around 30 minutes.
This batter works perfectly for both sweet and savoury crêpes. A little tip: if you’re making sweet crêpes only, add a pinch of cinnamon — that wonderfully versatile spice known for its benefits in the fight against cellulite — to gently enhance the flavour.
Step two: choose your crêpe fillings wisely!
To keep the scales happy the next morning, here are a few filling ideas for sweet or savoury crêpes — all on the lighter side. Seasonal fruits, dried fruits, citrus, and of course the classic smoked salmon and goat’s cheese: here are three topping ideas worthy of a festive spread!
IDEA N°1
Crêpes with mandarin compote
Peel 8 mandarins, removing the white pith and any seeds. Cut each segment in half. Simmer in a saucepan with 4 tablespoons of cane sugar and stevia. Spread the warm compote over your crêpes and enjoy!
IDEA N°2
Crêpes with exotic fruits
Peel and dice 4 dragon fruits, 2 mangoes and 2 pink grapefruits. Mix the fruit with fat-free fromage blanc and two tablespoons of honey or maple syrup. Spread this fresh, vibrant mixture over your crêpes. So, what’s the verdict?
IDEA N°3
Crêpes with apple, walnut and goat’s cheese
Preheat the oven to 180ºC, peel two apples and cut them into small cubes. Roughly chop around 40g of walnuts. In a saucepan, combine the apples and walnuts with 50g of cane sugar and stevia, a handful of raisins and a tablespoon of ground cinnamon. Allow the sugar to melt over a low heat for 5 minutes. Slice your goat’s cheese log into thin rounds. Fill your crêpes with the mixture, roll them up and place on a baking tray, then drizzle the remaining juices over the top. Bake for 5 minutes and serve warm.
All that’s left to say is bon appétit!
What should you drink with crêpes?
Traditionally, a bowl of cider is the go-to companion for crêpes. But what if you fancied mixing things up a little? Cider, beer, shandy, champagne… Which is the least calorie-heavy option? Should you stick with tradition or branch out? Well, sweet cider takes the crown with just 27 kcal per 100ml!
Verdict: don’t change a thing, ladies! Cider for your crêpe party, and all will be well!