History and Recipe for Crepes Suzette - Troubleshooting Crepes

History of Crepes Suzette

Probably the most famous crepe dish in the world. In a restaurant, a crepe suzette is often prepared in a chafing dish in full view of the guests. They are served hot with a sauce of sugar, orange juice, and liqueur (usually Grand Marnier). Brandy is poured over the crepes and then lit.

The dish was created out of a mistake made by a fourteen year-old assistant waiter Henri Carpentier (1880-1961) in 1895 at the Maitre at Monte Carlo's Café de Paris. He was preparing a dessert for the Prince of Wales, the future King Edward VII (1841-1910) of England.

According to Henri Charpentier, in own words from Life A La Henri – Being The Memories of Henri Charpentier:

“It was quite by accident as I worked in front of a chafing dish that the cordials caught fire. I thought I was ruined. The Prince and his friends were waiting. How could I begin all over? I tasted it. It was, I thought, the most delicious melody of sweet flavors I had every tasted. I still think so. That accident of the flame was precisely what was needed to bring all those various instruments into one harmony of taste . . . He ate the pancakes with a fork; but he used a spoon to capture the remaining syrup. He asked me the name of that which he had eaten with so much relish. I told him it was to be called Crepes Princesse. He recognized that the pancake controlled the gender and that this was a compliment designed for him; but he protested with mock ferocity that there was a lady present. She was alert and rose to her feet and holding her little shirt wide with her hands she made him a curtsey. ‘Will you,’ said His Majesty, ‘change Crepes Princesse to Crepes Suzette?’ Thus was born and baptized this confection, one taste of which, I really believe, would reform a cannibal into a civilized gentleman. The next day I received a present from the Prince, a jeweled ring, a panama hat and a cane.”

SOURCE:

Life A La Henri - Being The Memories of Henri Charpentier, by Henri Charpentier and Boyden Sparkes, The Modern Library, New York, 2001 Paperback Edition. Originally published in 1934 by Simon & Schuster, Inc.


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Crepes Suzette Recipe

I adapted the original recipe from the book Life A La Henri - Being The Memories of Henri Charpentier, by Henri Charpentier and Boyden Sparkes.

2 tablespoons vanilla sugar (see recipe below)
4 eggs
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons milk
1 pinch of salt
1 tablespoon water
2 tablespoons sweet butter
Thin strips of orange zest, for garnish

To Make the Crepes Batter:
Using an electric blender or food processor, blend the eggs, flour, milk, salt, and water to the consistency of olive oil, or until it will pour back silently and smoothly from a foot or more above the mixing bowl. Let the batter sit at least an hour to allow the flour time to absorb the liquid. The mixture will thicken as it stand, so you may need to adjust the liquid or flour after the batter rests. You want to end up with a consistency like whipping cream (batter which should have the consistency of light cream, just thick enough to coat a wooden spoon).

Heat in a frying pan or crepe pan with 2 tablespoons of sweet butter (don't use too much butter or the crepes will be greasy).

Once the pan is well-heated, pour in enough batter, approximately 3 to 4 tablespoons of batter, to cover the bottom of the pan. Move the pan to spread the batter thinly, and keep it moving. Don't worry if the crepe isn't perfectly round or has uneven edges, as it will be rolled or folded and the imperfections will not matter.

After one minute, turn the pancake upside down, then turn it again, until it is nicely browned. Fold the crepe in half, and fold again to form a triangle. Proceed to make the remaining crepes, adding butter to the pan only if the crepes begin to stick. NOTE: Also, as when making other types of pancakes, expect that you may have to throw away the first 1 or 2 crepes until you get the pan temperature just right.

NOTE: Crepes may be frozen for up to 2 months.


To Make Vanilla Sugar:
Note: Vanilla sugar may also be purchased

2 cups granulated sugar
1 vanilla bean

In a glass container, place the sugar and the vanilla bean, cover the container tightly. Set mixture aside (the sugar will be sufficiently scented with vanilla to be used in a week or so). Vanilla sugar will keep indefinitely in an airtight container at room temperature (do not need refrigerate). Replenish sugar as it is used. The vanilla bean is good as long as it is fragrant.

To Make the Sauce:

Small piece of orange zest, cut very thinly
Small piece of lemon zest, cut very thinly
5 ounces of blended favorite liqueurs (curacao, triple sec, Cointreau, Grand Marnier, cognac, kirsch, etc.)*
1/4 pound sweet butter

* Check out Alcohol Substitutions In Cooking and Alcohol Substitutions In Cooking.

At least a day or two before making Crepes suzette, slice a thin piece form the outer rind of an orange, large enough to cover the ball of your thumb, and a smaller piece of lemon rind. Cut both into thin strips, add to 2 tablespoons of vanilla sugar, cover and put away until the sugar absorbs the flavoring oils.

To make the sauce, melt the butter in a large frying pan. when it begins to bubble, pour in 3 ounces of the blended liqueurs. When the mixture is warm, carefully flame the liqueurs. Check out How To Flambé. When the fire goes out, add the vanilla sugar mixture (sugar, lemon, and orange peel). Then plunge the folded crepes/pancakes into the warm sauce. Turn them, and add the remaining 2 ounces of blended liqueurs. When the fire dies down again, they are ready to serve. Garnish with thin strips of orange zest.

Serve three crepes per portion. Spoon a little of the remaining sauce over each serving.

Makes 4 servings.



Crepes Troubleshooting Tips:


Too many bubbles in the batter - If so, the batter was beaten too long at too high a speed in the blender or food processor. Let it stand longer before baking.

Crepes have a lacy pattern - The batter may be too thin; whisk in 1 to 2 tablespoons flour.

Edges of the crepes are crisp with a tendency to crack - The pan is too hot; decrease the heat. Also the batter may be too thin; whisk in 1 to 2 tablespoons flour.

Small holes appear in the crepes - Use more batter and completely cover the bottom of the pan.

Batter curdles like scrambled eggs - There is too much butter or oil in the pan.

Batter will not flow around the bottom of the pan with ease - The batter is too thick/ whisk in 1 to 2 tablespoons milk or water.