Thin pancakes (crêpes)
Works in the UK and the US. This version uses US words and measures (stove, cups, °F); the UK version uses hob, grams and gas marks. · UK version of this page
Thin, lacy pancakes like French crêpes: whisking a smooth batter and cooking safely in a hot pan.
- Makes 8
- About 40 min
- Stove
- Best for: Grades 2–5 (ages 7–11)
- Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 100 g (about ¾ cup) all-purpose flour – contains wheat or gluten
- 2 large eggs – contains eggs
- 300 ml (about 1¼ cups) milk – contains milk
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil, plus a little for the pan
- 1 lemon, cut into wedges
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar, for sprinkling
Cup measures are approximate – weighing is more accurate. Need a different amount? Use the recipe finder to change the servings.
Equipment
- kitchen scale
- liquid measuring cup
- sieve
- large mixing bowl
- balloon whisk
- non-stick skillet (about 20 cm)
- ladle
- offset spatula or spatula
- paper towels
- plate
Safety first
- Wash your hands with soap for at least 20 seconds, tie back long hair and put on a clean apron.
- Ask about allergies before anyone cooks or tastes. This recipe contains: wheat or gluten, eggs, milk.
- Wash your hands after cracking eggs.
- Do not eat raw dough or cake mixture – raw flour and raw egg can carry harmful bacteria.
- Turn pan handles inwards and keep the area around the stove clear.
Allergens: Wheat (and other grains with gluten), Eggs, Milk. Always read every label and ask about allergies before anyone cooks or tastes.
Method
- Sift the flour into the bowl and make a dip (a well) in the middle.
- Crack the eggs into the well (check for bits of shell). Add a little milk and whisk, slowly pulling in the flour. Keep adding milk a little at a time until the batter is smooth and as thin as light cream. Stir in the tablespoon of oil. Wash your hands. (Younger children: Pour in the milk a little at a time while an adult or partner holds the bowl, and whisk until smooth.) (3 min)
- Leave the batter to rest while you lay out the plate, lemon and sugar. (10 min)
- Teacher-led: Wipe the pan with a little oil on paper towels and heat it over medium heat until hot. Turn the pan handle inwards.
- Teacher-led: Pour in a small ladle of batter and tilt the pan so it covers the base thinly. Cook until the underside is golden, then loosen the edge and flip it with the offset spatula. (1 min)
- Teacher-led: Cook the second side, then slide the pancake onto the plate. Repeat with the rest of the batter, adding a little oil to the pan when it starts to stick. (1 min)
- Squeeze over some lemon, sprinkle with a little sugar and roll or fold each pancake.
What this recipe teaches
Weighing and measuring, Whisking, Preparing fruit and vegetables, Using the stove safely, Shallow frying and stir-frying, Presenting food. Steps marked “Adult” are always done by an adult; steps marked “Teacher-led” are done by an adult for primary-age children.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 111 |
|---|---|
| Total fat | 3.8 g |
| Saturated fat | 1 g |
| Sodium | 36 mg |
| Total carbohydrate | 15 g |
| Dietary fiber | 0.4 g |
| Total sugars | 5.3 g |
| Protein | 4.1 g |
Worked out from the raw ingredients (optional ones and pinches not counted) using USDA FoodData Central – SR Legacy (SR28, 2018). Brands vary – check labels. Figures for 2% milk (the recipe finder shows the other choices).
MyPlate food groups in this recipe: Fruits; Grains; Protein Foods; Dairy. Learn about MyPlate.
Added sugars and saturated fat are best kept low – enjoy treats less often and in small amounts.
Curriculum links
- FCS 14.3: “Demonstrate ability to acquire, handle, and use foods to meet nutrition and wellness needs of individuals and families across the life span.”
- FCS 14.4: “Evaluate factors that affect food safety from production through consumption.”
Try the interactive lesson
Step by step: a quick safety check, questions graded by Classfern, timers for each cooking step, then an honest look at how it went – a teacher or parent judges the cooking, and learners rate their own work. Photos of the finished dish stay at home.
Use the code your teacher gave you – never your name. Progress is kept on this device.