Original French Crêpes Suzette

Written by
Rebecca Franklin
Rebecca Franklin is a freelance lifestyle writer and recipe developer. Her expertise is in French cuisine, which she writes about and teaches.
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Rebecca Franklin
Updated 01/06/21
Crepes Suzette recipe

The Spruce 
Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Chill: 20 mins
Total: 45 mins
Servings: 6 to 8 servings

This Crêpes Suzette recipe is the same variation that is used in upscale restaurants today. A simple mix of butter, sugar, and Grand Marnier are flambéed into a delicious syrup, which is then used to flavor a fresh, warm crêpe. This recipe tops the crêpe off with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. 

Unlike the pancake, crêpes are very thin and usually folded when cooking, and can be filled with a variety of ingredients from fruits, whipped cream to cream cheese and hazelnut spread. In France, where crêpes first were created, they are not considered a breakfast food and are usually eaten for lunch, dinner, snack, or dessert. 

Crêpes Suzette is traditionally served as a decadent dessert but can be added to a brunch menu as a gorgeous showstopper.

Ingredients

  • For the Crêpes:
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup less 1 tablespoon water
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tablespoons butter (melted)
  • 2 teaspoons orange juice
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons orange zest
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon butter (for cooking)
  • For the Orange Syrup:
  • 16 tablespoons butter (divided)
  • 4 tablespoons granulated sugar (divided)
  • 4 ounces Grand Marnier (divided)
  • Topping: vanilla ice cream

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Crepes Suzette recipe ingredients
     The Spruce

  2. Whisk the flour, milk, water eggs, 2 tablespoons melted butter, orange juice, orange zest, and salt vigorously until the batter is completely smooth; allow the batter to rest in the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes before making the crêpes.

    Whisk the flour, milk, water eggs, melted butter, orange juice, orange zest, and salt for Crepes Suzette recipe
     The Spruce

  3. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a crêpe pan or large skillet over low-medium heat.

    melt butter in crepe pan for Crepes Suzette recipe
     The Spruce

  4. Add 3 tablespoons of batter to the pan and swirl until the bottom of the pan is covered with batter.

    add more butter to pan
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  5. Cook the crêpe for 1 minute, or until the crêpe is slightly moist on top and golden underneath.

    Cook the crêpe
     The Spruce

  6. Loosen the edges of the crêpe, slide the spatula under it, and then gently flip it upside down into the pan.

    loosen egg from pan and gently flip over
     The Spruce

  7. Cook for 1 minute and transfer the cooked crêpe to a plate to keep warm. Repeat the process with the remaining batter. Set aside.

    cook other side
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  8. Make the syrup: In a large skillet set over medium heat, melt half of the butter until it foams.

    make the orange syrup
     The Spruce

  9. Remove the skillet from the heat and sprinkle half the sugar over the melted butter.

    remove from heat and sprinkle half the sugar over melted butter
     The Spruce

  10. Add half the Grand Marnier, handling the skillet carefully because of the flame.

    carefully add half the Grand Marnier
     The Spruce

  11. Then add the crêpes to the pan to coat both sides in the orange syrup.

    add crepes to the pan to coat both sides with orange syrup
     The Spruce

  12. Fold the crêpes into quarters or roll them into cylinders.

    fold crepes into quarters
    The Spruce 

  13. Melt the remaining butter in the skillet, remove it from the heat, and then add the sugar and Grand Marnier to make more orange syrup.

    make more orange syrup for topping
    The Spruce 

  14. Place a scoop of ice cream next to each crepe and drizzle the crepe Suzette with the orange syrup.

    drizzle crepe suzette with orange syrup
     The Spruce

  15. Serve and enjoy!

    Crepes Suzette recipe
     The Spruce

Tip

  • Use the spatula to flip over the crepe. If you don't have a spatula, it's perfectly acceptable to use your fingers if necessary. If you're really talented, try flipping the crepe over in the air using just the pan.