Authentic French Chocolate Crêpes Recipe for Decadent Dessert

Looking for a sweet, decadent breakfast? Try this French chocolate crepes recipe. Light, lacy crepes made with beer for crisp edges can be filled with raspberry jam, Nutella, or whipped cream and make an elegant dessert for a romantic dinner.

After perfecting classic French crepes, I wanted to share a chocolate crepe variation. These beer batter chocolate crepes are crisp, lacelike at the edges, and surprisingly simple to prepare.

Using beer in the batter lightens it and creates small air bubbles that give the crepes a delicate lace pattern and pleasant texture. They are ideal for holding jams and sauces in those tiny hollows around the edges.

Beer batter crepes

There is a bit of science behind beer batter crepes. Beer is carbonated, and that carbonation plus a slightly acidic pH limits gluten development when mixed with flour. The result is a lighter batter that produces crepes dotted with air pockets — the signature lacelike edges.

In short, more carbonated beers produce looser batters and lacier crepes, so choose a beer with a gentle, neutral flavour to let the chocolate shine.

What beer to use

Different beers will subtly change the flavour of the batter. For best results pick a light-style beer such as a lager or another mild, carbonated brew. If you prefer a nonalcoholic option, nonalcoholic beer or seltzer works well while preserving the carbonation benefit.

Chocolate crepe filling ideas

Delicious fillings for these chocolate crepes include:

• Raspberry jam or preserves, dusted with powdered (icing) sugar
• Whipped cream with fresh raspberries or strawberries and shaved chocolate
• Cream cheese combined with cherry pie filling
• Nutella or other hazelnut spread with sliced bananas
• Caramel or dulce de leche with sliced pears

Why you should try this recipe

1. This chocolate crepe recipe is straightforward and suitable for beginners.
2. These chocolate crepes turn an ordinary breakfast into a decadent, special occasion treat.
3. They also make a lovely dessert to finish a romantic dinner.

How to make chocolate crepes

Sift the flour and cocoa powder together into a large bowl. Add the sugar and whisk to combine.

In a separate bowl, lightly beat the milk and eggs, then stir in the beer and melted butter.

Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and whisk until smooth. Strain the batter through a fine-mesh sieve, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight to rest and hydrate the flour.

The next day, gently whisk the batter to recombine. Lightly oil a hot crepe pan using a silicone brush.

Pour a small ladle of batter into the center of the pan and swirl to coat the bottom evenly. Cook for about 1 minute until the edges lift and the surface looks set, then flip and cook the other side for about 30 seconds. Repeat with the remaining batter.

Serve the chocolate crepes folded in quarters with raspberry jam and a dusting of powdered (icing) sugar, or fill them with your preferred spread.

Expert tips

1. If the batter seems too thick after resting, thin it with 3 to 5 tablespoons (50–80 ml) of milk until it flows easily for swirling in the pan.
2. Use a well-heated crepe pan or skillet. Crepes cook quickly: about one minute on the first side and less than 30 seconds on the second.
3. Don’t pour too much batter into the pan. The batter should just cover the bottom before the crepe begins to cook.
4. Don’t worry if the first crepe doesn’t turn out perfectly — it often acts as a temperature test. Once the pan is at the right heat, the rest will cook beautifully.

Frequently Asked Questions

Love crepes and pancakes? Try these next!

• Buckwheat galettes and other savory crepe variations
• Apple-stuffed beggar’s purses or similar caramelized fruit fillings
• Vanilla Dutch baby pancake for a dramatic brunch centerpiece

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Recipe card

This recipe was adapted from a published source and originally appeared in 2019. It has since been updated for clarity and photography. All photos are original to the author.

Nutritional information is an estimate calculated with an online nutrition calculator and should be used as a guideline only.