This. This has been something in the works for a few years now. It’s this fantasy of stacking crêpes so perfectly each circle lines up. It’s the mesmerizing layers, the impressiveness, the wonder that is a mille crêpe cake. If you’ve been following my Instagram, you’ll know that crêpes are kinda my thing. As in I make them really often and like to sub in lots of different ingredients, like flavors and types of flour. But often start with my base recipe. I used to make them about once a week on the weekends, but now since I work from home, I make them whenever I feel like it! So you’d think that I would have made a crêpe cake already, but it took some 5+ years before it happened, haha.
Mille Crêpe Cakes are also simply known as crêpe cakes, but I like how imposing the word mille adds to it. Mille. A thousand. Amazing. In reality, mille crêpe cakes do not actually have a thousand layers. I suppose it’s a lie, misleading to call it mille crêpe. But it’s more of the effect, it looks like it has so many layers that you can’t even count them. A hyperbole, if you will. And it’s the effect of layering that makes this cake so stunning.
For my version, I opted to create a simple yet elegant cake (the theme of most my bakes actually!). Infusing layers of chocolate in a primarily matcha cake was sublime. And instead of using a custard, I went with a simple whipped cream to separate the layers. It’s super easy to make, all in all. Using a 6-in pan, I was able to create 21 crêpe layers: 7 chocolate and 14 matcha. And this cake is patterned 1 chocolate, 2 matcha and ends up with a pretty green matcha layer on top. In allowing the crêpes to cool too room temperature, it helps the whipped cream to stay solid. A nice dusting of matcha, cocoa powder, and sugar as you please, voilá, you have it, a lovely crêpe cake.
A couple notes
- To make a larger cake, simply double the recipe and use an 8″ non stick pan.
- Using a circular pan will help create evenly shaped crêpes, although it will take longer to cook than on a griddle where you can cook multiple crêpes at a time. So be prepared to be by the stove for some time.
- If you have slightly unevenly sized crêpes, stack them from largest to smallest before you start assembling.
- You can actually use any filling you wish, though it may get overly sweet if you do use something like jam for each layer. Have fun with it though!
Happy crêpe stacking!
Matcha Chocolate Mille Crêpe Cake
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup milk (I use soy)
- 1-1/2 cup water (or more milk)
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 tsp sugar
- 3 Tbsp oil
- 2 Tbsp matcha powder
- 1.5 Tbsp cocoa powder
- 1 cup heavy cream, chilled
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tsp matcha (optional)
- 1 tsp cocoa (optional)
- 1 tsp powdered sugar (optional)
Instructions
- In a medium or large bowl, mix in the eggs with the flour. It will be clumpy.
- Slowly pour in about 1/4 cup of the milk at a time, mixing thoroughly to remove any clumpiness.
- Then whisk in the water (you can also use milk for a richer taste). And lastly, add the salt, sugar, and oil.
- Scoop out 1.5 cups of batter into a smaller bowl. Add cocoa powder to this mixture until well combined.
- Add matcha powder to the remainder of the batter. Rest both for about an hour.
- Heat a non-stick pan on medium heat (I use 6" pan). Once hot (test with a drop of batter and the bottom should cook within a few seconds), scoop just under a 1/4 cup of batter and spread on the pan. The crêpe should not be cooking too fast, slow enough you can spread out the batter, but fast enough it sets within 10 sec or so. Let it cook for 1-2 min before flipping over and cooking for another minute. The crêpe should naturally unstick from the pan. Repeat for remainder of both batters. They can stay in a stack as they cool to room temperature.
- To make the whipped cream filling. Using a whisk (electric or by hand), whisk the cream until soft peaks form. Then add sugar and vanilla extract and continue whisking until stiff peaks form. Set aside until ready for use. Cover and refrigerate if needed.
- To assemble, for this pattern, start with a chocolate layer. Spread a thin cream layer on top and repeat with 2 matcha layers. Continue this until all layers are used. The top layer will just be a crêpe. Sift the optional powders for garnish.
Did you make this recipe?
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