All week long, Mimi Thorisson -- the blogger behind the beautiful blog Manger -- will be sharing recipes and stories from her new book, A Kitchen in France. Follow along to win a book + a bundle of Staub cookware each day, so you can pretend like you also live in the French countryside.
Today: Mimi teaches us how to make her favorite holiday crêpes.
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I grew up celebrating La Chandeleur, the Catholic holiday of Candlemas, on February 2 (forty days after Christmas): Every year, my family would eat these succulent crêpes prepared by my mother and grandmother.
I’ve kept this heartwarming and delicious ritual alive with my children, who have learned the recipe by heart -- because we don’t save it just for Candlemas. Every so often, they prepare the batter and surprise me. This recipe is so simple that anyone can make it!
More: Don't be afraid of crêpes -- all you need is the right pan.
Crêpes with Salted-Butter Caramel
Serves 8
For the crêpes:
2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
3/4 cup granulated sugar
Pinch of fine sea salt
3 1/4 cups whole milk
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus more for cooking
2 tablespoons orange flower water
For the salted-butter caramel sauce:
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup heavy cream, warmed
3 tablespoons salted butter (if using unsalted butter, add a generous pinch of salt)
See the full recipe (and save and print it) here.
Photo by Oddur Thorisson
Every day this week, we're giving away a copy of A Kitchen in France and a bundle of Mimi's favorite Staub cookware! To win today's copy, tell us in the comments: What's your favorite holiday dessert? We'll choose winners this Friday, October 31st. (U.S. entrants only, please!)
Update: Lakelurelady, onetinyspark, Double Helping, TerryKes, and rhubarb! rhubarb! rhubarb! are our winners! Enjoy your copies of A Kitchen in France and Staub cookware.
Food52's Automagic Holiday Menu Maker
Food52's Automagic Holiday Menu Maker
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Written by: Mimi Thorisson
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111 Comments
Anne L.
November 8, 2014
Best holiday dessert? Buche de Noel. Visually beautiful, simply delicious, and open to variations on a theme ~ mocha, dark chocolate, etc. What could be more perfect??
Chris K.
November 1, 2014
Favorite French dish? After combing my brain; sweet, savory, main course, dessert, pastry, I think my favorite is Poulet Bon Femme from my mother's friend Solange. A perfect dinner suitable for family and friends, and a powerful tonic for a cold winter night
Alissa M.
October 31, 2014
Cassata flavored gelato accompanied by a sip of prosecco! It's like fruit cake in ice cream form and it's SO much better that way.
Morgan B.
October 31, 2014
I make a cappuccino chocolate cheesecake very very occasionally. It's a lot of work but man is it worth it.
Phillie F.
October 31, 2014
My favorite holiday dessert is my mother's apple pie- deep dish, flaky crust and the best combination of spices. Anyone who has eaten it says that it is the best apple pie that they have ever tasted!
pretty_pathetic
October 31, 2014
Mince pie is my favorite holiday dessert because I love the way my house smells when I make it.
Christina
October 31, 2014
I absolutely love buckeyes- one of my aunt's specialties. We only see her once a year, but she comes down to South Carolina from Ohio during Thanksgiving and always brings dozens of buckeyes. We have to hide them to make them last more than a week!
hien D.
October 31, 2014
I live in Seattle, so our winters are often times cold, wet, and miserable. Anything and everything I eat between late October to early March needs to be steaming, full of rich spices, and good for the soul! That being said, my favorite holiday dessert has to be light and tart, to complement all the rich and hearty meals - and Dorie Greenspan's upside down cranberry cake is just the ticket!
S G.
October 30, 2014
My favorite holiday desert is pumpkin pie. However, dulce de leche filled filloas (crepes) comes a close second.
Laurie K.
October 30, 2014
Orchard pudding, with apples (and milk, sugar, eggs, breadcrumbs and almond essence) and a meringue on the top. served hot with custard or cream!
Kim T.
October 30, 2014
My favorite holiday dessert would have to be a steaming bowl of rice pudding after opening Christmas presents near or at midnight on Christmas eve!
Hannah C.
October 30, 2014
Pumpkin roll! Thin pumpkin sheet cake with a cream cheese icing rolled into a log.
Chris A.
October 30, 2014
Your apple cake with maple glaze (was on Food 52 and now it's a tradition at all fall holidays and gatherings!)!!!!
inpatskitchen
October 30, 2014
Gran's Gifted Cheesecake: https://food52.com/recipes/25541-gran-s-gifted-cheesecake because we all love it!
Heidi J.
October 30, 2014
Buche de Noel!!!! And chocolate wafer sandwich with Peppermint buttercream rolled in broken candy canes.
Glo C.
October 30, 2014
My uncle brings his peanut butter pie along to every family holiday gathering. Though, if you're talking traditional holiday desserts, I'd say pecan pie.
Annie L.
October 30, 2014
My favorite holiday dessert is a big, round apricot tart. This has been a tradition in my family from my Mother's side, all who are Swiss and French. We always serve it on Christmas Eve with whipped cream or creme fraiche flavored with kirsch.
Momo
October 30, 2014
I love a great pecan pie with some salted caramel ice cream! But really, any kind of warm pie makes for wonderful dessert, especially when it's chilly outside.
nycnomad
October 30, 2014
Desserts, there are so many to choose from but I would have to say warm apple crumble with cinnamon ice cream. Perfection!
Tiffany L.
October 30, 2014
Trifle. I've made a orange chocolate ginger version and it was delicious.
Michael J.
October 30, 2014
Definitely Pumpkin Pie... mine! Start with a whole wheat crust. I use a blend of whole wheat pastry and Michigan white pastry flours, a 50/50 mix. I like to use a winter squash for the filling. The Hubbard makes a tasty filling, but my favorite is a dark green flat pumpkinish squash with deep ribs ( not sure of it's name, heard it referred to as a French squash.) It has a very deep orange flesh. I roast the squash in the oven, which concentrates the flavor and evaporates the water. Drain the cooked flesh in a colander until the remaining water has drained. Mix and season filling as per Joy of Cooking, 1975 ed. Top with freshly whipped cream.
A L.
October 30, 2014
Bûche de Noel (but actually just about all of the various ones made during this season - chocolate pecan pie, pumpkin pie, sticky toffee pudding with extra sauce on the side)
TerryKes
October 30, 2014
My favorite holiday dessert is Coconut Cake that takes me 2-3 days to make because of all of the elements. It is always everyone's favorite Coconut Cake once they've tasted it. Truly a labor of love.
[email protected]
October 30, 2014
My husband, Mark, makes a wonderful gingerbread trifle with caramelized apples and whipped cream. It's a groaner.
Rachel K.
October 30, 2014
Buche de Noel! I tried making it once from scratch -- the whole two day process and everything. My guests liked it (one ate half the log by himself) but I'm still convinced it could have been better. Would like to try a different Yule Log recipe next time as well as a Galette du Roi.
Angela G.
October 30, 2014
Growing up, my family would drive from Philadelphia to upstate New York for the holidays. My grandmother always had a few batches of her homemade doughnuts ready for us grandkids to devour, which we happily did! It was always my favorite part of the visit, and now that she's passed the recipe down to me, I can't wait to make her doughnuts for my family for Christmas!
flourpower
October 30, 2014
There is nothing better, in my opinion, than my sister's NY style cheesecake with a lightly sweetened and quickly baked vanilla sour cream topping. It's one of those desserts that I always need to "even out" until it's finally finished!
Rachael S.
October 30, 2014
Apple pie! Preferably served at all holiday/group meals with vanilla ice cream
Katie
October 30, 2014
For the holiday dinner my mom makes this amazing multi-layered meringue cake filled with coffee cream - it's my favorite!
amysarah
October 30, 2014
For Christmas, it's always something chocolate: chocolate mousse, or semifreddo (my daughter's favorite,) or a dark chocolate tart, or flourless cake - all with copious barely sweet whipped cream. Growing up we had Sarah Bernhardt cookies - almond macaron base, chocolate ganache filling and dark chocolate shell on top. Heavenly things.
Sara S.
October 30, 2014
My favorite holiday dessert are the German cookies called Zimtsterne. All the flavors really evoke winter coziness.
SallyM
October 30, 2014
That's a hard one... probably pumpkin pie or buche de noel - homemade, of course.
aargersi
October 30, 2014
I tend towards the savory - often it will be leftovers from dinner with a poached egg plopped on top, and lots of Louisiana hot sauce whether that is appropriate or not!
Michelle M.
October 30, 2014
My Mom's family is from the south, so pecan pie is the hands down winner. Sadly, this will be the first year without my Grandmother to make it :(...
lakelurelady
October 30, 2014
My favorite holiday dessert is a Scandinavian tea cake replete with the flavor of almonds.
amber W.
October 30, 2014
I adore sea salt caramels during the holidays! They are slightly addictive!
X
Amber
X
Amber
rhubarb! R.
October 30, 2014
We love crepes at my house too. For the holidays we love a good pie -- pumpkin or apple pie.
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