Before this week, I don’t know that I had ever had a crepe. Certainly never made a crepe. Haven’t even thought about crepes more than a handful times in my life. But this past week has been crepe crazy in my kitchen coming up with these Sweet Oil-Free Crepes!
Two requests for one recipe back to back is either a coincidence or the world telling me to crepe. Now!
But taking on a classic when I have zero experience is a daunting task. They are just a very thin, delicate pancakes with slightly lacey crispy edges in which you can wrap all sorts of fruit fillings, right? Okay good, we’re on the same page. Funny how I’m always right when I type to myself 😉
Crepes. Just the word evokes all sorts of fancy feelings, something my palate is not. In France do they have #crepesunday while the rest of us are over here eating our fluffy stacks of cake?
Now of course I’ll be breaking lots of crepe rules already because no eggs or milk or butter/oil or wheat flour. But I did my research. Since I am a complete crepe-making newb, I have to give credit to a few vegan crepe recipes I used as guidance…
– Vegan Gluten Free Crepes from Simple Vegan Blog
– Easy Basic Sweet or Savory Crepes from Unconventional Baker
– Chocolate Buckwheat Crepes from Vie de la Vegan’s ebook
– Vegan Oat Spelt Crepes from Nadia’s Healthy Kitchen
So how did I make them my own?
First, I used a combination of brown rice + oat flour to make them gluten-free and have great texture. All oat flour made them too gummy with the banana in there too. All brown rice flour made them too grainy. I tried a few other flours too, but this is my favorite combination.
I wanted to work fruit into them in some way, so for the liquid ingredients I used water + banana. Basically like making banana milk, but since the entire batter comes together in a blender you can just toss it all in with the flour too.
I also added in a teaspoon of baking powder. Perhaps this is crepe blasphemy, I don’t know, but non-vegan crepes have egg which does do some leavening. The batches I tested with seemed to have a better texture, less risk of gummy insides, so I’m leaving it in.
Coconut sugar and a pinch of salt are both optional but suggested.
Knowing exactly what temperature and when to flip takes a little practice, so you might end up with one a little too brown the first time around. But if you just make 12 batches in one week like I did I promise they will be coming out perfectly browned every time very soon 😉
Thin delicious banana-based crepes for an elegant but easy breakfast! #Vegan, GF, and oil-freeClick To Tweet Print
Sweet Oil-Free Crepes (vegan + GF)
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 5 crepes 1x
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 1 ripe banana
- 1/2 cup oat flour
- 1/2 cup brown rice flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
Optional
- 1 tbsp coconut sugar
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Blend all the ingredients in a blender.
- Heat a non-stick pan to medium-high heat (6 out of 10 on my stove worked best).
- Pour about 1/4 cup of batter into the pan. Lift it off the heat and tilt/turn it to spread it as thin as possible.
- Cook for 2-3 minutes or until the edges are loose enough that you can slide a spatula underneath.
- Flip. Cook the second side for another 2 minutes.
- Remove from the pan.
- Repeat with the remaining batter. It should make 5 crepes.
- Fill with your choice of fruit or enjoy on their own.
Crepes…..the ultra-skinny “runway” model version of the pancake. All shape and no cake 😉
I’m liking the “pink of salt” with the sweet. Very balanced.
I like that you made these crepes “banana coats” to wrap around your fragile baby bananas <3 Maybe it will keep them from getting any brown bruises 😉
Oh yeah, I got fancy salt LOL! They are ultra thin, that’s why we gotta stuff them full of all the good fruity stuff 🙂
YES!! What a great recipe, and for crepes no less! I have actually never made crepes at home and certainly not a healthy version like this. I spy a weekend adventure . . .
It was a new experience for me too! I seriously went through an entire bunch of bananas just testing these out…so many crepes and crepe fails lol 😀
Oh yes, crepes are amazing! Especially when they’re vegan AND oil free 😉 and they look fantastic! 😀
Thank you Nadia! The crepes on your site look so thin and lovely, that’s I used them and linked to them as inspiration. Plus your presentation is beautiful, I wish I had had some patience and some berries to fill them and make them look super pretty 😀
They look perfect! I would definitely be adding coconut sugar on top 🙂
That sounds lovely, why didn’t I think of that? Maybe some cinnamon too! 🙂
I have NEVER made crepes….now I MUST! These look so perfect. You are seriously a cooking genius. Every one of your recipes comes out BRILLIANTLY!!! I am just imagining all the delicious filling options. Mmmmmmmmm.
Me either, heck I rarely put in the effort to make pancakes 😀 But the filling possibility part makes them pretty freaking fun!
These look like MAGIC. I want to try to make these! I need to get some gluten free flours ASAP. My friend has a vegan/gluten free donut pop-up and her donuts are amazing and show me the power of GF baking!
★★★★★
That is so cool, I want to try one of her donuts now! GF baking has come such a long way from gummy cupcakes to pretty amazing and undetectable gluten-free flours and treats 🙂
These crepes look incredible Natalie! Such an amazing texture. They sound so delicious! Love that you used banana to make them. Yum!!!!! <3
★★★★★
The texture was wonderful! The taste is pretty similar to banana pancakes, but those crispy edges are my favorite part. And chocolate fillings of course 🙂
Ooh I love crepes! I’ll have to give this one a whirl for sure!
Thanks Becky 🙂
Wow, you’ve completely redesigned your blog! I have to say, I LOVE IT. I love that turquoise, I love the new logo and the new frontpage design. <3 Wonderful job, Natalie!
The crepes look perfect – seriously. Perfectly browned and I love the banana filling and jam on top. On the weekend I bought and set up a kitchen island and now I've got some extra storage, which will be filled up with different flours. Now I finally have the space to gather different gluten-free flours for all my (gf) baking adventures. And these gf crepes are on the top of my to-do-list 😀
Yes that was my big weekend project, hence no new post today. So many things were breaking with my old theme that I just decided it was time to update! I’m really loving this new theme, and I’ve been wanting to work turquoise into the mix for forever lol. Thanks for noticing 🙂
Whoa sounds like you had a fun weekend project too! I love kitchen organization…super nerdy I know. That will be so nice though, more storage and counter space is always much appreciated! But I want you to take crepes off of your to-do list and replace with GF pretzels 😉 haha
yes, ma’am, yes 😀
These plus chocolate, banana and PB would be perfection <3
My thoughts exactly 🙂
I’ve made crepes once before (traditional version – years ago). I think I threw away the first 5 or so and then finally got the hang of it. Yours look perfect! Those edges…..yum!
It does take a little while, my last batch was just perfectly browned every time. Crepe finesse 😀 Thanks Jenn!
THE BEST filling is peanut butter and brow sugar. Unhealthy, I know, but sooo utterly delicious. Second best is vegan ice cream and fresh berries or jam.
I don’t care, that sounds amazing! Maybe more of a dessert than a breakfast 😀 Niceceram with jam and berries would be crazy good too. Thanks for the ideas!
These look just perfect Natalie!!I love crepes but always make my chocolate ones! I have been meaning to do a vanilla version too. These look so golden and delicious! Since I’m not a fruit person, I like to stuff mine with nuts and chocolate but fill them with bananas and strawberries for my husband. Then sprinkle powdered sugar on top or coconut sugar…sooo good! I love how simple these are and healthy! Can eat like 10 of them without any guilt, haha! I would definitely include the sugar and salt, oh yeah!
I saw your chocolate ones when I was doing my crepe research and almost just dropped everything and made them because that chocolate sauce oozing out and the strawberries and mmmmm <3 But I imagine the chocolate could make them even harder to cook since you can't really see how browned they are. Powdered sugar would've been a nice touch, I really should've put more time into dressing them up lol! Yes in simple favored things like this I like the sugar and salt too 🙂
Natalie!!!! These crepes look wonderful!!! And so does your site! I’m loving the turquoise/teal color and the beautiful, yet simple feel of it. Awesome job, friend! OK, but back to these crepes….leave it to you to add bananas to the batter! Ha! My first and only experience in making crepes was using Audrey’s recipe and we LOVED them. I admit it took some patience with the flipping part of it, but once you get the hang of it, it gets easier! Mmmmm, and the filling possibilities are endless! These look amazing!
Thank you! I’ve been wanting to work turquoise into my site design for forever 🙂 I’m pretty happy with it!
So someone asked me for oil-free crepes and I actually just directed them to Audrey’s recipe because it looks fantastic and so simple but for some reason they still wanted to see them. That’s why I made them a little different with the banana in there, but I bet Audrey’s are awesome too. The flipping does take practice, but its kinda fun once you get the hang of it!
My mouth is literally watering! Your photos are so great. I want that crepe wrapped banana so much! It’s a wonderful recipe Natalie :O)
Thank you Mel! Mmm that filled one was pretty spectacular, leaning much more towards dessert than breakfast but I’m okay with that 🙂
I can’t believe how cohesive those are without eggs, gluten OR gums! They look delicious and so tender Natalie.
The simplicity is my favorite part! Thank you Alisa 🙂
YUM! I love crepes. Growing up my best friend’s mom would make us sweedish pancakes all the time and every since then I was addicted!
I would want to sleepover at her house all the time, that sounds amazing!
I love crepes so much. Alex does too, and the Frenchy in her despises how Americans pronounce crepes. Most people say “crape” with a hard A. It’s actually pronounced “cr eh p.” A soft sound “eh” like the soft E at the beginning of elephant. Make her banana and chocolate crepes and pronounce it correctly and she’ll be your friend for like. And so will I. 🙂
Somewhere in the back of my brain I know that is the proper pronunciation, but I just feel weird saying it…I don’t think I can pull it off hahah 😀 Mmm banana chocolate crepes sound delish!
LOL! Yes you can. 🙂
I want these crepes for breakfast every day – they look so soft and perfect!! I bet they’d be delicious with savory foods as well – YUM!
Thank you Ceara! For sure, someone on IG took them the savory route with mushroom and broccolini filling, it looks so good!
These look amazing Natalie! I love the banana in them 🙂 And the water instead of milk is awesome too – one less ingredient to worry about. Welcome to the crepe club 😛 I’m thinking a nice scoop of nicecream, peanut butter and chocolate chips on top of these would make a killer chunky monkey breakfast <3
Mmmm I’m drooling just thinking about that chunky monkey breakfast crepe burrito! I think a nicecream crepe combination needs to happen for sure 🙂 I almost made them with coconut water instead of regular, but really it’s not necessary so why pay for the fancy stuff lol!
Wow, coconut water does sound like a tasty idea 🙂 but you’re right, not necessary at all
Ohh I used to LOVE crepes!! 🙂 I think I haven’t had a vegan one yet, but this recipe is genius, Natalie! Love how easy and healthy it is. Trying and sharing!! <3
Oh thank you Sina! You’ll have to let me know how they measure up since I’ve never had the traditional kind 🙂
Aw, finally getting to check the recipe out and they look so, so beautiful! They look so good I want to reach into the photo and snag some 😀 And I’m glad mine helped you find your way to these somehow too.
I tried to just send the person who requested these to your recipe since its so easy and perfect, but they wanted a video so I was forced to create my own. But yes, yours definitely helped 🙂
Can I make this recipe with other kinds of (not gf) flour? I would love to try it out but I don’t have all those fancy flours!
Sure! All purpose or wheat flour would be fine 🙂
Okay, thanks! Do I still use the same amount of flour?
Yep, 1 cup total should be good. If the batter seems way too thick or way to thin than you can adjust the amount to get a pourable consistency similar to what I showed in the video.
Can i make these with white rice flour? I can’t find brown rice flour anywhere
I haven’t tested it personally so I cannot say for sure but I think white rice will be too sticky and make them gummy unfortunately? Almond flour or quinoa flour could work though instead. Or you could even try more oat flour but you will probably need more liquid in that case to thin out the batter and get that thin crepe consistency. Good luck!
Is there a substitute for coconut sugar? Trying to avoid sugar but still like the sweet taste. Thanks.
You can leave it out as the banana still makes them somewhat sweet naturally, or use stevia or another sweetener like that 🙂
A note on GF- while oats do not naturally contain gluten, conventional oats almost always are cross-contaminated. If you’re cooking for someone who is GF, make sure you buy oat flour from oats that are denoted as gluten free, or you may make them sick.
Hi! These look great! Will do them tomorrow for breakfast! What about amaranth flour instead of brown rice flour? Or coconut flour?
I have not tested either so I cannot say for sure about amaranth, but I can tell you that coconut flour will NOT work here. You could also try using all oat flour!
No, no, no! they are the best crepes ever!!!! thank for sharing this recipe!!! I did it! they are soooo delicious!!
★★★★★
YAY!! I am so happy you love them, thanks for the wonderful feedback! I forget about these sometimes, but I need to make them one weekend morning very soon 🙂
Would this batter stay good if refridgerated for a day or so?
★★★★
I haven’t tried it but it may work. Oats do thicken with time (like overnight oats for example) so it may be hard to get them as thin the next day. Good luck 🙂
I made this but used 1 cup of wholemeal buckwheat flour instead as I didn’t have the other flours in the recipe… Also I added a handful of frozen blueberries to the blender with the banana, flour, water and baking powder and also 1 tablespoon of ground flax. I didn’t add sugar to the batter but did add a little pink salt. They turned out really nice and purple. I served mine with freshly squeezed lemon, raspberries and a drizzle of agave nectar. 🙂
★★★★★
I am so happy they worked with buckwheat–good to know! I love the blueberry addition, I rarely make pancakes without so why not add them to crepes too. I bet they were beautiful and delicious, thanks for the feedback Each💜
Can the batter be made ahead of time? I am thinking of making it the night before and storing it in the fridge until I’m ready to use it.
Hmm I haven’t tried that and I worry it may thicken too much overnight because of the oats, so I don’t recommend it. Sorry!
Can all purpose flour replace the brown rice flour? Or is it possible to use all oat flour?
Hmm haven’t tested this one with all purpose flour, but if you are not gluten free you may be better off finding a vegan crepe that is designed for AP flour–there are lots out there! All oat flour makes them kinda gummy so I don’t recommend it. Let me know if you need help finding an AP flour crepe recipe 🙂
Thank you for the best crepe recipe
★★★★★
YAY!! I am so happy you loved them, Julia!
I grew up on the classic crepe. But now with health issues and a new diet I am searching for childhood comfort food. Your crepes look and taste almost identical to the crepes of my childhood! Filled them with some coconut yogurt and sliced strawberries. Next time I will double the recipe so I can practice making them as thin as possible. Thank you so much for sharing your talent with the world! This recipe is a keeper!!!
★★★★★
Jenny!! I am sooooo happy they came close enough to your crepe memories and work for your diet too🤗🤗 I hope the next batch is even better and appreciate your feedback so much!