Crepe Pan vs. Crepe Maker: Which One Is Right For You?

We have plenty of food selections to thank the French for, not the least of which are crepes. Who doesn’t love the traditional thin, melt-in-your-mouth crepe (which is basically a very thin pancake), especially when stuffed with your favorite sweet or savory fillings? They are versatile, can be eaten any time of the day and are just plain fun to cook. But when it comes to cooking them at home, which tool is best for you?

Crepe Pan vs. Crepe Maker: Which One Is Right For You?

It really comes down to how often you plan to make crepes. If you just want the option to be able to make crepes when you’re in the mood, then the crepe pan may be right for you. However, if you’re becoming quite the crepe connoisseur, you might want to think about getting a crepe maker.

Crepe Pan Pros & Cons

Traditional crepe pans can be a great tool to have in your kitchen for those mornings (or afternoons & evenings!) that you’re channeling your inner professional French Chef. They are typically about the same size as a large saute pan (10 -12 inches or so) except the edge of the pan is a lot shallower.

Most crepe pans have a non-stick cooking surface so as to help with the flipping and removing the thin crepe from the pan once it’s finished cooking. A lot of pans will also come with a batter spreader, and some even come with a wooden spatula. The only real con of a crepe pan is that it takes a little more finesse to control the temperature of the pan.

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly pan, the Cuisinart 623-24 pan found here on amazon.com. It has a non-stick surface, is a 10-inch pan, and has a tapered rim, which keeps spills from happening. The handle stays pretty cool as you cook with it on the stovetop. The only con is it doesn’t come with a batter spreader. But the good thing about using a pan is that you can lift the handle to shift the pan and make sure the batter is spread evenly across the cooking surface.

This Le Creuset 10.75 inch enameled cast iron crepe pan is a great option as well (at a higher-price point). It’s not as light as some of the other crepe pan options, but the quality of le creuset is worth the extra bucks! You can find it here. This one has a batter-spreader included and also has a non-stick surface.

Crepe Maker Pros & Cons

Electric crepe makers could be the choice to go with if you’re planning on making crepes more often. They do take up more storage space and come at a higher price point, but the heat of the cooking surface is a lot easier to control. There are even some cordless options available.

This electric crepe maker is 12 inches, with a non-stick surface. These crepe makers heat evenly and come with a batter spreader and wooden spatula, which makes flipping the crepe user-friendly. It’s made of aluminum and has super simple temperature adjustment.

Crepe Making Process & Fillings

The classic crepe is typically cooked in just about 2 minutes, so it’s a great last-minute meal idea. The crepe batter itself is pretty straightforward. You mix eggs, milk, sugar, flour and butter in a bowl (or even a blender in some recipes!), heat up the crepe pan or crepe maker, pour a coating of butter or oil onto your crepe pan or crepe maker and pour about an ounce or so onto the hot surface. Use a batter spreader to spread the mix so it is evenly covering the surface. It will take about 60-90 seconds to cook on one side, then you use a spatula to flip and continue cooking for another 45 seconds and then remove from the pan.

You’ll definitely want to use whole milk for the batter. The lesser fat milks will not provide the same richness to the crepes. Pro Tip: If you place the crepe batter into the fridge for about an hour prior to making them, the thin crepes will come out a lot lighter (and who doesn’t love a light and airy crepe?).

Crepes are typically served rolled or folded with a variety of different toppings. Some of the classic and delicious filling and topping combinations include Nutella & bananas, chocolate & strawberries, ham & cheese, spinach with tomatoes & mozzarella and even roasted cinnamon apples with sliced toasted almonds (oh, and don’t forget to top them with whipped cream or a sprinkle of powdered sugar and drizzle of chocolate). Sometimes they’re even served with just sugar.

There are really an endless variety of choices when it comes to what to stuff or top your crepes with. And they can be served cold, warm or hot – dealer’s choice (though I think hot is how you’ll typically find them served)!

The best thing about crepes is they are very versatile (unlike pancakes which really lean more on the sweeter side). Regardless of what cookware you use to make them, you can style the crepes however you like with your selected toppings.

And it’s a fun idea for a delicious make your own brunch with family or friends! Make a large batch of crepe batter, have your toppings in small bowls set out on the table, and go to town making crepes for your guests to fill and top. Use the crepe pan or crepe maker to scramble some eggs to go with it. You could even make it a competition to see who comes up with the best crepe topping combination or who has the best crepe styling (make it Instagram-worthy)!

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Related Questions:

What Else Can You Use Crepe Pans & Crepe Makers For?

The great thing about both a crepe pan and a crepe maker is that they can be used for more than just crepe making! You can also use them to cook eggs (scrambled or sunny-side up), cook or heat tortillas, cook sausages and more! They act as a griddle and pretty much any food that is circular in shape can be cooked and shaped on these.

So what it boils down to is both the crepe pan and crepe maker are great options for your favorite crepe recipe. If crepes are going to be making a pretty regular appearance for you on your table, and you don’t mind the higher price point, you might want to go ahead and get the crepe maker. But if you’d like to have something on hand for your every-once-in-a-while hankering for French crepes, the crepe pan might be just the cookware you need!

Regardless of which cooking tool you choose, remember to have fun. Happy crepe-making!