Learn how to build an epic Crepe Bar at home and be a brunch hero! Providing options for both sweet and savory crepes will have your guests raving about this unique meal idea!
Even though I’m usually in a bit of a food coma from our regularly epic Saturday night dinners, I’m so on board for a good brunch!
Many of our regular meals look an awful lot like brunch around here since Abe loves to eat breakfast any time of the day.
He also likes to sleep in on his days off, so that makes it automatic brunch anyway.
This page includes step by step photos and instructions, as well as tips and notes. If you’d like to skip all that, feel free to scroll down to the full, printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
What’s more fun than brunch? A DIY brunch bar!
Sure, you could go to a restaurant and sit around sipping mimosas while someone brings you a plate of food. Boring.
You should throw together (or just buy) a quick batch of crepes. Buy anything and everything you could ever imagine could go in a crepe. Invite your friends over, set them to it, and watch their faces light up when they see all the possibilities!
Scroll down to the recipe card for the best crepe recipe I know of, and a ton of flavor combo ideas!
What Are The Best Crepe Filling Ingredients?
- Fresh fruit is a no-brainer. Sliced bananas, fresh berries, kiwi, pineapple, and other tropical fruits, thinly sliced apples and peaches. Find what’s in season and roll with it!
- Nuts add a nice crunch. Try some toasted almonds or pecans, pistachios, coconut, choco chips
- Spreads and jams, because every crepe needs a little moisture. Nut butters (peanut, almonds, etc.) and hazelnut spread (my personal fave) are winners, as is cookie butter! Haul out the lemon and lime curd, a selection of jams and jellies, honey, custard, caramel sauce, and whipped cream.
- Soft cheeses bridge the gap between sweet and savory since they can be used in both! Mascarpone, whipped cream cheese, and goat cheese are nice and spreadable. A wheel of warm brie, sliced mozzarella or burrata, feta, and ricotta are great choices for savory crepes.
- Breakfasty foods fit the crepe vibe! Serve up some scrambled eggs, crumbled bacon or sausage, sauteed mushrooms, and caramelized onions for heartier crepes.
- This is brunch, so heavier meats are also an option! Thinly sliced steak and pulled pork or chicken are a great base for a hearty crepe. Complement the main ingredients with fresh spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, roasted red peppers, pesto, sour cream, Greek yogurt, and herbs like chives, basil, and rosemary.
How To Build A Crepe Bar
Building a crepe bar is the easiest part of the whole event – and the most fun!
You can be as lazy or as creative as you want with this. Each ingredient should get its own bowl
or plate, or you can pair items that complement each other in a bigger container
(like I did with my strawberries, kiwi, and bananas).
Make sure each bowl of spreads has a spoon or fork for easy smearing. If you’re worried about hygiene, provide cute little tongs
for each fruit and nut bowl, as well.
Food safety warning: if you’re serving hot savory items, keep them warm on your stovetop and serve them up in batches. You can also invest in a set of permanent or disposable buffet chafing dishes
to keep everything warm hands-free.
If you’re setting up your crepe bar for an event like a bridal or baby shower, grab some small chalkboards
and fancy it up with cute nameplates for each item!
Stack your (homemade or store-bought) crepes on a plate, and let your guests go wild building their own brunch creations!
Crepe Filling Ideas
The flavor possibilities for crepes are endless, so it won’t surprise you if your guests need some inspiration! Provide them with some ideas like these – you can even get fancy and write them out on a big chalkboard.
Sweet crepes are my personal favorite, and there are so many flavor combos that work!
- Hazelnut spread, whipped cream, sliced strawberries & bananas, shredded coconut, slivered almonds
- Lemon or lime curd, blackberries, sliced kiwi, chopped tropical fruit, shredded coconut
- Caramel sauce, whipped cream cheese, chocolate chips
- Peanut butter, sliced strawberries & bananas, caramel sauce, chocolate chips
- Custard, chocolate sauce, chocolate chips, whipped cream
Some folks prefer savory crepes, so don’t leave them out!
- Sliced steak, caramelized onions, sauteed mushrooms, fresh spinach
- Chopped ham, brie, fresh raspberries
- Pulled chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, basil pesto, feta
- Ricotta, fresh spinach, crumbled bacon, sauteed mushrooms
- Greek yogurt, scrambled eggs, crumbled sausage, sliced mozzarella, chives
LOOKING FOR MORE CREPE RECIPES?
HELPFUL KITCHEN TOOLS FOR MAKING A KICKIN’ CREPE BAR:
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How To Build A Crepe Bar
Ingredients
Homemade Crepes
- 2 large eggs
- ¾ cup milk
- ½ cup water
- 1 cup all-purpose flour sifted
- ¼ cup powdered sugar optional – for sweet crepes
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter melted, plus more for the pan
Sweet
- Sliced bananas
- Fresh berries
- Chopped pineapple papaya, mango, guava
- Sliced kiwi
- Hazelnut Spread
- Nut Butter peanut, almond, cashew, etc.
- Lemon curd
- Whipped cream cheese
- Whipped cream
- Toasted nuts almonds, pecans, pistachios
- Shredded coconut
- Chocolate chips or shaved chocolate
- Powdered sugar for dusting
Savory
- Scrambled eggs
- Pulled chicken or pork
- Crumbled cooked sausage
- Crispy bacon
- Sauteed mushrooms
- Caramelized onions
- Roasted red peppers
- Sundried tomatoes
- Sour cream
- Fresh herbs chives, basil, rosemary
- Soft cheeses goat, mozzarella, brie
Instructions
Homemade Crepes
- Combine all ingredients in a blender and pulse for 10 seconds. Refrigerate batter for 1 hour to set, or up to 48 hours.
- Heat a small non-stick pan over medium heat. Add a bit of butter and melt, stirring to coat. Pour 1 ounce of batter into the center of the pan and tilt with a circular motion to coat the surface evenly. Cook for 30 seconds until crepe moves when you shimmy the pan, then flip and cook another 10-15 seconds. Remove to a plate and lay flat to cool.
- Repeat with the remaining batter. If you’re working ahead, gently stack the crepes and place them in a gallon-sized plastic zipper bag. Refrigerate for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to two months. Thaw frozen crepes on a cooling rack before attempting to peel them apart for use.
- Place all filling ingredients in individual bowls or plates, providing a spoon or fork and a fancy nameplate for hard-to-identify items. Stack crepes on a plate, and let your guests go wild building their own brunch creations!
Daniela says
Hy and geethings from Romania 🙂
i can not pin for Pinterest board other picture that i like … why is that
i kno that it was ”a la mode ” two pictures in one but is no more…
people wants to see beautiful pictures… and you have awsome pictures from every single awsome recipes…
somehow they are procteted ….
but if you like it like that shall it be…
with my admiration and respect,
Daniela
Erica says
I think I know what you mean – you weren’t able to pin photos from my site to Pinterest, right? That should be fixed now! 🙂 Thank you for letting me know!