Cinnamon Vanilla Crêpes

Cinnamon Vanilla Crêpes or Crepes are a very thin type of pancake that dates back to 13th century Brittany, France. Crêpes are usually one of two varieties: sweet crêpes (crêpes sucrées) or savoury galettes (crêpes salées).

Ways to Make Crêpes

Sweet crêpes are generally made with wheat flour (farine de blé). When sweet, they can be eaten as part of breakfast or as a dessert. Common fillings include hazelnut cocoa spread, preserves, sugar (granulated or powdered), maple syrup, golden syrup, lemon juice, whipped cream, fruit spreads, custard, and sliced soft fruits or confiture.

Savory crêpes are made with non-wheat flours such as buckwheat. A normal savory crêpe recipe includes using wheat flour but omitting the sugar. The batter made from buckwheat flour is gluten-free. Common savory fillings for crêpes served for lunch or dinner are cheese, ham, and eggs, ratatouille, mushrooms, artichoke (in certain regions), and various meat products.

How to Store Crepes

To store extra crepes wrap them in a stack in foil or plastic wrap and store them in the refrigerator for two or three days. Let the crepes stand at room temperature about an hour before filling or serving.

To freeze leftover crepes separate the layers of the crepe with wax paper and put them in a tightly sealed container.

History of Crêpes

Crêpes originated in Brittany, a region in western France, during the 13th century, and are now consumed around the world. Their name comes from Old French ‘crespe’ which traces back to the Latin ‘crispa’ or ‘crispus’ which means curled. This probably refers to their often slightly ruffled edges. A French café that specializes in crepes is known as a crêperie.

The Metropolitan City of Rennes, France

Rennes is the capital city of Brittany, northwest France. It’s known for its medieval half-timbered houses and grand Rennes Cathedral. Parc du Thabor includes a rose garden and aviary. South of the Vilaine river, the Musée des Beaux-arts displays works by Botticelli, Rubens and Picasso. The Champs Libres cultural center houses the Musée de Bretagne (Brittany Museum) and Espace des Sciences, featuring a planetarium.

A Brief History of Rennes, France

By the 2nd century BCE, the Gallic tribe known as the Redones had occupied territory in eastern Brittany and established their chief township at the confluence of the Ille and Vilaine rivers, the site of the modern city of Rennes.

In 275, the threat of barbarians led to the erection of a robust brick wall around Rennes. Threatened by the danger of the peasant marauders designated as bagaudae in the final days of the Roman Empire in the 5th century.

Throughout Brittany’s existence as an independent state – first as a kingdom and then as a duchy – Rennes generally was considered to be one of three cities acting as the territory’s capital, the others being Nantes and Vannes, with Rennes Cathedral being the coronation site for the dukes of Brittany.

In 1491, the French army of Charles VIII, led by General Louis II de la Trémoille, unsuccessfully attacked Rennes. Mass graves of people who died during the siege were discovered in 2021. Brittany having already capitulated elsewhere, Rennes alone resisted, but the Duchess Anne of Brittany chose instead to negotiate. The resulting treaty of Rennes of 15 November 1491 dictated her marriage to Charles VIII and brought Brittany into the French kingdom.

In 1857, the Rennes railway station was built, which gradually led to the southward sprawl of the town. In 1899, Alfred Dreyfus’ second trial in Rennes caused a national sensation.

During the Second World War, Rennes suffered heavy damage from just three German aircraft which hit an ammunition train parked alongside French and British troop trains and near a refugee train on the yard: 1,000 died. The next day, 18 June 1940, German troops entered the city. Later, Rennes endured heavy bombing by the US and Royal Air Forces in March and May 1943, and again in June 1944, causing hundreds of deaths.

From 1954 onward, the city developed extensive building plans to accommodate upwards of 220,000 inhabitants, helping it become the second fastest-growing city in France, after Toulouse.

Tourism in Rennes, France

Rennes is known to be one of the most festive cities in France. It invests heavily in arts and culture and a number of its festivals (such as the music festival Les Transmusicales, Les Tombées de la Nuit, Mythos, Stunfest (fighting game competition), and Travelling (a cinematic festival)) are well-known throughout France. During the 80s, Rennes was often cited as the French town of rock and new wave music.

The Cuisine of Rennes, France

Specialties from Rennes include dishes like Breton galette, galette-saucisse, the crêpe, cider, and many other Breton specialties (seafood, milk, vegetables, cheese, meat) are seen at the Marché des Lices, a weekly market held every Saturday morning (one of the most important markets in France).

– Featured Restaraunt –

Crêperie La Gavotte
41 Rue Saint-Georges, 35000 Rennes, France
Telephone: +33 2 99 36 29 38

A traditional pancake house where it smells good the caramel with salted butter. We offer you crispy pancakes made with buckwheat from Brittany as well as soft pancakes, in an atmosphere “like at home”.

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How to Make This French Crepes Recipe

This delicious French recipe is easy to make but for the very best results, you will need a very good nonstick pan. It takes just a few minutes to make the batter and only a couple of minutes for them to cook but you should allow the batter 30 minutes to rest before cooking.

What You Need to Make French Crêpes

How to Cook French Crêpes

It’s important to let the batter rest for at least 30 minutes, or longer if you can. This allows the gluten time to rest, which gives your crepes a light and airy consistency.