Those that really know me, know how much I LOVE crepes.
I don’t even remember when I had my first ever crepe, probably about 10 years ago, but it is one of my favorite dessert options, next to gelato. I’ll always go with the classic nutella/banana crepe, and I’ll customize it with extras like blueberries, marshmallows, cinnamon, extra nutella lol…
I don’t eat them as much as I used to, but every once in a while, they make for a great cheat meal, no doubt.
Back in my college days in SF, there was a crepe truck open late night right next to some poppin’ bars, and when last call was all said and done, everyone would crowd the truck and get their grub on.
After a night out on the town at the bars and clubs, nothing hit the spot better!
It was like an afterparty at the crepe truck! Awesome, fun times!
Also, whenever I go to a new city, I always like to go on Yelp and try out the best crepe spots in town. I’ve been to dozens of crepe cafes throughout Northern and Southern California, and to me, hands down, THE best crepes I’ve ever had came from Crepevine. If you guys are ever in the San Francisco Bay Area, you have to check them out!
As much as I love crepes, depending on which ones you get, even the most basic of crepes are pretty high in carbs, sugars, and calories. So I knew I had to reimagine some of my favorite crepe combinations and transform them using healthier ingredients, lower the carb/sugar content, maybe add more fruits, and increase the protein.
And what I came up with is my take on a classic crepe combination with a few delicious upgrades that I think will knock your socks off….
Enter my Dark Chocolate Strawberry Hazelnut Protein Crepes!!
These protein-packed crepes are fully-loaded with strawberries, blueberries, bananas, chopped hazelnuts, melted peanut butter—-and topped off with cinnamon, and 72% cacao dark chocolate drizzle!
If you were to put the classic crepe combination of nutella, strawberries, and banana—-on a fatburner and on steroids—-you’d come up with this mouthwatering deliciousness….
…An awesome high protein, high fiber meal option.
Perfect for breakfast, post workout, afternoon “snack,” or dessert!
Ultimate deliciousness.
Ultimate nutrition.
Bet you’ve never had enticing, muscle-building crepes like these before!!
Unlike traditional crepe batter, which calls for all purpose flour, butter, sugar, salt, milk, and eggs—-these crepes’ batter is very simple.
This batter contains:
NO refined all purpose flour, NO butter, NO granulated sugars, and NO dairy milk.
That means lesser saturated fats, lesser carbs, lesser sugars, as the above are substituted with more nutrient-dense ingredients, such as…
Whey protein powder. Nothing boosts a recipe’s protein content more than adding protein powder. These crepes get a big boost with this, without altering its texture, and you can customize the flavor to your liking.
Almond milk. If you choose the right almond milk, what you get is a lower calorie, low carb, zero sugar, dairy-free, option vs regular cow’s milk. Some almond milks also are packed with nutrients like vitamin E, vitamin D, calcium. When choosing almond milks, I always go with the ones that have no added sugars, low carbs, and lesser ingredients.
And we use eggs.
That’s pretty much it.
This is as high protein, low carb a crepe batter you will ever need, and this will produce some tasty, delicious crepes!
Now, here are the nutritional benefits of the other main ingredients of these crepes:
Dark chocolate has been shown to contain high amounts of antioxidants, polphenols, and flavonoids —all of which are believed to help fight free radical damage to cells in our body, fight disease, and may help prevent cancer. Also, flavonols in dark chocolate, studies have shown, may help improve blood circulation to the heart, the brain, and may also help lower blood pressure.
Strawberries are also a great source of antioxidants, which studies have shown to help fight cancer, reduce inflammation, fight aging, and help remove toxins from the body. Some of its unique flavonoids may help protect the brain from decline and improve mental cognition. Also, because of its high vitamin A and C content, they may help to hydrate, repair, and protect the skin from sun and environmental damage.
Hazelnuts are loaded with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and are known to be one of the most nutritious nuts found in the world. Studies have shown that regular consumption of these nuts may help fight cancer, boost brain function, help prevent heart disease, and boost metabolism. Its high vitamin E content may help fight the signs of aging by helping to keep the skin and hair healthy.
Blueberries are considered one of the world’s superfoods because they are one of the best sources of antioxidants. Studies have shown that they may help fight cancer, help fight inflammation, help support brain function, and help keep the heart healthy. Its high fiber content aids with digestion. And they are also high in manganese, which helps protect bone health.
Ok, here’s what you’ll need for these Dark Chocolate Strawberry Hazelnut Protein Crepes…
For the crepe batter:
For the fillings and toppings:
Some quick notes:
-After pouring the batter onto the hot pan, be sure to make the crepe as thin as possible—flatten it out by making circular motions using the back of a spoon. These won’t roll together as smoothly if you make them too thick.
-Be sure to grease up the pan with some olive oil after each crepe is done for easier flipping.
-Spread peanut butter really good on the crepe before you add the fillings. The peanut butter helps the crepe stay together when you fold it into itself.
More details in the recipe notes below..
If you love hazelnuts, then you gotta try my Dark Chocolate Hazelnut Protein Smoothie recipe! And my Mocha Chip Hazelnut Protein Cookies!!
Alright then, let’s get to it!!
| Prep Time | 10 minutes |
| Cook Time | 6 minutes |
| Servings |
crepes
|
- 2 whole eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup almond milk
- 2 scoops vanilla whey protein powder
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 3 dark chocolate squares (70% cacao or higher )
- strawberries (sliced)
- hazelnuts (finely chopped)
- cinnamon
Ingredients
Crepe batter:
Garnish:
|
|
- Set pan to low/med heat.
- In bowl, add crepe batter ingredients. Mix thoroughly.
- Measure 1/3 cup of batter and pour onto pan. Quickly, using back of spoon, flatten out batter using circular motions to form a thin, circular shape.
- Let cook for about 30+ seconds or until spatula slides cleanly underneath. Flip over.
- Let cook for about 30 seconds or until spatula slides cleanly underneath. This side should cook quicker.
- Repeat process until all batter is finished. Makes 3 crepes.
- Spread peanut butter over crepe. Add fillings (sliced bananas, strawberries, blueberries, hazelnuts) in center of crepe. Gently roll from one end to the other. Repeat process for other crepes.
- Meanwhile, add dark chocolate squares into a bowl. Melt in the microwave for 30 second intervals, stirring in between, until fully melted.
- Add garnishes. Drizzle dark chocolate on top using spoon. Enjoy!
-After pouring the batter onto the hot pan, be sure to make the crepe as thin as possible using the back of a spoon. These won't roll together as smoothly if you make them too thick.
-Customize your fillings! Add as much or as little of them as you want. Totally up to you!
-Be sure to grease up the pan with some olive oil after each crepe is done for easier flipping.
-Spread peanut butter really good on the crepe before you add the fillings. The peanut butter helps the crepe stay together when you fold it into itself.
-When adding the fillings, fill up in the entire center of the crepe, top to bottom, then roll from one side to the other.
Did you try this recipe? How did it turn out for you? I would love to hear from you! Sound off in the comment section below or use the social media links you see above or throughout the blog. Thanks guys!!