AFRICAN-INSPIRED COCOA CREPES WITH MASCARPONE FILLING AND VANILLA SAUCE
An extraordinary combination inspired by the description of “African pancakes”: rich cocoa crepes filled with a smooth mascarpone cream, drenched in a luscious, velvety vanilla sauce. A decadent dessert to impress.
π Prep Time: 25 min
π³ Cook Time: 20 min
π° Yields: 4 servings (about 5 crepes)
Ingredients
Cocoa Crepe Batter:
- 1 egg
- 100 ml milk
- 50 ml water
- 1 tbsp oil (or melted butter)
- 1 tbsp rum or sweet sherry (Oloroso)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- A pinch of salt
- 40 g all-purpose flour
- 15 g cocoa powder
- 1 small cube butter (for greasing the pan)
Mascarpone Filling:
- 300 g mascarpone
- 3 tbsp sour cream (fermented)
- 3 tbsp sugar (preferably brown)
- 4 pinches cinnamon
Vanilla Sauce:
- 1 egg
- 150 ml milk
- 2 tbsp sugar (preferably brown)
- ΒΌ vanilla pod, seeds scraped
- A pinch of salt
Instructions
1. Prepare the Vanilla Sauce
- Whisk egg with sugar until well combined.
- Add milk, vanilla seeds, and salt.
- Cook the mixture over steam (double boiler), stirring constantly, until it thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon (about 20 minutes).
- Stir slowly at first, then increase speed as sauce thickens.
2. Make the Cocoa Crepes
- Follow your standard crepe recipe, substituting 15 g of flour with cocoa powder.
- Allow crepes to cool completely before filling to prevent melting the cream.
3. Prepare the Mascarpone Filling
- Mix mascarpone, sour cream, sugar, and cinnamon until smooth and homogeneous.
4. Assemble Crepes
- Lay crepes with the darker, second-cooked side down (the prettier side).
- Spread a thin layer of mascarpone cream on each crepe.
- Roll crepes tightly and cut into equal pieces.
Optional: For efficiency, overlap 2β3 crepes slightly, spread filling, roll and slice to reduce exposed edges.
5. Serve
- Pour vanilla sauce into deep plates.
- Place filled crepe pieces into the sauce.
- Optionally, decorate with cocoa-mixed vanilla cream for a dark artistic contrast.
π‘ Tips
- Using a double boiler for vanilla sauce prevents curdling and ensures smoothness.
- Cooling crepes before filling prevents the mascarpone from melting.
- Cinnamon in the filling adds a warm spice note.
- Artistic plating with cocoa-dusted cream enhances presentation.
π Perfect For
- Elegant desserts
- Special dinners and celebrations
- Fans of rich and creamy sweets
π Final Thoughts
This recipe blends the richness of mascarpone and cocoa crepes with the silky smoothness of homemade vanilla sauce, creating a dessert full of texture and sophisticated flavor inspired by African pancakes.