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Low-Sugar Lemon Crêpes—A Great Occasional Dessert; Worth the Effort.

Cooks' Note

You can make the batter, filling, and sauce ahead of time but remember to warm everything prior to serving.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    serves 10 to 12 (20 to 24 crêpes)

Ingredients

Filling

Three 8-ounce packages cream cheese, at room temperature
5 1/2 teaspoons (22 packets) artificial sweetener
1 1/2 tablespoons rum
Juice of 1 1/2 lemons
1 1/2 tablespoons grated lemon zest (peel)

Batter

6 large eggs, beaten
2 1/2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 cup whole milk
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups stone-ground whole-wheat flour

Lemon Butter Sauce

3/4 pound (3 sticks) butter
9 packets artificial sweetener
3/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 tablespoons grated lemon zest (peel)

Assembly

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons brandy (3 ounces)

Preparation

  1. Filling

    Step 1

    To make the filling, put the cream cheese into a mixing bowl or a food processor. Beat with an electric mixer or process until smooth and fluffy. While continuing to beat, gradually add the artificial sweetener. Beat in the rum, lemon juice, and lemon zest. (You should have about 3 cups of the filling.) Set aside.

  2. Batter

    Step 2

    For the batter, combine the eggs, butter, milk, vanilla, and salt in a blender. Add the flour and blend until smooth. The batter should be thick enough to lightly coat a spoon. If it is too thick, add a little water; if too thin, a little flour. (The batter will thicken on its own as it sits.) Preheat a small nonstick skillet over medium heat. Lightly grease with canola oil before adding batter. Using about 2 tablespoons for each, cook 20 to 24 crêpes, pouring the batter to thinly cover the bottom of the skillet, and cooking until the crêpe turns lightly brown on the bottom and small holes dot the surface, about 1 minute. Turn the crêpe over and cook for 30 seconds on the other side. Transfer the crêpes to a platter as cooked and cover with plastic wrap to keep tender.

  3. Lemon Butter Sauce

    Step 3

    For the sauce, melt the butter in a 1-quart saucepan over low heat. Stir in the artificial sweetener until dissolved. Stir in the lemon juice and lemon zest, and cook for about 1 minute more to heat through.

  4. Assembly

    Step 4

    To assemble, fill the center of each crêpe with 2 tablespoons of the filling and fold up like an envelope. Warm the sauce in a large skillet or chafing dish. Add the assembled crêpes side by side, seam side up. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes over medium-low heat, then turn the crêpes seam side down. Drizzle the brandy and swirl the pan to coat the crêpes evenly. Carefully ignite and allow the alcohol to burn off. Serve 2 crêpes per person on warmed dessert dishes, spooning warm sauce over the crêpes.

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