The Best Flour for Crepes — Ultimate Guide
Crepes make a delicious breakfast food or a sweet treat. You can personalize them in so many ways and make them just about any way you would like to. They’re not terribly challenging to make but they do take a bit of work to make them correctly.
To make delicious crepes, you have to have the proper ingredients to work with. That includes using the best flour for the job. So what is the best flour for crepes? Can you just use any flour you have on hand?
The most common flour is all-purpose flour and it is primarily a universal flour but sometimes working with a specialized flour produces better results in the long run.
We will talk about all of that and more throughout this guide and lead you through several flour ideas as well as letting you know the best flours on the market that you can use for your crepes.
We encourage you to keep reading so that you can learn all of the important information about flour and crepes.
Types of Flour
When it comes to choosing your flour to make crepes with, you should be aware that there are multiple types of flour. Here is a list of each type of flour with a description and information about each one.
- All-Purpose Flour – All-purpose flour can be used for just about anything. If all else fails or if you don’t want to spend the extra money on specialty flour, turn to your trusty all-purpose flour.
All-purpose flour is quite versatile and is the most common type of flour called for in recipes and used for day-to-day recipes. There is no baking or cooking job too big for all-purpose flour to pull off the task. If you’re thinking all-purpose flour is the ideal type for crepes, you’re not wrong but you’re also not entirely right. You can certainly use all-purpose flour for the task. - Bread Flour – Bread flour was specifically designed to work perfectly for most bread recipes. Bread flour is just as it sounds, great for making bread.
What makes bread flour unique is the protein content within the flour. Bread flour’s protein content is very high making this a potent flour option. With bread flour, you can expect your bread to come out of the oven with the perfect mix of tender and strong.
Using bread flour is not a common flour type for crepes. It is far too heavy to deliver the proper texture and weight that crepes are known for. - Sweet Rice Flour – as the name would suggest, sweet rice flour is made from rice. This flour is made from the same type of rice that sticky rice is made from. It is made from short-grain rice.
The flour has a high starch content which makes it the perfect option for things like homemade rice noodles. It is not sweet flour but rather has a hint of a milky flavor.
This rice is typically found in the Asian section in most grocery stores and is a reliable option when it comes to making crepes. There are 2 recommendations for the best flour for crepes and this one is second. - Whole-Wheat Flour – whole-wheat flour is made from both the bran and the germ of the wheat, which means it requires much less processing than most flours and is the nutritional choice when it comes to flour options.
Because of the unique design of whole-wheat flour and the way that it is made, it tends to have a hint of nutty flavor. The texture is dense but airy.
Whole-wheat flour is commonly used for items that have fillings mixed in with it. This type of flour can also be mixed with other flours to modify the texture. Whole-wheat flour is the top recommended flour for crepe making. - Cake Flour – I bet you can’t guess what cake flour is meant for. That’s right! It’s designed for cake. Cake flour gives the perfect find and airy texture and is often used in cakes or bread.
Cake flour typically has low gluten counts and is made from soft wheat, making it a uniquely divine flour option. This flour is unique in that it has a high protein content but mixes and clumps well with various ingredients. When baked, it leaves an airy product that melts in your mouth.
These flours detailed here are just an example of the most commonly used flours in the industry. While you can use any flour you like to make crepes, the best results happen with whole-wheat flour and sweet rice flour.
If you’re not familiar with the crepe, it is best described as a thin pancake. Crepes can be made in various ways. A crepe is usually filled with the chosen ingredients (sweet or savory) and then rolled and topped with something special.
A crepe can also be folded in squares or triangles and served just like pancakes rather than rolled. Add your toppings and enjoy. These are just some basic examples to fully inform you about crepes.
Now let’s get down to business and discuss the best flours to make the most delicious crepes. We will share with you our top 4 picks of the best flour for crepes.
The 4 Best Flour for Crepes
Here are our top flour recommendations for making crepes:
| Rank | Product | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Bob’s Red Mill Whole-Wheat Flour | 100% organic stone ground whole wheat flour |
| 2. | King Arthur White Whole Wheat Flour | White whole wheat flour, stone ground |
| 3. | Mochiko Sweet Rice Flour | Short grain sweet rice flour |
| 4. | McCabe Organic Sweet Rice Flour | Organic sweet rice flour |
Let’s check them out.
1. Bob’s Red Mill Whole-Wheat Flour
Bob’s Red Mill Flour is 100% whole grain. This flour is a high-quality flour at a very decent price. This package comes with 4 5-pound bags of flour.
This whole-wheat flour is stone-ground making it high in fiber and a perfect option for your delicious crepe recipe.
Pros:
- 100% organic, all-natural, and kosher
- Maintains the wheat germ, oil, and fiber during grinding
- The “use-by date” is a significant difference to provide plenty of time for using
- This flour has the perfect texture and is not spongy
Cons:
- Not available in smaller quantities
- May be cheaper to purchase at your local grocery store.
2. King Arthur White Whole Wheat Flour
The King Arthur White Whole Wheat Flour is a multi-purpose flour that is made with the same properties as whole-wheat flour giving you an all-purpose whole-wheat flour product.
This flour is organic and has a slightly lower protein content than most whole-wheat flours.
Pros:
- Stores for up to 1 year
- Great for breads, pancakes, and crepes
- Certified organic product
- Whole-wheat flour disguised as all-purpose flour
Cons:
- Described as a whole-wheat flour but ultimately measure up to be an all-purpose flour
- Available only in a 5-pound bag
3. Mochiko Sweet Rice Flour
The Mochiko sweet rice flour is the perfect option for your crepes and it is extremely affordable. This flour is available in either a 3-pack, 6-pack, or 9-pack option. Each pack is one pound. Mochiko has been making sweet rice flour for nearly 80 years and is one of the most popular brands on the market.
Pros:
- Absolutely no additives in the rice
- Harvested and processed in California, USA
- Great flavor no matter what you might be making
- Comes in smaller bags with multiple packet size options
Cons:
- Some packets ordered online arrived opened or damaged
- Watch your dates to be sure your flour is not stale
4. McCabe Organic Sweet Rice Flour
The McCabe organic sweet rice flour is a quality-made flour that will be perfect for your crepes. This flour is a bit on the expensive side, but the organic properties and rice quality make it well worth every penny spent. McCabe is a company that is well-known for making quality natural products.
Pros:
- Grown, harvested, sun-dried and ground in California, USA
- Certified organic flour compound by the USDA and CCOF
- Gluten-free flour that has been tested for gluten
- Superior-quality rice that does not disappoint
Cons:
- A bit on the pricy side
- Sold in 1-pound bags with no multi-bag option
Related Questions
We trust that this guide has been both informative and useful for you as you seek out the best flour for crepes. Remember that if all else fails, you can grab your all-purpose flour and still make delicious crepes.
We invite you to check out our question-and-answer section for some additional information.
Are Pancakes and Crepes the Same Thing?
Pancakes have a fluffy airy texture while crepes are flat with no airy texture. They look very similar when splayed out but the texture is actually quite different.
Pancakes rise due to a rising agent that is included in the pancake mix. Crepe batter does not rise, keeping it thin and flat compared to a thick and fluffy pancake.
Are Crepes and Unhealthy Food Choice?
Because crepes are made with whole-wheat flour or sweet rice flour the majority of the time they are essentially not an unhealthy food choice. Depending on what types of fillings or toppings you add to your crepes they can be a relatively low-calorie meal option.
If you choose to fill your crepes with fruits or vegetables rather than sugars and syrups, they are a suitable option with a low-calorie count. Most crepes have approximately 150 calories per crepe.
Up Next: The 3 Best Spatulas For Crepes
