This is just one of those desserts that seem, on the page as on the plate, to be labor-intensive and tricky, but in fact are as simple to make as they are gratifying to eat. For one thing, you can make the crepes in advance; they could sit, piled between torn-off sheets of baking parchment and well wrapped in the refrigerator, for a good three days without coming to any harm. But I must admit to taking, more than once, an even quicker route: using good store-bought crepes. Once they’re immersed in the sweet orangey syrup, they will not betray their prefabricated origins.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
  • Finely grated zest of 1 orange
  • 10 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • cup superfine sugar
  • 8 to 12 crepes (see recipe)
  • cup Grand Marnier, Cointreau or triple sec liqueur
  • Nutritional Information
    • Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

      845 calories; 47 grams fat; 22 grams saturated fat; 1 gram trans fat; 12 grams monounsaturated fat; 9 grams polyunsaturated fat; 82 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram dietary fiber; 25 grams sugars; 13 grams protein; 189 milligrams cholesterol; 849 milligrams sodium

    • Note: Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available data.

4 to 6 servings

Preparation

  1. In a small saucepan, combine orange juice, zest, butter and sugar. Place over high heat and bring to boil; reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer until syrupy, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat, and set aside.
  2. Fold crepes into quarters, and arrange in circular pattern, slightly overlapping, in a nonreactive skillet or other shallow flameproof pan. Pour warm syrup on top (reserve syrup pan), and place over low heat until crepes are warm, about 5 minutes.
  3. Warm liqueur in pan that held orange syrup. When crepes are hot, pour liqueur on top; carefully touch a flame to surface to light it. Serve immediately, spooning crepes and sauce onto each plate.

20 minutes

Dining and Cooking