Crepe Gateau

Photo: flickr user balise42

Ingredients

2 egg

cup sugar

1 cup buttermilk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon cinnamon

cup all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

sugar, for sprinkling

Simple Syrup

1 cup water

1 cup sugar

2 tablespoons hazelnut liqueur

Chocolate Ganache

2 cups whipping cream

16 ounces chopped chocolate, bittersweet or semisweet

icing sugar and cocoa powder, for dusting

Preparation

In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, buttermilk and vanilla extract.

In a separate bowl, sift together cinnamon, flour and baking powder. Add sugar. Whisk into buttermilk mixture and stir in melted butter. Allow batter to sit 10-15 minutes before making.

Heat a flat, non-stick pan over medium heat for 5 minutes. Grease lightly with oil or spray and pour about 2 oz of batter into the center of the pan. These crepes will be thicker than usual crepes. Cook for about 2-3 minutes, until edges brown. Lift crepe gently with a spatula and flip over. Cook for 1 minute and remove from heat.

Simple Syrup:Bring water and sugar up to a full boil and cook for 2 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in hazelnut liqueur and allow to cool.

Chocolate Ganache:Heat cream to just below a simmer (on the stove or in the microwave) and pour over chocolate. Let sit for 2 minutes, then stir gently to blend. Allow to completely cool before finishing gateau, or chill until ready to use and warm slightly in microwave.

To Assemble:Place one crepe on a large plate or platter. Brush lightly with the hazelnut syrup. Using a palette knife, spread a thin layer of ganache over the entire surface of the crepe. Set another crepe on top and repeat process using all the crepes, sparing the syrup and chocolate layer on the top one. Cover with plastic wrap and chill until ready to serve.

To serve, dust top with icing sugar and just a little sprinkle of cocoa powder, and slice as a cake to serve. Gateau can be served with remaining hazelnut syrup on the plate.