Crepe Baskets

[judydawn]

Name of Recipe:Crepe Baskets (From a Take 5 recipe booklet)
Number of People:Makes 8
Ingredients:
140g plain flour
3 x 59g eggs, lightly beaten
250g milk
1 tblspn melted butter

Chocolate Sauce - 300mls thickened cream
                          200g dark cooking chocolate (I used milk chocolate) - broken into squares
                          1 tblspn brown sugar

Preparation:
Crepes
Place all the ingredients into the TM bowl and blend for 35 seconds/speed 8.
Transfer batter to a large jug and stand, covered for 20 minutes.
Preheat oven to 180^o C.
Pour 2-3 tblspns of the batter into a small heated, greased frying pan, tilting pan so the batter covers the base. You need about a 16cm crepe. Cook until light golden brown, turn and cook the other side.
Grease the outside of 8 small ovenproof moulds (I used 7cm base ceramic ramekins).
Place the inverted moulds onto 2 lightly greased oven trays.  
Drape a crepe over each mould as you make them. I placed a large rubber band around them and left it there until the crepe went cold - it helps keep the basket a nice shape. (Don't forget to remove it carefully before placing the baskets in the oven - cutting them off with scissors is the easiest way).  You could use string instead.
Bake for 10-12 minutes or until crepes are crisp. This will depend on their thickness.
Remove from oven and allow the crepes to cool on the moulds.
Remove the baskets from the moulds and place right way up onto the baking tray. Return to a 150^o C oven for a further 2-6 minutes or until baskets are completely dry and crisp.   Remove from oven and cool.
Serve with a scoop of ice-cream, some fresh fruit and drizzle with chocolate sauce.


Chocolate sauce - Place all ingredients into TM bowl and cook 4mins/50^o C/speed 3.

Tips/Hints:

To really impress your guests, serve filled with home made ice-cream eg QuirkyJo's 30 second Choc-banana-nut ice-cream and some fruit. Chocolate sauce would not be necessary with this one.

Crepe baskets and chocolate sauce can be prepared a day ahead. Keep the sauce in the fridge and the baskets in an airtight container. If baskets soften on storage, they can be re-crisped by placing them into a 150^oC preheated oven for a few minutes. Reheat chocolate sauce just before serving.
Your guests will need both a fork and a spoon to eat this dessert.

members' comments
Chelsea - They looked absolutely beautiful were very delicious.  I will be buying some smaller ramekins though because the baskets were a bit too big.  I might even make really small crepes and use my biggest muffin tray (upside down).   

[achookwoman]

JD, you don't need a waffle cone/ basket maker after all.   Just saved your self $20 

[judydawn]

That I did Chookie, that I did 

[quirkycooking]

What a great idea, JD!!  I have a crepe recipe I make that's like my waffle recipe - a blender-batter one made with brown rice - so I'll try it with that one.  Thanks! 

[cathy79]

Love how one recipe inspires another one.  So looks like we'll have a recipe for gluten free baskets coming soon!

[cookie1]

You are a very clever girl Judy. Congratulations.

[meganjane]

Brilliant! If you buy those elastic bands that are especially for cooking, you don't have to cut them off at all. Thanks Judy!!

[judydawn]

Thanks for all the compliments girls - glad you all liked the idea.  MJ, I haven't seen those elastic bands you mentioned - where do you buy them?

[Chelsea (Thermie Groupie)]

Thanks JD.  This sounds really yummy and is something quite different for our dessert section which is nice. 

[meganjane]

Thanks for all the compliments girls - glad you all liked the idea.  MJ, I haven't seen those elastic bands you mentioned - where do you buy them?

JD, you can buy them at stores that sell cooking things - House, Kitchen Needs, Spotlight etc.

[andiesenji]

I love those hot cooking bands.  The ones I buy are heat resistant to 600° F (315 C.) so they can be used in the barbecue - as long as not exposed to direct flame.  They are really good for keeping odd-shaped things neatly on a rotisserie skewer.   I have even been able to put bundles of green beans and asparagus spears on the skewers in a vertical broiler using them. 

[Thermomixer]

Good stuff JD - I was thinking of putting up a tuile recipe for you to make baskets, but this sounds perfect.   

[cookie1]

MJ thanks for the information about the elastic bands for cooking. I will get some, especially to hold the roast chooks wings down when I roast him. Don't want him flying off.

[achookwoman]

JD,  when I made the waffle baskets I didn't use my  cooking bands,  I just put another,  slightly larger glass over the waffle.

[I Love Bimby!]

oh you are a clever chicken JD! Might make these next weekend when we have some friends for lunch