Dark sweet cherries make the most amazing jam. It doesn’t even compare to store bought jam. I just buy fresh fruit a lot of times before I even know what I’m going to make with it. My mind starts swirling with all the possibilities. Last week I made a coffee cake thing with cherry jam filling that I had whipped up. The jam had oozed out a bit and so I didn’t exactly lend itself to a pretty photo, but the cake was still delicious and the Hubs ate it all up for me; which I was glad because I was trying to avoid indulging in more of it. Usually if I park something wrapped in plastic wrap next to the coffee pot it’s fair game. Now the filling or jam I guess you could call it; ended up being amazing. I was dreaming of crepes this morning so decided to whip up this little breakfast treat and boy they are amazing.
The filling consists of taking cream cheese and sweetening it JUST a bit so it’s not too sweet but sweet enough that it pairs beautifully with the dark cherry jam. I love love love crepes. I don’t make them enough. They are so easy to whip up and I find making them one by one in the pan is strangely for me-methodically relaxing in an odd way.
Black Cherry Jam
2 lbs. fresh dark sweet cherries, washed, pitted and halved
1/2 Cup sugar
pinch of salt
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
1 1/2 Tbsp. cornstarch
1/4 Cup water
1/3 Cup dried tart cherries (optional)
In a saucepan combine the cherries, sugar, salt, and lemon juice. Heat the cherries over medium heat until they start to soften and break down a bit and the mixture comes to a boil. In a small bowl combine the cornstarch with the water and add to the pan and stir constantly until it becomes thickened. Remove from the heat using an immersion blender until mostly smooth but a little chunky still. Add in the optional dried sour cherries and allow the jam to cool.
Cinnamon sugar (for sprinkling over crepes)
1/4 C sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
pinch of salt
stir together in a small bowl until combined.
Sweet Crepe Batter (makes about 10-12, 8 inch crepes)
3/4 Cup milk (2 % is fine) (room temperature)
1/2 Cup water (lukewarm)
2 eggs (room temperature)
3 Tbsp. melted butter (+ more for prepping pan)
2 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla
pinch of salt
1 Cup all-purpose flour
1. In a blender pulse to combine all the ingredients except the flour. Add the flour then combine for about 20-30 seconds. Cover the batter and let rest in the fridge for at least an hour or overnight.
2. Heat a small (6-8 inch) non-stick pan over medium low heat and add a little smear of butter. Tip: I like to use the cut end of a stick of butter and quickly swipe over the surface of the pan. You’ll want to do this for each crepe.
3. Pour about 3 Tbsp. of batter over surface of your pan, pick up the pan off the heat and immediately swirl the batter (using a circular motion and tilting your wrist) in the pan 3-4 times until pan is coated with your batter. Set the pan back on the heat and heat until lightly browned; about 2 minutes. Use a bamboo skewer or toothpick to pick up the edge of the crepe and flip it over to the other side and heat until browned as well. Move your crepe to a large plate and stack your crepes between pieces of wax paper while you continue making the rest of the crepes.
Sweetened Cream Cheese
6 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 Tbps. + 1/2 tsp. confectioners sugar
In a small bowl smear together with a small spatula or spoon until combined.
Assembling the crepes:
Smear a thin layer of the sweetened cream cheese onto a crepe and then spread about a Tablespoon of cherry jam over the cream cheese. Roll or fold over the crepes as desired. I folder mine in quarters. Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture over the crepes right before serving.
*Store any leftover prepared/assembled crepes on a plate wrapped in plastic wrap in the fridge.
