This is a brilliant way to make a fun version of a Christmas cake style dessert using store cupboard ingredients and the very genius Abra-ca-Debora ready-made pancakes. Fans of this blog will already know how much I love some corner cutting!
Of course I can and do make my own pancakes, we make them pretty much every weekend for breakfast as the boys totally adore them. However I also really like Abra-ca-Debora packs of pre-made Dutch pancakes as they’re great quality, and it means we can all sit down and eat them at the same time.
The main drawback with freshly made pancakes is that someone is stuck at the hob making them while everyone else chows down. Naturally I could be organised and make them in advance and have them warming in the oven. But I don’t think that has happened EVER!
So here we are, a fun but impressive Christmas dessert that makes a lovely alternative (or addition) to Christmas Cake. Make it a day or two in advance to allow the layers to set firmly to make it easier to slice.
Spiced Christmas Crepe Cake
Serves: 12
Prep time: 45 mins
Cooking time: 15 mins
Ingredients
8 Abra-ca-Debora Sweet Dutch Pancakes
For the fruit filling
3 dessert apples, peeled, cored and chopped – 1cm dice
4 tbsp mincemeat
1 orange, zest only
2 tbsp cointreau
100g flaked almonds
For the cream brandy filling
280g icing sugar
80g butter, softened
125g cream cheese
2 tbsp brandy
festive sprinkles, to decorate
Method
1. To make the fruit filling: put the chopped apples, mincemeat, orange zest and cointreau in a pan and place over a low heat and simmer gently for 15 minutes until the fruit softens. Turn out into a pot and allow to cool. Then stir through the flaked almonds and pop in the fridge to chill completely.
2. To make the cream brandy filling: sieve the icing sugar into a large bowl then add the butter and rub it into the sugar using the back of a wooden spoon. Add the cream cheese in the same way.
3. Add the brandy and then using a hand mixer beat until light and fluffy.
4. To assemble: Put the first pancake onto a cake stand, then spread with a layer of fruit filling. Take the next pancake and spread it with a layer of the creamy filling and then place it over the top. Repeat until you have used all of your fillings and pancakes finishing with a cream brandy covered one, then decorate it with festive sprinkles.
Tip: If you want to make your own pancakes, use a 18cm pan to match the size of the pancakes i’ve used here. Make sure the pancakes and fillings are chilled before assembling the cake or it will slip slide all over the place.
Disclosure: I have been commissioned to develop, style and shoot this recipe and share it with you here on my blog
If you’d like some more inspiration for festive desserts here’s a batch from my blogging friends:
Rosca De Reyes Three Kings Cake – Maison Cupcake
Mince Pie Cupcakes – Ren Behan
Panettone with Chocolate, Clementine and Walnut – Franglais Kitchen
Spiced Stollen Traybake – How To Cook Good Food
Specaloos and Mascarpone Pancake Cake – Kavey Eats
Christmas Pudding No Churn Ice Cream Bombe – Fuss Free Flavours
Cranberry & Cinnamon Swiss Roll – Blue Kitchen Bakes
Squash and Apple Strudel with Dried Cranberries – Veggie Desserts
Cherry Berry Christmas Slice – Jacqueline Meldrum for Great British Chefs
Chocolate Chestnut Truffle Cake – Food To Glow
Danish Apple Cake – Fab Food 4 All
That looks very pretty. I do like your tall dark teapot in last picture too. Thanks for the shout out.
Thanks Sarah, I was hugely chuffed with how it turned out as I though it might start sliding off the plate! The tall coffee pot is part of a retro set my parents got as a wedding gift in the 1960s… just love it 🙂
This looks amazing. Well done Katie. I bet my 3 year old would love to make this with me 🙂
Thanks Jo – twas a lot of fun to make and would be great to make with kids!!!!
Love the look of this! I totally agree about making your own pancakes – there’s always someone who’s stuck making them and just gets left with the dregs!!
Thanks Becca. Yep… it’s usually muggins stuck at the stove!!!!
I love this! It’s nice to discover good quality ready made pancakes, as it is no fun to still be at the cooker whilst everyone else is tucking in to their pancakes.
Thanks Dannii – these pancakes are properly yum!
What a fabulous fuss free and ingenious festive pudding Katie – big on wow factor:-) Thank you for linking to my dessert:-)
Thanks Camilla!
This is a fun idea and a great alternative to Christmas cake. We have pancakes for breakfast every Sunday but as there’s only 2 of us they don’t get too cold before we both get to eat 🙂
Thanks for linking to my cranberry Swiss roll.
Thanks Jen – pancakes really are the best breakfast eh!
how delicious – I imagine this would be a perfect breakfast idea in the holidays. Yum! and gorgeous pictures. Not tried the ready made pancakes but can see how it make quick work of whipping up a cake of such delicious proportions!
Thanks Nazima – it’s a bit indulgent but yes for the holidays I think we can allow that 😉
Oh how glorious, just imagine how much more appealing this would be served for Xmas. I do love a tall tower not only to look at but to eat. This is the season for all things cake and indulgent, so a crepe cake fits the bill. I think corner cutting at this time of the year is totally allowed!
Thanks Laura… yes corner cutting is always allowed in this house no matter what time of year…
Gosh this looks amazing!
Thanks very much!