Indulgent Caramel Orange Crepes with Homemade Almond Ice Cream: A Divine Dessert or Luxurious Brunch

There’s a special kind of magic that surrounds Pancake Day, often hailed as the second best day of the year right after Christmas! While pancakes are a beloved staple in my kitchen – gracing breakfast tables, elevating desserts, and even making appearances at dinner, whether savory or sweet – I realised my blog was notably lacking in truly decadent, dessert-focused pancake creations. That oversight ends today! I’m thrilled to share an exceptionally indulgent recipe that elevates the humble pancake to a gourmet experience: delicate crepes served with luscious caramel oranges and a scoop of homemade almond ice cream. This dish is designed to impress, perfect for a special occasion or simply to brighten an ordinary day.

Pancakes, in their myriad forms, are truly one of my favourite foods. They are wonderfully adaptable, incredibly easy to prepare, and offer endless possibilities. From light and fluffy American-style stacks to thin, elegant French crepes, there’s a pancake for every mood and every meal. This particular recipe focuses on the delicate, lacy texture of crepes, providing the perfect canvas for the vibrant, sweet-tart caramel oranges and the rich, nutty almond ice cream. It’s a symphony of textures and flavors that promises to delight your palate and leave a lasting impression.

These crepe-style pancakes are generously filled with succulent orange slices, which have been lovingly simmered in a golden caramel sauce. Each bite bursts with citrusy sweetness, perfectly complemented by the creamy coolness of homemade almond ice cream. To add an irresistible textural contrast, a scattering of toasted flaked almonds provides a delightful crunch. The interplay of warm crepes, cool ice cream, soft oranges, and crisp almonds creates a dessert that is both comforting and sophisticated. The flavor combination is so harmonious, so utterly perfect, that I found myself enjoying two helpings in one sitting!

This exquisite dish is versatile enough to grace any elegant dinner party as a show-stopping dessert, or to transform a weekend morning into an opulent brunch experience. Who says indulgence needs a reason? Sometimes, the sheer delight of a Monday calls for a treat this special. While the preparation does require a little foresight, particularly starting the day before, the steps themselves are straightforward and manageable. The overnight chill for the ice cream custard and the caramel oranges is crucial for allowing the flavors to meld and deepen, ensuring an unparalleled taste experience.

The beauty of this recipe also lies in its make-ahead potential. The caramel oranges, once prepared, can happily reside in your fridge for a couple of days, becoming even more flavorful over time. Similarly, the delicate crepes themselves are incredibly quick and simple to whip up. For ultimate convenience, you can even make the crepes in advance, layer them with sheets of parchment paper, and freeze them. When dessert time rolls around, simply reheat them gently, and they’ll be as good as freshly made. This thoughtful preparation allows you to enjoy a luxurious dessert without the last-minute rush, making entertaining a breeze.

Initially, I envisioned using vibrant blood oranges for this recipe, believing their stunning color and slightly tart flavor would elevate the dish even further. Unfortunately, they weren’t available during my grocery run. However, if you’re lucky enough to find some, I highly recommend incorporating them! Not only would they add an extra layer of deliciousness, but their striking hue would make for an even more visually impressive presentation. Nevertheless, standard navel oranges work beautifully, contributing their classic citrus brightness to the rich caramel.

While I passionately encourage you to try making the almond ice cream from scratch – it truly is exceptionally good and adds a unique depth of flavor – I understand that time constraints can sometimes be a factor. If you find yourself short on time or simply prefer a quicker option, a high-quality, shop-bought vanilla ice cream makes a perfectly acceptable substitute. It will still provide that essential creamy coolness that balances the warm crepes and zesty oranges. However, for the full, authentic experience, the homemade version is truly worth the effort, transforming a great dessert into an unforgettable one.

Essential Tools for Pancake Perfection: My OXO Favorites

Creating beautiful food is made significantly easier and more enjoyable with the right kitchen tools. I was fortunate enough to receive a selection of excellent equipment from OXO, which proved invaluable in bringing this indulgent pancake recipe to life. Their products are consistently innovative, durably built, and designed with the user in mind, making everyday cooking tasks surprisingly effortless.

For making the crepe batter, the **stainless steel non-slip mixing bowl** was a game-changer. Its sturdy construction and non-slip base kept it firmly in place on the counter, allowing me to whisk vigorously without any worry of it sliding around. This seemingly small detail makes a huge difference in efficiency and reduces mess, ensuring all your ingredients stay exactly where they should be.

Next up was the ingenious **3-in-1 egg separator**, which came in incredibly handy for separating the egg yolks needed for the almond ice cream custard. Anyone who has ever fished bits of eggshell out of a delicate custard knows the frustration! This tool made the separation process seamless and mess-free, ensuring a perfectly smooth custard base without any unwanted intrusions. It’s a small but mighty gadget that saves time and prevents culinary mishaps.

The **microwave-safe squeeze and pour measuring jug** quickly became a firm favorite. Its ergonomic design makes it easy to hold and pour with precision, whether I’m measuring milk for the batter or melting chocolate in the microwave. The squeeze feature allows for controlled pouring, which is especially useful for delicate tasks like adding milk gradually to the batter. This multi-purpose tool has earned a permanent spot in my kitchen arsenal due to its sheer versatility and practicality.

Whisking pancake batter requires a tool that can handle the job efficiently, and the sturdy **balloon whisk** from OXO did just that. Its robust construction and perfectly shaped wires made quick work of combining the ingredients, resulting in a smooth, lump-free batter in no time. A good whisk is fundamental for light and airy crepes, and this one performed exceptionally well.

Flipping crepes can be a moment of truth, and for someone like me who often struggles with the hand-tossing technique, a reliable spatula is essential. The flexible **silicone pancake turner** from OXO is, without a doubt, my favorite tool. Its extra-wide head provides ample support, allowing me to gently lift and flip even the largest crepes without any tearing. The silicone material is non-scratch, protecting my precious non-stick pans, and its flexibility ensures a clean, easy release every time. It’s a true confidence-booster for anyone making pancakes.

When it came to serving, the **trigger ice cream scoop** ensured that each serving of homemade almond ice cream was perfectly rounded and neatly presented. No more struggling with frozen, sticky scoops; this tool glided through the creamy ice cream effortlessly, making portioning simple and elegant. Finally, the **silicone lemon squeezer and storer** is a brilliant innovation. It effectively filters out seeds and pulp as you squeeze fresh lemon juice, and then cleverly allows you to store the remaining half of the lemon in the fridge, keeping it fresh and preventing it from drying out. This is incredibly useful for me, as I consistently have half a lemon wrapped in clingfilm in my fridge!

My experience with OXO products consistently reinforces their reputation for quality. They are thoughtfully designed, sturdily built, and incredibly durable, making kitchen tasks more efficient and enjoyable. I’m gradually replacing all my older kitchen tools with OXO alternatives because I genuinely appreciate their superior performance and innovative features.

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5 from 2 votes

Pancakes With Caramel Oranges & Almond Ice Cream

Serves 4-6 (makes about 10 crepes).

Begin the day before you want to serve the pancakes to allow flavors to fully develop. This ensures the best possible taste for your homemade ice cream and caramel oranges.

Author Domestic Gothess

Ingredients

Almond Ice Cream:

• 135 g (1 cup + 2Tbsp) ground almonds
• 300 ml (1 + ¼ cups) double (heavy) cream
• 500 ml (2 + ⅛ cups) full fat milk
• 180 g (¾ cup + 2Tbsp) granulated sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
• 5 egg yolks
• couple drops almond extract (optional)

Caramel Oranges:

• 6 navel oranges
• 225 g (1 cup) caster (superfine) sugar
• 1 cinnamon stick (optional)
• 225 ml (¾ + ⅛ cup) water

Pancakes:

• 150 g (1 + ¼ cups) plain flour
• 2 eggs
• 15 g (1 tbsp) unsalted butter melted
• 350 ml (1 + ½ cups) milk
• toasted flaked almonds to serve

Instructions

Ice Cream:

• Heat the oven to 170C/325F/gas mark 3. Spread the almonds out on a baking sheet and toast in the oven for 5-10 minutes, keeping a close eye on them, until lightly golden brown.
  
• Put the cream, milk, vanilla, half of the sugar and the toasted almonds in a saucepan. Heat over a low heat, stirring occasionally, until almost boiling, then remove from the heat and set aside for 30 minutes for the almonds to infuse.
• Put the egg yolks into a bowl with the other half of the sugar and whisk until smooth and pale. Re-heat the almond and milk mixture until steaming then gradually pour it into the egg yolks while whisking constantly.
  
• Return the mixture to the pan and place over a low heat. Stir constantly until thickened, do not let it boil! The mixture should reach 75C and not exceed 80C. Pour the custard through a sieve into a bowl; press on the almonds left in the sieve to extract as much flavour as possible then discard them.
• Add a couple of drops of almond extract if you think that the almond flavour isn’t strong enough then cover the bowl and allow to cool. Refrigerate until completely cold then churn in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
  

Caramel Oranges:

• Using a sharp knife, slice the ends off each orange off to reveal the flesh. Place the orange upright on a cutting board and cut downward to remove all the peel and white pith, following the contours of the fruit. Cut the orange into thin slices, spread out in a shallow baking dish and set aside.
• Place the sugar, half the water and the cinnamon stick in a medium, heavy-bottomed saucepan and stir over a medium heat until the sugar dissolves.
• Stop stirring, turn up the heat and allow the sugar to cook, swirling the pan occasionally but never stirring, until the sugar has turned a deep amber.
  
• Immediately remove the pan from the heat and carefully pour in the rest of the water (stand back as the mixture will sputter and spit violently). Stir until any lumps of caramel have dissolved.
  
• Pour the caramel over the orange slices, turn to coat then cover and place in the fridge overnight.
  

Pancakes:

• Place the flour in a large bowl, make a well in the middle and add the eggs, butter and a splash of the milk. Whisk until smooth then gradually whisk in the remaining milk. Allow the batter to rest for 15 minutes.
  
• Heat a small knob of butter in a crepe or frying pan and wipe with a piece of kitchen roll.
  
• Pour a ladleful of batter into the pan and swirl the pan so that the batter runs to the edges. Cook for a couple of minutes then flip the pancake over and cook for another minute until golden. Repeat with the rest of the batter.
• Serve the pancakes with the caramel oranges, a scoop of almond ice cream and a scattering of toasted flaked almonds.
  

This dessert truly embodies indulgence and culinary delight. The combination of warm, tender crepes, bright and sweet caramel oranges, and cool, nutty almond ice cream creates a memorable experience that’s perfect for any occasion you want to make a little extra special. Whether you’re celebrating Pancake Day, hosting a sophisticated dinner, or simply treating yourself to something extraordinary, this recipe is sure to become a cherished favorite. Give it a try, and prepare to fall in love with these luxurious pancakes!

This post is sponsored by OXO, and while I received products for this recipe, all opinions and enthusiasm for their quality are entirely my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that help keep Domestic Gothess running and allow me to share delicious recipes with you.

I am sharing these with Saucy Saturdays, proudly hosted by The Flavour Bender, Take Two Tapas, La Petit Chef, and Mid-Life Croissant. These culinary collaborations always inspire new ideas and connections within the food blogging community!