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Blini are delicate Russian crepes that work equally well as a savory dinner or sweet breakfast, topped with anything from sour cream and caviar to jam and butter. Their thin, tender crumb makes them distinct from American pancakes.
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In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs and milk. Whisk in the salt, sugar, and flour until well combined and no lumps remain; set batter aside to rest for 15 minutes. Whisk once more before cooking.
Warm up a nonstick 10-inch pan over medium heat. Melt about 1 teaspoon of butter; when it starts to foam, ladle in 1/4 cup of batter in the center of the pan.
Immediately lift the pan from the burner and swirl it so the batter coats the bottom of the pan. Replace the pan on the burner and cook the crepe until the batter is just set and the underside is lightly golden, about 1 minute.
Using a spatula or your fingers, loosen the sides of the crepe and gently flip in the pan; cook for another 45 seconds.
Transfer crepes to a plate. Repeat until all batter is gone.
Roll up or fold into quarters.
Serve immediately with a few teaspoons of jam or honey, and fresh berries!
Cool blini on a wire rack, stack with parchment between layers, and store in an airtight container at room temperature up to 2 days or frozen up to 3 months. Reheat gently in a skillet over medium-low heat or microwave.
Blini are thicker and fluffier than French crepes due to their egg-forward batter and sometimes a touch of yeast. Russian blini are also traditionally smaller and thicker than paper-thin French crepes.
Yes. Cover and refrigerate batter for up to 8 hours. Stir gently before cooking; add a splash of milk if it thickens.
Overmixing the batter develops gluten and toughens them. Mix only until combined. Also, cooking over too-high heat or leaving them on the pan too long will make them dry.
Savory: sour cream, smoked salmon, caviar, mushrooms, caramelized onions. Sweet: jam, honey, sour cream, fresh berries, or Nutella.
Yes. Cool completely, layer with parchment, and freeze up to 3 months. Reheat gently in a skillet or microwave.
