Golden Puff Pastry Croissants

Let’s be honest – making croissants from scratch can feel like an impossible task, especially when you’re juggling work, family, and everything else life throws your way. Traditional croissants require hours of folding, chilling, and waiting – who has time for that on a regular day?

That’s where these puff pastry croissants come in to save the day. They’re quick to put together, use store-bought puff pastry (no shame in that!), and still give you those wonderful flaky layers we all love. Plus, they’re perfect for weekend brunch or a special breakfast that won’t keep you trapped in the kitchen all day.

What Kind of Puff Pastry Should I Use?

Store-bought puff pastry is a total game-changer for home bakers, and you’ll find it in the freezer section of most grocery stores. The two main brands you’ll typically see are Pepperidge Farm and Dufour – while Pepperidge Farm is more widely available and budget-friendly, Dufour is made with all butter and gives you an extra-flaky result. Just make sure to thaw your puff pastry in the fridge overnight rather than on the counter, as this helps maintain those important buttery layers. When you’re working with the dough, keep it cold and handle it gently to preserve all those delicate layers that make your croissants light and flaky.

Options for Substitutions

While these quick croissants rely on puff pastry as their base, here are some helpful substitution tips:

• Puff Pastry: This is the key ingredient that can’t really be substituted – it’s what gives these croissants their flaky layers. Make sure to use butter-based puff pastry for the best results.
• Egg wash: If you’re out of eggs, you can brush with milk or heavy cream instead. For a vegan option, try brushing with plant-based milk or melted plant butter.
• Chocolate: Any chocolate works here! Dark, milk, or even white chocolate chips or chopped bars are fine. Nutella or other chocolate spreads work great too.
• Marzipan: Can’t find marzipan? Mix almond paste with powdered sugar, or make a quick frangipane filling by mixing ground almonds with sugar, butter, and egg.
• Swiss cheese: Feel free to swap Swiss for any good melting cheese like Gruyere, provolone, or cheddar.
• Black Forest Ham: Any ham works well here – prosciutto, regular deli ham, or even turkey if you prefer. For a vegetarian option, try using roasted vegetables.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Baking

The biggest challenge when working with puff pastry is temperature control – if it gets too warm, the butter layers will melt and you’ll lose that perfect flaky texture, so keep the dough chilled and work quickly. A common mistake is rolling the pastry too thin, which prevents those signature layers from forming – aim to keep it about 1/8 inch thick for the best results. Don’t skip the egg wash, as it’s essential for achieving that golden-brown shine, but be careful not to let the egg mixture drip down the sides of the pastry, which can seal the layers and prevent proper rising. For the fillings, less is definitely more – overstuffing your croissants will cause them to burst open during baking and leak their contents, so stick to about 1-2 tablespoons of filling per croissant.

What to Serve With Croissants?

These flaky pastries are perfect for breakfast or brunch, and they pair wonderfully with a hot cup of coffee or tea. For a complete morning spread, serve your croissants alongside fresh fruit like berries or sliced oranges – the bright, fresh flavors balance out the buttery richness of the pastries. If you’re hosting brunch, add some scrambled eggs and crispy bacon to make it a more filling meal. I also like setting out different jams, honey, and butter so everyone can dress up their croissants however they like!

Storage Instructions

Keep Fresh: These puff pastry croissants taste best the day they’re baked, but you can keep them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. If you’ve made ones with ham and cheese, better pop those in the fridge where they’ll stay good for about 3 days.

Freeze: Want to plan ahead? You can freeze these croissants either before or after baking. For unbaked ones, freeze them on a baking sheet until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag – they’ll keep for up to 2 months. Already baked croissants can be frozen in an airtight container for up to 1 month.

Warm Up: To get that fresh-baked taste back, pop room temperature croissants in a 350°F oven for about 5 minutes. If they’re frozen, let them thaw first. For unbaked frozen croissants, just add a few extra minutes to the original baking time – no need to thaw!

Preparation Time	30-60 minutes
Cooking Time	15-20 minutes
Total Time	45-80 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Medium

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 1200-1400
• Protein: 20-30 g
• Fat: 70-80 g
• Carbohydrates: 130-150 g

Ingredients

• 2 thawed sheets of frozen puff pastry
• 1 egg mixed with water, for brushing
• 1 chocolate bar or some chocolate chips, for chocolate croissants
• 1 package of marzipan
• A handful of slivered almonds, for almond croissants
• A few thin slices of black forest ham
• Swiss cheese, for ham and cheese croissants

Step 1: Prepare the Baking Sheet and Oven

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with a silpat or parchment paper.

This will ensure that your croissants do not stick to the baking sheet during the baking process.

Step 2: Thaw and Prepare Puff Pastry

Thaw the frozen puff pastry sheets overnight in the refrigerator to ensure they are pliable and easy to work with.

Once thawed, unfold each sheet and use a rolling pin to gently flatten the seams while maintaining a square shape.

Step 3: Prepare Filling Ingredients

Gather your preferred filling ingredients based on the type of croissant you desire: chocolate, marzipan with slivered almonds, or ham and cheese.

For marzipan, dilute it with a little water to make it spreadable.

For the savory option, cut the ham and cheese into slices that will fit comfortably within the pastry triangles.

Step 4: Cut and Fill the Pastry

Cut each puff pastry sheet into 6 triangles, making a total of 12 triangles.

For plain croissants, roll the triangle starting from the largest end toward the tip.

For filled croissants, start at the thickest end by spreading a thin layer of marzipan, placing a few chocolate chips or a piece of chocolate, or laying in ham and cheese slices, then roll towards the thinnest end.

Step 5: Assemble Croissants and Apply Egg Wash

Place the prepared croissants on the lined baking sheet, leaving some space between each to allow for expansion while baking.

To give your croissants a beautiful golden color, brush the tops with an egg wash, which is a mixture of a beaten egg and a bit of water.

Step 6: Bake and Serve

Bake the croissants in the preheated oven until they are puffed and golden brown, about 15-20 minutes.

Once baked, remove them from the oven and allow to cool slightly before serving.

Enjoy your freshly baked croissants warm for the best flavor and texture experience!