Croissant Recipes: 12 Ways to Turn a Box of Bakery Croissants Into Holiday Brunch

Croissant recipes are the secret to a holiday brunch that looks fancy but takes almost no work. Very few home cooks will ever fold butter into dough, but every grocery store sells a box of buttery croissants. And people clearly love them: one video of the best croissant in Paris has more than 24 million views on YouTube. Here are easy ways to turn that box into breakfast bakes, sandwiches and desserts, from twice baked almond croissants to a make ahead French toast bake, plus one slide for weekend bakers who want to make their own. Each slide has a shopping list and simple steps. Put the coffee on..

Croissant Recipes Start With the Paris Bakery Trick: Twice Baked Almond Croissants

Paris bakeries have a smart trick for day old croissants: they fill them with almond cream, bake them again and sell them as almond croissants. A box of store bought croissants can do the same trick at home in 20 minutes. The outside turns crisp and golden, and the middle stays rich and soft. See why the French take croissants so seriously in this video of the best croissant in Paris. Then start baking..

You will need: 6 day old croissants. Almond cream: 1/2 cup soft butter, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 cup almond flour, 1 egg, 1 tsp almond extract. Syrup: 1/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup water. Topping: 1/2 cup sliced almonds, powdered sugar

How to make it: 1. Simmer sugar and water 1 minute to make a syrup. 2. Beat butter, sugar, almond flour, egg and extract into a cream. 3. Split the croissants, brush the insides with syrup and fill with almond cream. 4. Spread a thin layer on top and press on sliced almonds. 5. Bake at 350 F for 15 to 18 minutes and dust with powdered sugar.

Croissant Recipes for Christmas Morning: French Toast Bake

This is the overnight breakfast that makes house guests think you got up at dawn. Torn croissants soak in a vanilla custard overnight, then bake into a puffy, golden dish that is crisp on top and soft like bread pudding inside. Add berries and a dusting of powdered sugar and serve with warm maple syrup. It is one of the easiest croissant recipes for a crowd. Sweet or savory brunch?

You will need: 8 large croissants torn, 6 eggs, 2 cups milk, 1 cup cream, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 2 tsp vanilla, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1 cup mixed berries, powdered sugar, maple syrup

How to make it: 1. Put the torn croissants in a buttered 9×13 dish. 2. Whisk eggs, milk, cream, sugar, vanilla and cinnamon. 3. Pour over the croissants, cover and chill overnight. 4. Bake at 350 F for 40 to 45 minutes, until puffed and golden. 5. Top with berries and powdered sugar and serve with syrup.

Dessert Croissant Recipes: Bread Pudding With Vanilla Sauce

Buttery croissants make the richest bread pudding you will ever taste. Day old ones are even better, because they soak up more custard. A quick vanilla sauce poured over each warm serving makes it a real holiday dessert. Add a handful of chocolate chips or dried cranberries if you like. Would you serve this for dessert or for breakfast?

You will need: 6 day old croissants torn, 4 eggs, 1 1/2 cups milk, 1 cup cream, 2/3 cup sugar, 2 tsp vanilla, 1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional). Sauce: 1 cup cream, 1/4 cup sugar, 2 tbsp butter, 1 tsp vanilla

How to make it: 1. Spread the croissant pieces in a buttered baking dish. 2. Whisk eggs, milk, cream, sugar and vanilla and pour over. 3. Soak 20 minutes, pressing down. 4. Bake at 350 F for 40 minutes. 5. Simmer the sauce ingredients 3 minutes and pour over warm servings.

Chocolate Drizzled Almond Croissants

Take the twice baked almond croissant one step further. After baking, drizzle the tops with melted dark chocolate and let it set. The result looks like it came from a fancy French bakery case, but it starts with a box from the grocery store. Make a platter of them for a holiday brunch or wrap them up as a gift. Few croissant recipes look this fancy. Almond, chocolate or both?

You will need: 6 day old croissants, 1 batch almond cream (see the first slide), 1/2 cup sliced almonds, 3 oz dark chocolate melted, powdered sugar

How to make it: 1. Split the croissants and fill with almond cream. 2. Spread a little on top and press on sliced almonds. 3. Bake at 350 F for 15 to 18 minutes. 4. Cool 10 minutes. 5. Drizzle with melted chocolate and dust with powdered sugar.

Baked Ham and Cheese Croissants

This is the warm, melty croissant you find in every French cafe. Fill croissants with sliced ham, Swiss or Gruyere cheese and a thin layer of Dijon mustard, then bake until the cheese melts and the outside turns crisp again. For a croque style version, spoon a little white sauce on top before baking. Serve with a simple green salad for lunch, one of the best savory croissant recipes. Mustard: yes or no?

You will need: 6 croissants split, 12 slices ham, 6 slices Swiss or Gruyere cheese, 2 tbsp Dijon mustard, 2 tbsp butter melted, a green salad for serving

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 350 F. 2. Spread mustard inside each croissant. 3. Layer in ham and cheese. 4. Brush the tops with melted butter. 5. Bake on a sheet pan 10 to 12 minutes, until the cheese melts.

Croissant Breakfast Sandwiches

Swap the English muffin for a croissant and breakfast sandwiches feel like a treat. Soft scrambled or fried eggs, a slice of ham or bacon and melted cheese tuck into a warm, split croissant. Make a big batch on a sheet pan when you have a house full of guests, and keep them warm in the oven. Easy croissant recipes like this one save busy holiday mornings. What goes in your perfect breakfast sandwich?

You will need: 6 croissants split, 8 eggs, 2 tbsp milk, 2 tbsp butter, 6 slices ham or 12 strips bacon, 6 slices cheddar, salt and pepper

How to make it: 1. Whisk eggs with milk, salt and pepper. 2. Scramble softly in butter. 3. Warm the ham or cook the bacon. 4. Fill each croissant with eggs, meat and cheese. 5. Warm at 350 F for 5 minutes to melt the cheese.

Croissant Recipes for a Brunch Crowd: Smoked Salmon Croissants

Smoked salmon, cream cheese and crisp cucumber on a buttery croissant is an elegant brunch idea that takes 10 minutes. Mix the cream cheese with fresh dill, lemon zest and a few capers, then pile on silky salmon and thin cucumber ribbons. Cut them in half for a pretty platter. They also work great with leftover turkey and cranberry the day after Thanksgiving. Would you serve these at a holiday brunch?

You will need: 6 croissants split, 8 oz cream cheese softened, 2 tbsp chopped dill, 1 tsp lemon zest, 1 tbsp capers, 8 oz smoked salmon, 1 cucumber sliced into thin ribbons, red onion slices, black pepper

How to make it: 1. Mix cream cheese with dill, lemon zest and capers. 2. Spread it inside each croissant. 3. Layer in smoked salmon. 4. Add cucumber ribbons and a few red onion slices. 5. Finish with black pepper and serve.

Chicken Salad Croissants for a Holiday Luncheon

Chicken salad on a croissant is a classic ladies luncheon and baby shower favorite, and it is perfect for feeding holiday guests. Mix shredded rotisserie chicken with mayo, celery, grapes and pecans, then pile it into croissants with crisp lettuce. Make the salad a day ahead so lunch is ready in minutes, which makes it one of the most useful croissant recipes for hosting. Do you like grapes in your chicken salad?

You will need: 6 croissants split, 3 cups shredded rotisserie chicken, 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 2 tbsp sour cream, 2 celery stalks diced, 1 cup red grapes halved, 1/2 cup chopped pecans, 1 tsp lemon juice, salt and pepper, lettuce leaves

How to make it: 1. Mix mayo, sour cream, lemon juice, salt and pepper. 2. Stir in chicken, celery, grapes and pecans. 3. Chill at least 1 hour. 4. Line each croissant with lettuce. 5. Fill with chicken salad and serve.

Savory Cheese Croissants, Warm From the Oven

Turn plain croissants into a savory snack in 10 minutes. Brush the tops with a little beaten egg, press on grated Gruyere or sharp cheddar and a pinch of everything seasoning, then bake until the cheese melts into a golden crust. Serve them with soup or next to eggs on Christmas morning. They are the snack guests grab first from the tray. Cheddar or Gruyere?

You will need: 6 croissants, 1 egg beaten, 1 cup grated Gruyere or sharp cheddar, 1 tbsp everything bagel seasoning (optional), 1 tbsp chopped chives

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 375 F. 2. Brush the croissant tops with beaten egg. 3. Press on the grated cheese and sprinkle with seasoning. 4. Bake on a lined pan 8 to 10 minutes, until the cheese melts and browns. 5. Sprinkle with chives and serve warm.

How to Pick and Store Bakery Croissants

The best croissants for all of these ideas have a deep golden color, crisp flaky layers and an airy honeycomb inside when you cut them, like the ones in this photo. Day old croissants are perfect for the bakes and bread pudding, because they soak up more custard. Keep them in a paper bag for a day, or freeze them for a month and warm them at 350 F for 5 minutes. Do you buy croissants from a bakery or the grocery store?

You will need: Bakery or grocery store croissants (deep golden, flaky, light for their size), paper bags, freezer bags

How to make it: 1. Look for a deep golden color and crisp, shiny layers. 2. Cut one open: you want an airy honeycomb inside. 3. Store in a paper bag at room temperature for 1 day. 4. Freeze in a sealed bag up to 1 month. 5. Warm at 350 F for 5 minutes to bring back the crunch.

Berry Croissant Shortcakes

Who says shortcake needs biscuits? Split croissants and fill them with sweet whipped cream and sugared strawberries for a light, pretty dessert. They come together in 15 minutes and look lovely on a holiday table. Use raspberries or a mix of berries if strawberries are not in season. For more easy holiday ideas, see our ladies luncheon recipes, from chicken salad croissants to petit fours. Strawberries or raspberries?

You will need: 6 croissants split, 2 cups sliced strawberries, 2 tbsp sugar, 1 cup heavy cream, 2 tbsp powdered sugar, 1 tsp vanilla, mint leaves

How to make it: 1. Toss the strawberries with sugar and let them sit 10 minutes. 2. Whip the cream with powdered sugar and vanilla. 3. Toast the croissant halves lightly. 4. Fill with cream and berries. 5. Top with a mint leaf and a dusting of powdered sugar.

Croissant Recipes for Weekend Bakers: Homemade From Scratch

Want to try the real thing? Homemade croissants take time, but the steps are simple: a yeast dough, a slab of cold butter, three folds and a long rest. Joshua Weissman’s video on making croissants by hand has more than 11.7 million views, so you will have plenty of company. Keep everything cold and you will see those flaky layers. Will you try making them from scratch this winter?

You will need: 4 cups flour, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 tbsp instant yeast, 2 tsp salt, 1 1/4 cups cold milk, 1 1/2 cups cold unsalted butter (for the butter block), 1 egg for egg wash

How to make it: 1. Mix flour, sugar, yeast, salt and milk into a dough and chill overnight. 2. Pound the butter into a flat square and wrap it in the dough. 3. Roll and fold in thirds three times, chilling 30 minutes between folds. 4. Roll out, cut triangles and roll them up, then proof 2 hours. 5. Brush with egg and bake at 400 F for 18 to 20 minutes.