Giant Almond Croissant Recipe (2024)

By Sohla El-Waylly

Giant Almond Croissant Recipe (1)

Total Time
1½ hours
Rating
4(2,631)
Notes
Read community notes

Crisp and buttery puff pastry is filled and smothered with fragrant frangipane, just like an almond croissant, but in an extra-crunchy, sharable format. This fun treat is easy to pull off for a festive breakfast or brunch. Bake the puff pastry and make the almond filling in advance, then assemble and bake once more just before serving. All-butter frozen puff pastry will have the best texture and flavor, but takes longer to crisp through, so be sure to bake it until deeply browned.

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Ingredients

Yield:12 servings

  • 1sheet store-bought puff pastry (any size), thawed (see Tip)
  • ½cup/100 grams granulated sugar
  • 4tablespoons/56 grams unsalted butter, melted
  • 1teaspoon kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal) or ½ teaspoon coarse kosher salt (such as Morton’s)
  • ¾cup/108 grams blanched almond flour (see Tip)
  • 1large egg
  • 1tablespoon dark rum or 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • teaspoons almond extract
  • ½cup/45 grams sliced almonds
  • Flaky salt, for topping
  • Confectioners’ sugar, for serving

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (12 servings)

163 calories; 11 grams fat; 3 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 3 grams monounsaturated fat; 1 gram polyunsaturated fat; 12 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram dietary fiber; 9 grams sugars; 4 grams protein; 79 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Giant Almond Croissant Recipe (2)

Preparation

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  1. Step

    1

    Bake the puff pastry: Set a rack in the center of the oven and heat to 425 degrees. Unfold the sheet of puff pastry on a piece of parchment paper set in a rimmed baking sheet. Bake until puffed and brown, about 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to 350 degrees and continue baking until dry, crisp and deeply browned, rotating the baking sheet once during baking, 20 to 30 minutes. (Once cooled, pastry can be covered and stored at room temperature for up to 3 days.)

  2. Step

    2

    Make the filling: In a medium bowl, combine the granulated sugar, butter and kosher salt. Stir together with a wooden spoon or stiff silicone spatula until evenly combined and creamy. Add the almond flour, egg, rum and almond extract; whisk until evenly combined. (Filling can be stored in an airtight container and refrigerated for up to 3 days.)

  3. Step

    3

    When ready to assemble, heat the oven to 350 degrees. Using a long, sharp serrated knife, carefully slice the puff pastry horizontally, splitting it as you would a bagel. Flip the top of the pastry over, then spread about two-thirds of the almond filling evenly across the bottom of it, taking care to spread it all the way to the edges. Flip the top piece of pastry back onto the bottom piece, then evenly spread the remaining almond filling on top. Evenly distribute the sliced almonds on top, then lightly sprinkle with flaky salt. Bake until the nuts are toasted and the topping is brown, rotating the baking sheet once during baking, 20 to 25 minutes.

  4. Step

    4

    Let cool slightly, then use the parchment to slide the pastry onto a cutting board. Dust generously with confectioners’ sugar, then slice into portions with a sharp knife. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Tips

  • The best way to thaw frozen puff pastry is to let it sit overnight in the refrigerator. However, if you’re in a hurry, you can thaw it on the counter until it unfolds easily but is still quite cold. If the pastry gets too warm and soft, pop it in the fridge to firm up before using.
  • Make sure to use blanched almond flour rather than the unblanched kind, which is made with natural almonds and includes their skins; unblanched almond flour will make the filling too stiff to spread properly.

Ratings

4

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2,631

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

Gardner

Just made this and it's beautiful! Yes, bake twice. Do not skip the longer drying step: that will generate the support necessary to hold the frangipane on the top. I would suggest slicing the sides of the dough off with a very sharp knife so the whole thing puffs up evenly. Mine was more pillow shaped bc I didn't do this.

Kate

If you make the frangipane in advance and store it in the fridge as directed, make sure you bring it to room temperature before spreading it on the puff pastry. The cooked puff pastry is quite delicate and it tore easily while spreading the filling. This was not much to look at, but at least it was tasty.

Susan

A traditional almond croissant is fully baked, split, filled with frangipane/almond cream, then baked again.Frangipane goes in the middle AND on top. It shouldn’t burn. The frangipane has to bake through and will prevent the pastry from burning at the same time.

Katie

I doubled the frangipane and I have no regrets

suzzles

So, so impressive looking and delicious. I inadvertently browned the butter, but used it anyway. Yummy goodness. Other than browning the butter, I followed the recipe and served my family flaky almond love. One caveat: the recipe says serves 12. It serves 4. Or maybe only 1, if you don’t want to share.

Alexandra

Spread two-thirds of the frangipane on the inside of the bottom half. Then cover with the top half and spred the remaining third on top of the puff pastry.

Ash

This recipe needs a visual or better guidance on how long to prebake the puff pastry. I did as instructed, all-butter pastry, 10 minutes at 425, then 22 at 350. At that point it was puffy with an even dark golden color. When I later went to split and fill it, it had the consistency of a cracker. It was so dry and crisp; it shattered as I cut it. The final product was edible but not croissant-like; edges tasted singed. Also, 1 tsp kosher salt was too much; I’d use 1/2 if making again.

Magpie

Try hazelnut spread, jam, marmalade, lemon curd…this is versatile recipe.

Kathy

You want almond flour that is blanched, not bleached. This means it’s made from blanched almonds, with the skins removed so it’s a uniform light color. If it’s made from unblanched almonds, it’s usually labeled almond meal and is speckled brown in color. Blanched almonds, finely ground in the food processor, are a fine substitute.

Larissa

I loved this recipe! I followed it exactly and it worked perfectly. I used the recommendation to cut the ends of the puff pastry prior to cooking (thanks for the tip!).

Barrie

The second time we made this, we added some chopped dark chocolate on top of the filling spread inside and on top of the outside and it was even more amazing!!

Beth

Absolutely delicious, but you MUST double the filling! Trust me, you'll want it. I found it easier to spread by using an offset spatula.

Alexandra

No, that is incorrect. The filling goes on the inside, (not on the browned bottom), and the top is placed over the filling, browned side up, and then spread with the remaining third of the frangipane.

Julia

The pastry is baked first, filled and baked again? Seems like puff pastry would burn on the second bake. I know from using puff pastry sheets they bake and burn easily. Why not use two sheets and bake with the filling?

Susan

This recipe already calls for unbaked, frozen puff pastry. You bake it twice, once as a full sheet, next after splitting it in half horizontally and spreading the filling inside and on top.

Jen D

Made as written. Liked it— would have loved if the filling were doubled. Will do that next time.

AmyErene

I creamed 8 oz of cream cheese with 4 oz unmelted butter and kept the rest of the filling ingredients the same. The result isn’t a “frangipane,” but it’s a tasty cheesecake-esque riff.

Bobbi

I baked it for 30 minutes after turning oven down to 350 degrees. Used all butter puff pastry.

Pamela Turner

After eyeing, rereading this recipe, the comments and watching the video for months (obsessive much, yes), I finally made it yesterday. Previous tips, especially trimming edges (Gardner, thank you!) were key in my case. My Dufours pastry had sat in the freezer for a year+ and I couldn’t find a best by date on the packaging. When I opened it, the edges were a bit dry, so trimming was particularly relevant. Even though my pastry’s age was suboptimal, loved the results and will make this again.

Geraldine

The first time I made this the puff pastry was too high and crackly and it was too salty. The second time I halved the salt, doubled the frangipane, and spread it evenly over the two halves of puff pastry and sprinkled with almonds, then baked them as separate pieces. They are more almond squares than croissants, but far easier to cut, eat, and store. I will make them like this from now on. They are so delicious.

Puff pastry shells instead of sheets

It was the height of the holidays and the store was out of puff pastry sheets, but they did have individual shells in packs of six. I pre-baked as directed in the recipe, then carefully removed the center "plug" added the filling, closed it up, any extra filling on top and "Bob's your Uncle" It worked great!

coco

I cheated. I needed to feed hungry bellies quickly and still wanted to do this recipe. So I want to the market around the corner who makes good-enough plain croissants. Bought a few then went home to start at Step 2. In about 45 min (including trip to the store) I had delicious half-homemade almond croissants. Everyone loved it. If you’ve got a need for speed, this hack can work nicely.

Joannie

My friend and I made two versions of this recipe and hosted a breakfast for some other friends - we ALL loved this giant croissant. We made the almond croissant according to the recipe and it was fabulous. I decided to try a different filling. I baked the croissant and filled it with a hommade vanilla custard and strawberry jam. I didn't do the second baking, obiously. We can't wait to try the chocolate version. One piece of advice though is to use the all-butter puff pastry.

Ruthie

Made this for a NYE party and it was a hit. Who doesn't want a fancy breakfast snack at midnight with your champers? I couldn't find the fancy butter-only pastry so I used a big brand one. I made one recipe of filling and stretched it to fit both of the shells in the package. The frangipane is so flavorful that it did not matter. Still tasted delicious. Will definitely be taking this to parties in the future. It's a fast way to make new friends. And, it took only about 15 minutes of effort. Win!

Peter

Not easy to find a sheet as large as shown. I suppose you could use two smaller sheets.

alex c

This was fabulous. I was surprised how it got devoured by a morning breakfast group. When cooking I got concerned as puff pastry stayed flat on one end and I thought it was not going to work. But I managed to cut through it, despite its thinness in a few places. Even though it tore in places, it all came together on the second bake and was amazing.

Ali

How do I get the quantities for the chocolate hazelnut variation that Sohla shows in the video?

ann

Mine pf puffed up too high so the almond paste ran off to the sides but still delicious

oh’ello

For anyone that struggled halving the puffed pastry, cutting it width wise into thirds really made filleting the pastry much easier once cooked.

Jan

I made this as directed and it was wonderful! I did not have almond flour but did have almonds, so I blanched one cup of almonds for a minute, removed the skins and then pulverized them in a food processor until the pieces were similar to sand. Other than that I followed the directions.

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Giant Almond Croissant Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is almond croissant filling made of? ›

The filling typically consists of almond flour, butter, sugar, and sometimes egg, creating a sweet and nutty mixture that is spread generously inside the croissant. After baking, they are often adorned with sliced almonds on top, adding a delicious crunch.

What is the secret of the croissant? ›

First: use high-protein bread flour. The extra protein gives you the gluten structure to support all those thin layers. Second secret? We'll learn to laminate the dough using a tri-fold process that creates 109 distinct layers of butter and dough—giving us the croissant's distinctive crunch and flavor at home.

What is in the almond croissant at Starbucks? ›

CROISSANT ROLL [ENRICHED UNBLEACHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, MALTED BARLEY FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID, ENZYMES, ASCORBIC ACID), BUTTER (CREAM (MILK), LACTIC ACID, SALT), hom*oGENIZED MILK, WATER, SUGAR, YEAST, SALT, FERMENTED WHEAT FLOUR, WHEAT FARINA, DOUGH CONDITIONER ( ...

How many turns does the croissant dough get? ›

More than 3x3 turns is not recommended for croissants.

What is the inside of an almond croissant called? ›

Almond Cream (or Crème d'Amande)

The croissants are filled with a classic French crème d'amande, consisting of almond flour mixed with butter, eggs and almond extract.

What's the difference between almond filling and almond paste? ›

The almond paste and almond filling are very different products and should not be used interchangeably in a recipe. The Almond Filling is a jam-like filling for cakes, pastries, and cookies. The Almond Paste is usually mixed or cut into a recipe for an almond flavor, or as a layer in tarts and pies.

What is the best flour for croissant? ›

Although you can produce excellent croissants from all-purpose flour, bread flour, or frozen packaged white dough, the high gluten content makes for hard and rubbery rolling out. A mixture of 2 parts unbleached pastry flour and 1 part unbleached all-purpose flour gives a dough that is much easier to handle.

What does egg do to croissant dough? ›

Croissants can contain whole eggs, egg yolks, or egg whites depending on the recipe. Eggs can be added to the dough to help create a tender and flaky texture in the finished product.

Why do croissants fail? ›

Under or over-proofing the croissants

Failing to proof your croissant dough for long enough is a common mistake that most commonly results in croissants leaking butter while baking, a tight crumb, and a flat, undeveloped flavor.

Is there alcohol in almond croissant? ›

Do almond croissants have alcohol in them? A lot of almond croissant recipes will include a splash of rum in the filling. This complements the almond flavor and adds an extra depth of flavor.

Why are almond croissants flat? ›

Classically, an almond croissant will be flat, and I hate to say it, often rather sad looking. The old-school way to make almond croissants is to bake them between two trays, such that they are squashed during their second bake.

Did they discontinue almond croissant? ›

Many Starbucks regulars believe that the almond croissant was the best pastry on its menu, leaving them stunned when the item was removed in 2022.

Why is the butter leaking when I roll my croissants? ›

Your croissants were probably under-proofed. Just let them proof a bit longer so they get wobbly and increase visually in size. When under-proofed the butter tends to leak out from in between the layers and you end up with a butter puddle.

What happens if you overmix croissant dough? ›

Tough texture: When bread dough is overmixed, the gluten in the flour develops too much, resulting in a tough and chewy texture. Crumbly texture: On the other hand, if the dough is overmixed to the point that it becomes dry and crumbly, the bread will not hold its shape during baking and may fall apart.

Should croissant dough rest overnight? ›

After shaping leave your croissants to proof for one hour at room temperature to kick start the proofing process. Then place them in the fridge overnight. Make sure no air can reach the croissants, otherwise they will dry out! It is best to place them in an airtight container on a piece of baking paper.

Is almond filling the same as marzipan? ›

It can be confusing that recipes sometimes use the terms "almond paste" and "marzipan" interchangeably, as they're actually quite different. Almond paste has a coarser texture but is much softer than marzipan, which allows it to be spread as a filling. Unlike marzipan, almond paste holds up in baking.

What is frangipane filling made of? ›

What is frangipane? A creamy mixture of ground almonds, butter, sugar and eggs that is sometimes used to fill tarts. Halved stone fruit, such as apricots and plums, can be baked on top to make a delicious dessert.

What is marzipan filling made of? ›

"Marzipan is essentially a paste of sugar and almonds, has been made in the Middle East and Mediterranean regions for centuries, and is especially prized as a sculptural material," writes Harold McGee in On Food and Cooking.

What's the difference between frangipane and marzipan? ›

Frangipane is a variation of soft, spreadable custard that bakers commonly use as a filling in tarts, galettes, and puff pastries. Marzipan is a sweet almond paste used as a candy or fondant, adding texture to traditional cakes, like German stollen, or rolled out and used like fondant.

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