When you go on vacation and stay at a nice hotel, you cannot imagine your breakfast without having croissants. In fact, in the hotel, you will find a variety of croissants. So, does it mean that you have to go to hotels or stops to eat croissants? not! You can bake croissants at home.
Ingredients
● Large croissants – 6-8, a day old
● Almonds – 1 cup, dried
● Icing sugar – powdered, for dusting
For the syrup
● Granulated sugar – 2 tablespoons
● Water – 1 cup
● Almond extract – 1 teaspoon
For the almond cream
● Granulated sugar – ½ cup
● Almond flour – 1 cup
● Salt – ¼ teaspoon
● Unsalted butter – ½ cup, room temperature
● Eggs – 2, room temperature
● Vanilla extract – 1 teaspoon
● Almond extract – ¼ teaspoon
Cooking method
1. For the syrup and water and 2 tablespoons of sugar into a saucepan. Let it boil. Then remove from heat. Add almond extract.
2. To make the almond cream combine almond flour, salt, and sugar using a mixer. Add butter and continue beating till it becomes creamy.
3. Add eggs, one at a time, and blend. Add vanilla and almond extracts.
4. Take the croissants and cut them horizontally in the middle.
5. Use a pastry brush to brush the cut sides of the croissant with sugar syrup.
6. Add 2 tablespoons of almond cream to the bottom part of the croissant. Spread it evenly.
Place the top part of the croissant on top.
7. Place the croissants on a baking tray and bake for 15 minutes in a preheated oven at 350 degrees F.
8. Place croissants on a lined baking tray and put it in a preheated oven at 180°C or 350°F.
9. When it's done, take out the croissants and dust with icing.
How to store
● You can make the simple syrup and almond cream beforehand and store it in the refrigerator. Make sure you put them in airtight containers.
● You can store the almond-filled croissants for eating later. First, keep the almond-filled croissants at room temperature for 3 hours. Then wrap the croissants individually in aluminum foil and store them in an airtight container. Put it in the refrigerator.
● When you want to eat the stored croissants, take them out and heat them in the oven for 5 minutes at 350 degrees F. Don't heat the croissants in the microwave. They will become chewy and non-crispy.
Making croissants from scratch
Instead of filling the store-purchased croissants with almond cream, you can make croissants from scratch. To do so make a dough from flour, butter, sugar, yeast, milk, and water. Roll the dough in a large shape. Put butter over it. Now enclose this layer inside the dough. Roll out the dough to another shape and fold it back. Repeat it two more times to get your desired shape for the croissant. Then bake the croissants. Keep these croissants in the refrigerator for a day to make them old. Put on almond cream the next day.
Croissants contain lots of nutrients that are good for your health. They contain vitamins and minerals that support the function of the heart, brain, lungs, and kidneys. They contain carbohydrates, proteins, and fibers as well. However, as they are high in calories, you should eat them in limited quantities. Once you have these soft croissants you will understand what comfortable food is all about.
