Croissant lovers rejoice! Today is National Croissant Day, the perfect day to indulge in the buttery, flaky French pastry. Though a freshly-baked croissant with just some butter and jam at breakfast is delicious, croissants can actually be incorporated into so many different types of meals. Here are three simple, but mouth-watering recipes that will have you wanting croissants at all times of the day!
Croissant French Toast
French toast is often made with brioche, baguette or ordinary sliced sandwich bread, but try changing things up by using croissants instead! This is a great way to use up croissants that have started to go a bit stale. All you’ll need for this recipe is 2 croissants, 1 egg, 1/4 of milk, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon and 1 tablespoon of butter. In a bowl, combine the egg, milk, vanilla extract and cinnamon. Mix well until the egg is full beaten and all ingredients are combined. Place the croissants in the bowl and let them sit for a couple minutes to soak up all the egg mixture. Flip the croissants over after a minute or so, so all sides are soaked. Heat up your butter in a pan over medium heat and place croissants into pan. Fry on each side for about 3 minutes, until they are golden brown. Remove from pan, and they are ready to eat! Serve with whatever your favourite French toast toppings are such as maple syrup, honey, chocolate sauce, fresh berries or whipped cream.
Pizza Stuffed Croissant
Pizza stuffed anything is bound to be good, so why not try pizza stuffed croissants? This recipe is great for lunch or as a yummy finger food for a kid’s party. For this recipe you’ll need 1 can of croissant dough, 1 package of sliced pepperoni, 1/2 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese, 1 cup of marinara or pizza sauce. Firstly, pre-heat your oven to 375°F. Open the can of dough and separate the triangles onto a baking sheet, ensuring there is about half an inch of space between each. Spoon a teaspoon of sauce in the centre of each triangle, followed by a couple slices of pepperoni and then topping with some cheese. Carefully roll up each croissant, starting from the shortest side all the way up to the opposite point. Bake croissants for about 12 to 15 minutes, until they are golden brown. Serve warm along with any left over marinara sauce for dipping!
Croissant Bread Pudding
Put a spin on a classic bread pudding by using croissants to give it a lighter and flakier touch! To make the dish you’ll need 6 large croissants, 3 large eggs, 8 large egg yolks, 5 cups of milk, 1 1/2 cups of sugar, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon and 1 cup of raisins. The raisins can be swapped out for any other dried fruit like apricot or cranberries, or even chocolate chips if you’re feeling really indulgent. Firstly, pre-heat your oven to 350°F. In a bowl, whisk together the eggs, yolks, milk, vanilla and cinnamon and set aside. Slice your croissants in half and place them cut side up in a baking dish. Sprinkle on the dried fruits, or chocolate chips, in a n even layer over the croissants and then place the other halves of the croissants on top. Pour the egg mixture on top of the croissants and let sit for about 10 minutes, allowing the egg mixture to absorb into the croissants. Cover the dish with foil and bake 45 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 30 to 40 minutes until the pudding is golden brown and slightly crispy. Serve with vanilla ice cream or some freshly whipped cream to make it extra special!
