Craving Almond Croissants? Try This Quick And Simple Version

Almond croissants bring to mind a French patisserie on a sunlit morning, a buttery scent pervading the air. It's an elegant indulgence you almost wish you could take home with the pastries. That's obviously not possible, but you can always recreate it with the plain croissants already sitting in your fridge. As it turns out, the leap between the two is surprisingly small. Oven heat and frangipane bridge the gap, and before you know it, that day-old croissant becomes the almondy goodness you've been craving.

Expect nothing less than both flavor and texture marvel when you're revamping the leftovers into twice-baked croissants. This underrated shortcut saves you time and effort from having to make croissant dough from scratch, and you won't need to compromise on quality. The staleness we often abhor in leftover pastries actually comes in handy, as it holds and absorbs the almond cream without turning soggy. The original brittle crisp might have dwindled, but it's nothing 20 minutes in the oven — arguably one of the best ways to refresh stale croissants — can't revive.

Soon enough, you will have that golden, caramelized crust and pull-apart magic back, and this time, it has a creamy almond upgrade. Rich flavors sink right into every flaky layer, and the lackluster flatness is masked completely. The combination of the filling — with a nutty sweetness melting from the inside out — and crispy bits of almond flakes is unmatched, and it might even be good enough to make you forget you were eating day-old pastries in the first place.

All you have to do is whisk almond meal (or paste), sugar, almond extract, butter, and eggs together until you get a smooth, thick frangipane. While you're whipping up the almond cream, toast the almond flakes to garnish or add to the filling later on. Then, slice the croissant in half horizontally, much like you would with a baguette for banh mi, for example, and spoon the filling in between. You can spread them on top of the croissants for double the flavor as well. Once done, let the oven do the rest, garnish the almond croissants however you like, and enjoy.

The process is simple enough that you will still have time and the creative space to experiment with more elaborate twists. A syrup, gently swept on the insides of the croissants, can add an aromatic sweetness to the undertone. Perhaps try an orange syrup to get a sparkling citrus zest, or even orange blossom for hints of floral. Bittersweet haven comes in the form of melted chocolate, drizzled all over the almond croissants. Alternatively, sweet-tart raspberries can make quite a companion to the almond cream, especially for those who want vibrancy to contrast the nutty depth. Add a few slices of pear, and you've just made one of the best almond desserts for winter. That's the fun of crafting your own pastries — you get to experiment with all the possibilities.