I faked it.
I faked it just a little bit with these croissants.
See, these croissants were hot from the oven and onto my breakfast plate in less than 30 minutes because I used frozen, all-butter puff pastry instead of slaving over homemade croissant dough. Real croissant dough has yeast, a bit of sugar and milk in it. Puff pastry does not have these elements; it’s just flour, salt, water, and more butter than you care to know.
So you see… I didn’t spend the time folding and folding and folding croissant dough, I faked it. I don’t feel one bit of bad. In fact, I feel so good about faking it, here’s a few other things I’ve been known to fake.
I’ve faked a tan with that new and clever gradual tan lotion. Thank you lotion technology.
I’ve faked a smile… when I’m feeling super extra awkward, or when I don’t like your perfume but you’re a friend of the family and I don’t want to be rude, or when I’m being paid to smile. That last one doesn’t really happen… ever.
I’ve been faking being an adult for the last ten years. Sometimes, well… it sure feels like I’m faking it.
Lastly, as discussed above… I fake a dang good chocolate croissant. Here’s what’s what on that!
I hold the strict belief that any breakfast pastry that comes out of my kitchen should take me less than an hour to make. I just don’t have the gusto to slave over a pastry first thing in the morning. That’s where these beauties come in. Grab yourself a package of all-butter puff pastry, some good quality dark chocolate, an egg, a pinch of salt and let’s do this!
Easy Chocolate Croissants
inspired by Nigella Lawson (p.s. You’re super pretty Nigella. Super.)
1 (14 oz) package frozen all-butter puff pastry, left to defrost in the fridge for 2 or 3 hours
1/4 cup dark chocolate pieces, 60% or 70% cocoa solids
1 egg, beaten
a sprinkle of fine sea salt
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Gently unpackage the slightly thawed puff pastry and place on a lightly floured surface. With a light floured rolling pin, gently roll out the puff pastry, extending the dough about 1 inch on all sides. The dough will thaw as you work it. That’s great. Just make sure it isn’t sticking to your work surface too much.
With the pastry sheet horizontal, make three vertical cuts, making four strips of pastry dough. Cut each strip in half horizontally. You’ll have eight medium sized rectangles. Cut each rectangle in half diagonally, creating 16 triangles.
Place each triangle so the wider part is toward you and the point is away from you.
Place small pieces of chocolate about 1/2-inch above the wide part of the triangle.
Carefully roll the chocolate loaded end toward the point, pinching the dough together at the beginning of the roll to ensure that the chocolate doesn’t ooze out during baking. Once rolled, curl the ends toward the center slightly.
Place the 16 small chocolate croissants on a lined but not greased baking sheet. Brush with beaten egg and sprinkle each top with just a bit of sea salt if you like a little salt with your chocolate.
Place in 425 degree F oven and immediately turn the oven down to 400 degrees F. Bake for 12-15 minutes until golden, puffed and otherwise irresistible.
Amy @DYKTMP?
making these right now!! EXCITED!
Natasha
I use refrigerated cresent rolls and chocolate!
CookieMonster?
I read your blog regularly but haven’t posted before. Just wanted to let you know I made these for a pot luck brunch party and substituted Nutella for the chocolate….oh man did these beauties come out well! They were devoured. And seriously took all of 10 minutes to prepare (by someone who has never used puff pastry before). I will definitely make these again when I can bring them somewhere–too little and delish to have all 16 of them at my munching disposal.
Tiffany
Delish! I hope you don’t mind, but I just linked back to your recip on my blog. Can’t wait to try this and other recipes of yours. Loving your site!
http://stellaholiday.blogspot.com/2010/10/good-morning.html
Warmly,
Tiffany
Dorela
Next time you make this try it with Nutella, it is INCREDIBLE!!!!!!
Tiffany
ohmygosh – nutella!!!!! great idea!
Lisa
So glad I keep stumblingupon your site!
Michelle Badenhorst
hey, could you dothis with cheese, to make like cheese croissants? im baking this weekend and i dont know if that would work or if the cheese would just, like, fry? haha. or maybe you need a special cheese?? or anyway, could i make them plain from this recipie too?? if you could help me in my baking dilema it would be amazing!! =D thanx anyway!
Mary
Love it! Only one question; if I don’t want to slave over dough in the morning (and I don’t!) do I want to get up 2 to 3 hours before breakfast to take the dough out of the freezer? …huuuum…??
Catherine
Why not have it all. Brush with jam of your choice first, mine is raspberry, then add chocolate, and out of the oven sprinkle with coco powder, or even dip ends in chocolate. Yes!!!
Natasha
I have made these before! They are delicious. Sadly, I end up eating most of them myself.
Meseidy
Joy, you can’t do this! You can’t make desserts this simple it is detrimental to my hips and fuel to the dimples on bottom. It’s ok I forgive you. Now were is that coupon I have for $1 off pepperidge farm products.?
Lindsey
Delicious! I must admit I’m guilty of buying refrigerated criossant dough and though it was fast and easy it also tastes a little weird. These look like they’d taste quite the opposite. I never thought of using puff pastry dough and I’m sure that’s much better. Yum!
Fran
How long will these last? Are they good at room temp a few hours later?
Kyla
Brilliant!
Alina
I believe it’s totally okay to use frozen puff pastry, especially for cooking breakfast!! Your croissants look very lovely!!
Dpoker
Made these today – *meh* not too great – BUT its the cook not the recipe. SO wondering what I did wrong for such an easy recipe. I am thinking it was the dough? I don’t know it seemed to blah. Help??
Michele
These are great with apple pie filling too! I make the apples for my son and the chocolate for my daughter. They LOVE them!
sarah
That sounds delicious, how do you do that?
Do you just dice the apple and fold the pastry, dust with cinnamon or what?? :)
Mariana
Do you think these would be ok to freeze after you roll the chocolate into them? Then it would be even quicker the next time you want a fresh chocolate croissant…
Melissa
I was thinking the same thing!
I might try it out tonight for a super special Friday breakfast :)
Talita
Your croissants look perfect!! Love them!
Bre
Wow. This is the first time I’ve visited your site, and I already love you. This post makes me want to plan a brunch and make these suckers for all my friends. Or maybe I’ll just keep them to myself…At any rate, thanks!
Jessica
These seem so simple yet so elegant! cant want to make them!
Daydreams of Baking
I’ve never really had any problem with “semi-homemade” food. I mean, if it tastes good, then why does it matter how it got there?
Julie
Mmm…just delicious! I would be happy to have one right now!
Brandy
Those look scrumptious!!!!! Who cares if you faked it? I cant wait to try them!!!
Justin From Bitchin' Kitchen
Keepin’ it real even when faking it. Very nice. If there’s one thing I can relate to, it’s not wanting to do a huge amount work first thing after I wake up. I think you seem to have found a nice midway point with this recipe. Not totally pre-packaged and not totally from scratch. Delicious nonetheless.
Angie
Has anyone ever tried making these with jam instead of chocolate?
SilverMoon Dragon
Yes, but you have to be careful not to use too much, or it seeps out during cooking and goes everywhere.
Katie
If you’re trying to bulk up your filling, how about spreading a little jam on the dough and adding a few chunks of cream cheese?
Kay
Okay, those look wonderful :)
GS
Good Morning Joy! I made these delicious little treats on Saturday and had none left for dessert after my husband tackled the tray. I admit that I cheated even more than you did though…I used a can of crescent rolls (you know the one, with the little dough-man spokeperson). I would have used puff pastry (and plan to next time) but when I went to my freezer I had none!! Thanks for another good one!
Roberta
Fake or not, my husband will love these. They are an easy version of a french pastry that he loves and rarely gets as I haven’t been brave enough to tackle layers of pastry sheet required to make them. THANKS!!!
Caroline
I can’t believe I never thought of this before! I’m making these tomorrow for sure!
Elizabeth
Yum. Homemade croissants are not worth the bother, at least not in the morning.
Ninette
My kids will love this. Thank you!1
Aparna
Who says faking doesn’t get perfect results and can’t be fun? :)
Mark
Have you tried the frozen chocolate croissants from Trader Joe’s?? You set them out over night and the defrost, proof and then you pop them in the oven in the morning. They are amazing and simple as well….
Heidi
How about putting white chocolate and nutella inside. Also, yummy!!!!!
Romaine of www.salad-in-a-jar.com
Have you ever used Ghiradelli Bittersweet Chocolate? Think that would work? Sure looks easy enough.
Stiffler
i saw nigella make these on her show. at the time, i thought i really want to make those, but then i kinda sorta forgot about them. thank you for pleasant reminder.
Cate
Joy, these look delicious… I think my dorm-mates will be very appreciative if I make them the first day of school! What kind of chocolate do you use, and where do you get it? I’m having some difficulty finding quality chocolate in my grocery store.
joythebaker
I often use Scharffen Berger Chocolate which I buy often buy online, because I’m not super impressed with the grocery store selections.
zarpandit
photos yummy! delicious..i love chocolate :D
olgalopez
you gave me a great idea for my kid for a afternoon snack.
Regards
Olga.
kateyc
As a college student in a crammed in one-bedroom and cooking (really, really cooking and LOVING it!) for the first time, I’ve spent far too much time drooling over recipes I’ll never be able to replicate in my own tragically under-stocked and under-equipped kitchenette. Thank you, THANK YOU for such an easy and delicious recipe! All I need is that frozen puff pastry (I’m already so there on that dark chocolate!!) and I’ll have me some DELICIOUS chocolate croissants — dream come true!!
joythebaker
Success! I’m so glad you can work this recipe out in your tiny space! Do it, and enjoy the gorgeous smells coming out of your kitchen. Rad!
Amber
Joy, like so many others, I’m on a diet.:(
Tomorrow is my cheat day so I’ll be cheating on my diet and cheating with this yummy fake croissant recipe.:) Thanks!!!!
Kristen McIntyre
Amazing! I too would love an pie crust recipe – i just can’t seem to roll them out well :(
joythebaker
I’ll get on that next week! We’ll be makin’ pies this Fall!
laura
love it. i might have to make these this weekend. and i also agree that nigella is super pretty!
wizzy
Joy. I am ‘faking’ being happy that you posted this recipe! There goes my diet! LOL
Siobhan
Absolutely ingenious! I am very impressed by this idea! I love me a breakfast pastry, thanks for the tip Joy! :)
JennEJenn
Oooh yummy… I will have to make & for a finishing touch some chocolate drizzle! Thanks for the inspiration!
anna
I made croissant dough in pastry class today. I would hardly call it slaving. Most of that time involved is inactive! Same holds true for actual puff pastry. Don’t perpetuate the silly laminated dough myths.
joythebaker
I think I’m mostly perpetuating my own opinions on making puff pastry and croissant dough. It’s all the folding and turning and rolling and turning and folding, and waiting, that I find to be an impossible chore in my warm kitchen. That’s all. Plus, there are some really good puff products out there that save me the time. Thank heavens for that!
Diva1Gina
Since the lovely French Patisserie near my home closed several months ago, I’ve been dying for a good chocolate croissant. Thanks, Joy, for sharing this idea! I know it won’t be quite the same…but then, it will be fresh out of the oven and is SO easy. I look forward to surprising the family with them tomorrow morning!
Libby@CookingWithLibby
These look simple and easy! I need to try them one day :)
Jessanna
Mmmm MMMM!! I LOVE FAKING IT (In this case any ways;P) I actually just made a ‘fake’ berry strudel with cream cheese using all butter puff pastry this morning! (and i didn’t feel and ounce guilty either:) In fact, having a warm strudel breakfast served (in 30 minutes) to my husband and kids was wonderful! – But OH those croissants looked incredible- Thats what I’m making next time!
Thanks JOY!
Christine
Awesome. I also have a major crush on Nigella Lawson. Homegirl is sensual!
Elsa
What a good idea! I have some puff pastry in the freezer and I think I’ll be using it to make these! Yummy!
CookiePie
Yummy!!!
Meghan
These are so cute! What an easy way to make such a delicious treat! I have to try this! It’s a great idea for a brunch when you’re trying to get a bunch of things together at once.
Deanna
This is tomorrows wake up call! Not going to tell the family, just get up and make them, hopefully I am awake before everyone else or I will be eating these alone, which could be ok. :)
Jamie
Love it and these are pretty darn gorgeous chocolate croissants, whatever their origin. I hope that means that those of us who fake being grown up can have extra ones to stuff into our mouths?
Megan
Wow! These look awesome!!
I’m not faking that enthusiasm one bit.
Dolce
We don’t care if it’s faked, as long as it’s good. That’s the plan, right?
Heather the Comics Girl
“I’ve been faking being an adult for the last ten years.”
SO TRUE (for me, I mean, not you). I’ve been a fake college instructor, fake consultant, fake film festival programmer, fake house-owner…. I’m a stuttery, gangly dork! Don’t people see this? But I’m a fantastic actress, I guess, because no one’s caught on and people keep giving me more adult things to do. That’s an interesting way to look at the world, though: how many people that you meet every day are just teenage dorks with a good mask on? ;-)
And yeah, these fake croissants look ridiculously good. I especially love that you used dark chocolate.
Nurit - 1 family. friendly. food.
But pie crusts are doable as a mommy, though.
Nurit - 1 family. friendly. food.
We all fake something every now and then. If it’s for a good cause, or reason, oh well, it can be forgiven, no?!
There are some very good frozen puff pastries out there. Totally good.
And… I recall your post to a future husband and kids, well, you will have to compromise in the kitchen when you’re a mom and a wife, so better get used to it ‘cos you won’t have much of a choice when this happens.
I will def make these.
Puppydogs
Oh My!
thank you, I think I can actually do this-LOL
joythebaker
you can totally do it!
stephchows
sometimes you just have to fake it… and there is nothing wrong with it! :D
m-vci
Ooh, these would also be good with spinach and feta!
joythebaker
spinach and feta!? heck yes!
m-vic
Oh, nice typo in my name. Anyway, they would be like spanakopita, but way easier to make with the puff pastry instead of those thin phyllo sheets!
m-vic
Or smoked salmon and cream cheese! Now I just need to get back home to my kitchen …
Crystal
Those look delicious, I love the shortcut! As far as faking it, I sometimes feel like my life is a dream and I’ll wake up as a child again, most often as a high school student or middle school… that would be a nightmare!
Anna
Ohhhhh yes. I do love these, but had forgotten how quick they are to make.I’ve remembered now and I know I have some puff pastry in the freezer…
When Pigs Fly
Durfour is the best if you can find it in the freezer section. Making one’s own puff pastry is a labor of love or should I say craziness. It takes forever and you must remember which way to turn it after rolling.
I still fake things all the time.
joythebaker
Yes! Dufour makes great great puff pastry. Much better than me turning and rolling and folding and turning and rolling the real stuff.
GS
I’ll be making these for Saturday breakfast tomorrow. Some coffee, scrambled eggs and sausage rounds will round out the meal nicely. Thanks Joy!
Cathy A.
These remind me of cornettos that I’ve had in Italy.
I will definitely try them!!!
Rhonda Burns
How did you know? I LOVE chocolate croissants and have been wanting a recipe for so long.
Betsy
this makes me want to go to a bakery in Paris! they look so good!!!!! thank you!!
Michelle
I’ve got some puff pastry in the freezer right now just begging to be turned into these beauties.
Thanks!
Elizabeth
You know, I have some puff pastry in my freezer right now…
Amy
If you can fake making croissants, than I don’t feel that bad about buying pre-made pie crust. (Well, I still feel a little bad…)
These look scrumptious and I want one for breakfast right now!
joythebaker
Have you found an all-butter pre-made pie crust in stores yet?
I may just have to post a pie crust from scratch that is so dang easy you’ll never want to buy store bought again. Impossible? Maybe. We’ll see!
Cathy A.
Joy, please do post that dang easy pie crust recipe!!!!!
Micah Rose
OMG! Please do that. I made a make-shift pie/cobbler/amazingness thing with store bought crust. I need something easy and buttery! Thanks, girl…your site is super fab!
Liz Brooks
This is an awesome idea! Thanks for sharing. And never feel bad for ‘faking’ it, you do so much from scratch, sometimes you just have to cut corners.
Nirvana
Wohoo! Thanks for sharing this quick recipe…. I looooove croissants but recently discovered how much butter goes into them and I’m slightly traumatized :) I may make these as a special treat one day :)
amy
i know what i’m making this weekend…thanks!
joythebaker
These are totally the perfect weekend treat!
Jen @ MaplenCornbread
Fake away!! :) Even those of us who vow to never use prepackaged stuff DO! and its creations just like THIS that make it worth it! These chocolate croissants look soooooooooooo good!!!
Type A Mommy
Sounds pretty awesome to me! I’m really getting into baking, and had thought (momentarily) about making croissants from scratch. Then I read how much time is involved. This is much more practical!!! Thanks!
TheWoman
YAY for faking it! I’m with you on not wanting to slave away in the kitchen for breakfast (much as I love it at any other time of the day…).
And this snow-white skin NEEDS fake tan to not be blinding people. Bring it!
Akinaj
Oh yes, I love doing chocolate croissants this way. :D
callas
Faking being a grown-up… Now why does that sound familiar again? ^^