November 1, 2013

Almond Croissants Recipe (French Bakery Style)

Name: Almond Croissants Recipe (French Bakery Style)
Prep time: 12 min
Cook time: 18 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 8 one-day-old medium/large croissants, left at room temp uncovered overnight; 3 Tbsp sliced almonds; Powdered (Confectioner's sugar for dusting); 2 Tbsp sugar; 4 Tbsp rum (optional, but highly recommended. You can use 1 tsp Vanilla extract instead); 1 Cup water; 1/2 cup granulated sugar; 1 cup almond meal/almond flour (or 2/3 cup whole blanched almonds, but you'll need a good food processor to process almonds into an almond meal); 1/8 tsp of salt; 1 stick (8 Tbsp unsalted butter, room temp, sliced); 2 large eggs

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If you visit a classic French Bakery, you'll likely see these behind a shiny glass: "Croissants aux Amandes" (aka Almond Croissants). Delicious and so Easy!

If you visit a classic French Bakery, you’ll likely see these behind a shiny glass: “Croissants aux Amandes” (aka Almond Croissants).

My cousin’s wife, Katya, shared this recipe with me on our recent trip to the Seattle area. She served them with breakfast alongside a hot latte. These almond croissants were delicious and easy to make. The recipe can be cut in half for a smaller crowd. What a wonderful treat!

Ingredients for Almond Croissants:

8 (one-day-old) medium/large croissants, left at room temp uncovered overnight
3 Tbsp sliced almonds
Powdered (Confectioner’s) sugar for dusting

Ingredients for the syrup:

2 Tbsp sugar
4 Tbsp rum (optional, but highly recommended. You can use 1 tsp Vanilla extract instead)
1 Cup water

Ingredients for the Almond Cream (crème d’amandes):

1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 cup almond meal/almond flour (or 2/3 cup whole blanched almonds, but you’ll need a good food processor to process almonds into an almond meal)
1/8 tsp of salt
1 stick (8 Tbsp) unsalted butter, room temp, sliced
2 large eggs

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Watch How To Make Almond Croissants:

How to Make the Syrup:

1. In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup water, 2 Tbsp sugar and 4 Tbsp rum. Bring to a simmer for a minute and stir until the sugar dissolves then remove from heat and let cool to room temp.

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How to Make the Almonds Filling:

If using whole almonds: combine 1/2 cup sugar, 2/3 cup almonds and 1/8 tsp salt in the bowl of a food processor, and pulse until finely ground. Add the butter, and mix again until well blended. Add in the eggs one by one, and process on high speed until creamy and fluffy.

If using almond meal or almond flour: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, combine 1/2 cup sugar, 1 cup almond meal and 1/8 tsp salt. Mix until well incorporated, then blend in the butter. Finally add the eggs 1 at a time and mix on med/high speed until the whole mixture is creamy and fluffy.

Almond Croissants Recipe

If it looks like this,

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beat it some more until it looks like this:

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Assembling your French Almond Croissants:

Preheat the oven to 350° F . Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
1. After your croissants have been on the counter drying out overnight, and you’re ready to use them, slice each croissant horizontally like you would for a sandwich.

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2. Work with each croissant one by one: dip it into the syrup, coating both sides and the ends well. The croissant should be quite moist, but not soaking wet. Just dip it once on each side.

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3. Arrange the croissants on a baking dish, cut side up. Spread about 2 Tbsp of almond filling on the bottom half of each croissant.

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4. Place the top halves on and spread about 1 Tbsp of almond filling over the top. Sprinkle with sliced almonds.

Almond Croissants Recipe-1

5. Bake on the center rack for 15 to 18 minutes or until the cream is golden. Transfer to a wire rack and cool to room temperature or just warm. Dust with powdered sugar before serving. These are best served the same day they are made.

If you visit a classic French Bakery, you'll likely see these behind a shiny glass: "Croissants aux Amandes" (aka Almond Croissants). Delicious and so Easy!

Credits: I learned to make these from my cousin’s wife, Katya. The original recipe was adapted from Clotilde’s Almond Croissants.

If you visit a classic French Bakery, you'll likely see these behind a shiny glass: "Croissants aux Amandes" (aka Almond Croissants). Delicious and so Easy!

Now I’m so so curious, what’s your favorite dish to serve guests for breakfast?