Have you ever dreamed of making an almond croissant from scratch? But have been too intimidated to even try? Well, you’ve come to the right place! I’ve broken it all down for you with labeled step-by-step photos and easy to follow instructions.
If you want to try a sweeter spin on the classic croissant, give our Nutella croissants a try!
This recipe was originally posted on Feb 26, 2016, we’ve tweaked it a bit since then. This post has Amazon affiliate links for tools we used to make this recipe.
These buttery and flaky almond croissants are made from scratch, including the almond paste inside each pastry.
Can you freeze croissants?
After the croissants are rolled up (and NOT proofed yet), place them in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Freeze until solid (about 3 hours). Then transfer them to a ziplock bag. That way, when the croissants are removed from the freezer, they thaw and proof altogether. Give the croissants at least 8 hours to proof at room temperature before putting them in the oven. Oven temperature should remain the same as baking them unfrozen.
How to make croissants
Making croissants is not difficult; you don’t need any expensive ingredients or equipment. All you need is time and technique. They do take quite some time and patience, but the end result is so worth it! You just can’t compare homemade croissants to store bought ones.
You might ALSO ENJOY trying my Nutella croissants. And if you love anything with an almond-like filling, this almond pear tart and raspberry almond tart is a MUST!
Ingredients for the almond croissants
- water
- drive active yeast
- all-purpose flour
- granulated sugar
- salt
- unsalted butter softened
- unsalted butter, (for the butter slab)
Butter slab for almond croissants
Place softened butter onto a sheet of parchment paper, place another sheet on top. Using a rolling pin compress the butter into a slab 8 inches by 12 inches. Then place in the refrigerator to harden.
Almond paste for almond croissants
Ingredients for the almond paste:
- egg
- unsalted butter
- almond extract
- almond flour
- powdered sugar
- cornstarch
- milk
How to make the almond paste for croissants
- Combine 1 egg, softened butter, and almond extract. Then blend in the almond flour, powdered sugar, and cornstarch.
How ot make Croissant dough
- Combine the water and yeast in a measuring cup and place it in a warm place for 10-15 minutes. Then place the flour, sugar, and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer. Add the yeast mixture in and combine using the hook attachment.
- Once the dough takes shape, add softened butter. Continue mixing until the croissant dough is smooth and elastic. Transfer the dough to a greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let it double in size for about 2 hours.
- Once the croissant dough is done rising, deflate it onto a floured surface and roll it out to a rectangle 28×14 inches. Then fold 2/3 of the left corner and bring the edges together just so they touch.
- Starting from the shorter edge fold the dough into thirds. At this point, the dimensions of the folded dough should be about 6 x 12 inches. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 6-8 hours (or overnight).
- Using your hands, deflate the dough. Then roll it out to a 25x9in rectangle. Place the cold butter slab on the right half of the dough but leave a 1-inch margin around the edges.
- Fold the left half (unbuttered side) over. Using a rolling pin, press down on top of the dough to help disperse the butter evenly. After that, roll the dough out to a 30×12 inch rectangle.
- Fold over 2/3 of the left corner then bring in the right corner so both edges touch.
- Roll the dough out to a 30×12 inch rectangle. Fold it in half like a book. After its folded the dimensions should be 15 x 12 inches.
- Roll it out to 30 x 12 again. Then fold it into thirds. The size of the dough should be 12 x 8 inches. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Remove from the refrigerator and cut in half. Rewrap one of the halves and place it in the fridge while you work on the other half.
- Finally, roll it out to 10x30in.
- Now cut the dough into 9 triangles. Each triangle should be about 5 inches at the wide end and about 1 inch at the narrow end.
- I like to make a small slit in the middle of the wider ends so the croissant folds nicer. However, that’s totally optional. Fill the wider end of the triangles with 1 heaping tablespoon of the almond paste. Then roll the triangles toward the narrow end as you slightly pull the pointed end away.
- Place the croissants onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and let them rise in room temperature for 1-2 hours or until they double in size.
- Using a pastry brush, brush each almond croissant with egg wash and bake at 390 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes, then 370 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes. Baking time may vary depending on your oven.
Mix the leftover almond paste with a splash of milk and spread it over each almond croissant. Sprinkle sliced almonds over each croissant and bake for another 5 minutes at 370 degrees Fahrenheit.
Once their cooled, dust powdered sugar over the top of each almond croissant.
Remove the second half of the dough from the refrigerator and roll it out to a 30×10 inch rectangle. Cut out 9 triangles and repeat this process with the remaining dough.
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Almond Croissant
These buttery and flaky almond croissants are made from scratch, including the almond paste inside each pastry.
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Servings: 18 Croissants
Calories: 509kcal
Ingredients
- Ingredients for the croissant:
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 3 tsp dry active yeast
- 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 1/2 cup unsalted butter cut into pieces (for the butter slab)
- Ingredients for the almond paste:
- 1 egg
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1/2 tsp almond extract
- 2 1/2 cups almond flour
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp cornstarch
Instructions
- In a bowl or medium measuring cup, combine the water and yeast. Let it sit in a warm place for 10-15 minutes or until the yeast dissolves.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the flour, sugar, and salt. Then pour in the warm yeast water.
- Using the hook attachment, mix the dough on medium speed until it begins to take shape. Toss in 1/2 cup of softened butter and continue mixing on medium high speed until the dough is smooth and well rounded.
- Transfer the dough into a bowl greased with oil. Lightly grease the dough with oil as well. Cover with plastic wrap and let it rise for 2 hours or until it triples in size.
- Meanwhile prepare the butter slab. Start by cutting out 2 large sheets of parchment paper. Trace an 8x12 inch rectangle on each sheet. Place 1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) sliced butter in the middle of one sheet. Have the traced side down (you don't want to get any pencil marks on the butter).
- Place the second sheet on top (traced side up). Using a rolling pin, roll out the butter to the edges of the traced rectangle. Then place on a flat surface in the refrigerator.
- Once the dough is done rising, deflate it onto a floured surface and roll it out to a 28x14 inch rectangle. Fold over 2/3 of the left corner then bring in the right corner so it covers the other edge but doesn't quite reach the other side.
- Starting from the shorter edge fold the dough into thirds. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 6-8 hours (or overnight).
- In a bowl, combine 1 egg, 3/4 cup butter, and 1/2 tsp almond extract. Then blend in the 2 1/2 cups almond flour, 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, and 1 tsp corn starch. This will be the almond paste.
- Gently deflate the dough onto a floured surface and roll it out to a 25 x 9 inch rectangle. Place the chilled butter slab on the right half of the dough leaving at least 1 inch margin around the edges.
- Fold over the left (unbuttered) half and roll the dough out to a 30x12 inch rectangle. It helps to spread the butter by pressing down with the rolling pin along with rolling it out.
- Fold over 2/3 of the left corner then bring in the right corner so both edges touch.
- Roll the dough out to a 30x12 inch rectangle. Fold it in half like a book. Once its folded in half the dimensions should be 15 x 12 inches. Roll it out to 30 x 12 again.
- Then fold it into thirds. If the butter begins to melt, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes. The size of the dough should be 12 x 8 inches before wrapping it in plastic wrap.
- Cut the chilled dough in half. Rewrap 1 halve and place it back in the refrigerator for later use. Roll the unwrapped dough into a 30x10 inch rectangle and cut out 9 triangles. Each triangle should be about 5 inches at the wide end, and about 1 inch at the narrow end.
- I like to make small slit in the middle of the wider ends so the croissant folds nicer, but thats totally optional. Fill the wider end of the triangles with 1 heaping tablespoon of the almond paste. Then roll the triangles toward the narrow end as you slightly pull the pointed end away.
- Place the croissants onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and let them rise in room temperature for 1-2 hours or until they double in size. Do not put them in a warm place to speed up the rising process. You don't want the butter to melt.
- Brush each croissant with egg wash and bake at 390 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes, then 370 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes. Baking time may vary depending on your oven.
- Mix the left over almond paste with a splash of milk and spread it over each croissant. Sprinkle sliced almonds over each croissant and bake for another 5 minutes at 370 degrees Fahrenheit. Once their cooled, dust powdered sugar over the top of each croissant.
- Remove the second half of the dough from the refrigerator and roll it out to a 30x10 inch rectangle. Cut out 9 triangles and repeat steps 14-17.
Nutrition
Calories: 509kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Cholesterol: 83mg | Sodium: 203mg | Potassium: 49mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 880IU | Calcium: 48mg | Iron: 2.1mg
Did you make this recipe? Snap a photo of it and tag me on Instagram @simplyhomecooked or use the hashtag #simplyhomecooked so I can see it and feature it!
PS: We’ve updated some of the photos in this almond croissant recipe. Here are our older photos.
Hi, I’m Dina, so glad you stopped by! I believe life is too short for bad coffee and boring meals. With my easy to follow step-by-step recipes, you’ll be surprised at how quickly a wholesome and delicious meal can come together. I hope you find something you enjoy!
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Myra says
Hey, I have a question about the rising of the already shaped croissant, after we make the shape and we r allowing it to rise, can we leave it out overnight and bake immediately in the morning?
simplyhomecooked says
Hi Myra, I have not tried letting it rise overnight since they might rise too much, even in the fridge.
Shelby says
Love this recipe! Any suggestions for keeping the butter nice and cool? By the time I get to my last fold, the bottom seems to be a buttery mess! I’ve tried turning up my A/C to keep them cool but that doesn’t seem to have worked.
simplyhomecooked says
Hi Shelby, if you notice the butter starting to melt, just place the dough into the fridge for at least 30 minutes for it to firm up again.
Jodie Allen says
Hi
I love the look of this recipe.
Would it work if I made and shaped the croissant, refrigerated over night and then cooked them the next day? I’d like them for a post early morning sea swim Father’s Day breakfast.
Thanks
Jodie
simplyhomecooked says
Sorry for the delayed response Jodie. I have never tried refrigerating them overnight so I cannot say how they will turn out. But I have tried freezing them days in advance and thawing overnight in the fridge and baking in the morning. I had great results from that method 🙂 The blog post should have freezing instructions if you want to give it a try!
Brenda Streed says
Hi- I have a question about the step to mix the water and yeast. It sounds like the water is room temperature which is different than any test bread recipe I have baked. Do we use room temp water or the usual 105 to just below 115 degree warm water to proof the yeast?
Looking forward to trying this recipe!
Brenda
simplyhomecooked says
Hi Brenda, you are right. The water should be between 105 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit.