Croissants are a classic pastry that melt in your mouth. They’re buttery, flaky, and oh so delish; which is why I love to eat them for breakfast, or any time of day, for that matter. The croissant got its name from its signature crescent shape. But here’s a fun fact: if you think that France gave birth to this pastry, think again! Sure, croissant is a French word, and sure, it is a staple of French cuisine; but it’s actually a Viennoiserie – meaning, it is of Austrian origin! But, while croissants are such tasty pastries, they’re not that fun to eat as is. Whether you buy them from your favorite bakery or make them yourself, no croissant is complete without some sort of filling or topping! And, when it comes to fillings, you’ve got a myriad of options! Whether it’s sweet, savory, or a combination of both – you can’t go wrong. Croissants are the perfect canvas, so you can be as creative as you want with your fillings. If you ask me, though, these 26 croissant fillings, in particular, will give you all the feels.
Sweet Stuffings
Chocolate
Okay, here’s what you do: slice that beautiful bread in half lengthwise. Spread a decadent chocolate ganache on either side of the bread. Take the two halves and sandwich them together to form a fancy pain au chocolat (French for chocolate croissant.) If you’re making the croissant yourself, here’s how to infuse it with chocolate: fill a rectangular dough with chocolate batons or chocolate chips. Roll either end of the dough to the middle (no need to make the crescent shape for this). Bake the dough for 20 minutes at 275 degrees Fahrenheit. You can eat it as is, but if you want to give it more flavor and a little crunch, you can sprinkle some chopped nuts and/or dried fruits in your croissant.
Almond Paste
Speaking of nuts, hey almond! I love me some almond croissants. I recently learned that back in the day, bakers would add this delicate nut to salvage day-old croissants, and I think it’s genius! To make an almond croissant, or what they call croissants aux amandes, just stuff your plain croissant with almond paste or crème d’amandes. To make the almond paste, combine almond flour and powdered sugar and blend in a food processor. Add egg white, vanilla extract, and salt to the mix and blend until you get a smooth paste. Done! If you’re making the croissant at home, spread this paste on your triangle dough, then roll the dough to form a crescent. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes at 375 degrees.
Nutella
Or any brand of hazelnut spread, actually. This creamy and nutty spread is so delightful, it will bring life to your plain croissant. Nutella is so sweet and flavorful, so all your pastry needs is a thin layer. To make your own Nutella croissant, spread the Nutella on a triangle of dough, and roll the dough up to create that signature shape. Bake for 20 minutes at 375 degrees and your croissant is all set.
Pastry Cream
Give your plain croissant a decadent pastry cream filling to give it a sweet and creamy surprise. Just imagine biting into that flaky and buttery bread and then getting that burst of luscious and velvety custard – delightful.
Pumpkin Pie
It’s the quintessential fall filling! A simple pumpkin pie filling infused with autumn spices is all your croissant needs to make it more exciting. To make, puree pumpkin with nutmeg and cinnamon. Spread the filling on a triangular dough and roll that thing up to make a crescent pastry. Pop it in the oven and wait for 10 to 15 minutes. Ahh.. what a perfect Thanksgiving treat.
Ice Cream
Warm croissant meets cold ice cream! I guarantee you, the contrast in temperature will tickle your taste buds. To make, cut that croissant at the center and top one half with a scoop of your favorite ice cream flavor. Cover it with the top half and enjoy. It will be messy, but oh so worth it.
Apples
If you think about it, croissant with apples is just like apple pie. It’s just as delicious but a lot easier to make. Here’s how: Cut apples into thin slices and coat it with a mixture of cinnamon, sugar, and nutmeg. Let it rest for 30 minutes so the apples have time to absorb all that irresistible flavor. Next, top your triangular dough with a layer of apples. Roll it up to a crescent and bake for 15 to 20 minutes. Boy oh boy, what a treat!
Peanut Butter Cups
This filling will excite the heart of every kid out there. Sure, this is not your traditional croissant filling, but who cares? It’s so delicious! Just place a spoonful of crushed peanut butter cups onto your dough and roll it up. Bake for 20 minutes and you’ve got yourself a candy-infused croissant.
Pecan Filling
If you’re a fan of pecan pies, you will love this one. Make a pecan pie filling with butter, corn syrup, sugar, eggs, lemon juice, vanilla, salt, and of course, pecans. Spread that ooey-gooey filling onto the triangle dough and roll away. Bake for 20 minutes at 375 degrees and go nuts!
Peanut Butter and Jelly
PB&J already tastes incredibly delicious with the basic white bread, just imagine it with a buttery, flaky pastry? Give your classic American filling a glow-up by pairing it with an Austrian-French bread. To make, spread a thin layer of peanut butter and jelly on top of your dough triangle. Roll the dough loosely to form that beautiful crescent shape. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or just until the pastry is golden brown.
Berries And Cream
Think Danish here and fill your triangle dough with your favorite fresh berries. If you want them to be sweeter, drizzle some honey on top before you roll the dough. Pop it in the oven and bake for 15 to 20 minutes. Then, fill your croissants with pastry cream using a piping bag fitted with a small tip.
Fruits and Nutella
Now, if you want to pair your fruits with something more decadent than pastry cream, how about Nutella? Bananas, peaches, and strawberries all taste so good with the sweet spread. Slice your croissant in half and fill it with your favorite fruits and a layer of Nutella for a phenomenal breakfast.
Brie and Jam
Brie and jam in a croissant? It’s that irresistible combo of sweet, salty, and creamy that I can’t get enough of! To make, spread a layer of jam on your triangle dough. Add a layer of cheese and roll that dough up. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or just until you see that cheese ooze out of the pastry.
Cinnamon and Sugar
Think cinnamon rolls here. To make a stunning filling, combine pecans, brown sugar, powdered sugar, ground cinnamon, and softened butter. Spread a layer of this filling onto your dough, roll it up, and bake.
Savory Stuffings
Hotdogs
Traditionalists may roll their eyes at us for this, but don’t mind them, they’re just jealous they can’t have this delicious treat! Hotdog-stuffed croissants are basically your pigs in a blanket, but there’s nothing basic about the taste at all. Instead of just regular hotdogs, feel free to experiment with other sausages as well. To make, place a small hotdog or sausage on the widest end of the dough triangle, and roll. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes and enjoy.
Bacon
If there’s one thing in the world that can make everything better, it’s bacon. Don’t believe me? Well, add a strip or two of bacon into your croissant and tell me I’m wrong.
Chicken Parmesan
While chicken parmigiana is usually served as a pasta dish, there is no law that states you can’t use it as a croissant stuffing. In fact, there should be a law that requires you to try it out at least once in your life. To make, just top your croissant dough with a slice of chicken parmesan and roll it up. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes and enjoy as is or covered with marinara sauce.
Eggs
An egg sandwich is good, but a croissant sandwich is to die for. Just top a triangle of dough with a perfectly scrambled egg, roll it, and bake it! Wait for 20 minutes and devour.
Meatballs
Meatball crois-sub, anyone? A croissant makes a great vessel for ground meat dishes such as meatballs and meatloaf. To make, just place a meatball or a slice of meatloaf on the widest end of the dough triangle and roll the dough up. Bake until golden brown and Voila, you’ve just created a masterpiece.
Pepperoni
As a pizza topping, pepperoni is a classic. But as a croissant filling? It’s a delicious innovation! Make a pizza croissant by slathering some marinara sauce on your triangle of dough. Layer with pepperoni and top with shredded mozzarella. Pop it in the oven and enjoy.
Pesto
All it takes is basil, olive oil, nuts, cheese, and salt and pepper to make pesto. Make this classic dressing and you will definitely be rewarded! But aside from coating your pasta with pesto, how about spreading that goodness on a croissant?
Caramelized Onion and Goat Cheese
Whether you add this combo to your croissant pre- or post-baking, it will not disappoint. Caramelize your onions by sauteeing it over medium heat in olive oil. Season it with salt and pepper, and just let it sit there until it softens. Now, add those sweet onions and goat cheese on your dough, roll, and bake!
Feta and Spinach
These two simple elements, when combined, make such a mouthwatering filling. Place a spoonful of feta and spinach filling on your dough triangle and roll away. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes for a spanakopita-inspired croissant.
Mozzarella and Basil
For an Austrian-French-Italian fusion, make a pizza croissant! Stuff your dough with fresh basil and mozzarella, roll it up, and bake!
Garlic and Cheese
Cheese on a croissant is already fantastic as is, but add some garlic and butter to that and you get an explosion of flavors! So here’s how you do it: saute some chopped garlic for 3 to 5 minutes. Then slather some butter on that pastry dough. Next, sprinkle the sauteed garlic on top of the butter. Then some mozzarella cheese and parsley. Roll that beauty up and bake. Stunning.
Ham and Cheese
A classic combination that never fails to disappoint. It’s so easy to incorporate into your croissant, too! Just add a layer of ham and cheese onto your pastry dough and roll it up. You may use whatever cheese you like, but I prefer Gruyere with my croissants. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes to get a lovely croissant-wich. Click on a star to rate it!
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