Classic French Almond Croissants

By Rebecca Franklin

Updated 04/04/18

Croissant with almond cream
The Picture Pantry / Getty Images
Ratings (8)
  • Total: 3 hrs 15 mins
  • Prep: 3 hrs
  • Cook: 15 mins
  • Yield: 20 croissants (20 servings)
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
182 Calories
15g Fat
9g Carbs
3g Protein
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Any classic French breakfast must include a croissant. Serve them with jam, maybe even a little cheese. But, for a genuinely sweet way to start the day make it an almond croissant. 

This almond croissant recipe is the classic version of the breakfast pastry with a sweet almond filling or frangipane swirled throughout the dough and topped with toasted almonds baked right into the top. 

Ingredients

  • 4 teaspoons instant dried yeast
  • 1/2 cup water (lukewarm)
  • 3 1/2 cups bread flour (strong)
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/3 cup sugar (granulated)
  • 3 tablespoons butter (melted and cooled)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 cup butter (softened)
  • 1/2 cup frangipane (or sweet almond filling)
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 1/3 cup ​almonds (sliced)​​​​
  • 2 tablespoons powdered sugar

Steps to Make It

  1. Dissolve the yeast in the warm water for 5 minutes. Add the bread flour, milk, sugar, melted butter, and salt to the dissolved yeast and water and mix the dough on medium speed for about 2 minutes. If the dough is too sticky, add 1 tablespoon of extra flour at a time, until the dough is just firm enough to hold a shape.

  2. Shape dough into a ball and loosely cover it with plastic wrap. Allow it to rest at room temperature for 30 minutes.

  3. Roll the dough into a 10-inch by 15-inch rectangle, and then cover it loosely and allow it to rise for 40 minutes.

  4. Brush the rectangle with the softened butter and then fold the dough into thirds, like a letter. Roll the long, thin rectangle back into the original 10-inch by 15 shapes.

  5. Fold the dough into thirds, again, and then cover the dough with plastic wrap and allow it to rest in the refrigerator for 1 hour. Repeat this process one more time.

  6. Using a sharp knife, cut the dough diagonally to make 20 triangles.

  7. Pull the tip of each triangle taut, spread a small spoonful of frangipane across each triangle, and then roll the croissants up from the base curving the ends slightly to make a crescent shape.

  8. Arrange each finished croissant on a lightly greased baking sheet with at least 1 1/2 inches between each pastry. Cover them loosely with plastic wrap and allow them to rise for 45 minutes to 1 hour until they are nearly doubled in size.

  9. Preheat the oven to 375 F.

  10. Whisk the egg and 2 tablespoons milk together to make an egg wash.

  11. Brush the egg wash across the surface of each pastry and then sprinkle them with the sliced almonds.

  12. Bake the croissants for 14 to 16 minutes, until they are puffed and golden brown and the almonds are toasted.

  13. Sprinkle the powdered sugar over the tops of the warm croissants.

Notes

Like all croissants, they are best eaten fresh. They do not keep well and the almond version is no exception. You may manage a second day if you gently warm them in a hot oven for about 5 minutes.