Croissants are famous for their delicate, fluffy, overlapping, flaky layers, so the idea of smashing them might sound downright blasphemous. The French cuisine purists may cringe, but it’s worth a gamble, especially if it means turning your store-bought or homemade croissants into ultra-crispy treats you can use to make all new dishes.
To create your crunchy croissants, start by rolling out the airy pastries with a rolling pin. Then, saute the croissants in a skillet with some cooking oil. To maximize your treats, drizzle them with honey or sugar, or sprinkle a punch of cinnamon or sea salt over their tops, and add some weight on top so they come out crispy, paper-thin, and caramelized. In the end, you’ll wind up with a buttery, sweet disc with plenty of extra texture.
Once you have completed your croissants, feel free to eat them fresh out of the pan. However, if you’d like to take things a bit further, we have some tasty ideas.
How to use your perfect flattened croissants
Although these crunchy croissants will taste great one by one, you can use two to create a phenomenal sandwich. Just remember to let the croissants cool slightly before adding your fillings.
Ice cream is a heavenly filling for your sugary sandwich, be it classic vanilla, strawberry, or rich chocolate. Speaking of chocolate, creamy Nutella is a delightful pairing, giving a crisp-ified twist on a standard chocolate croissant. You can slather your croissant disks with peanut butter and banana slices, or even marshmallow fluff for a sticky sugary bite. If you want something a bit fresher, try layering in fresh berries and whipped cream for a more delicate, fruity treat. Or, on the other end of the spectrum, you can try a sweet-and-salty combo by pairing your flattened croissants with prosciutto, some creamy Brie, or aged cheddar and apple slices.
If you’d rather go for something a bit simpler, a dip and some toppings can be a fun idea. Whether using chocolate sauce to adhere sprinkles or caramel for sea salt, there are plenty of delicious combinations to be had.
