Syrup-Soaked Croissants
I started making these croissants on a Sunday when I was in the mood for something sweet but not too complicated. Since then, I've made them a few more times, especially because they stay soft even after a day or two. I fill them with whatever I have in the fridge – cheese, jam, even chocolate. If you're looking for something simple, this is the kind of recipe where you can't really go wrong, just follow the steps in order.
Quick Info
Total time: 3 hours
Preparation time: about 1 hour (including shaping and filling)
Rising time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Baking time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 40 croissants
Difficulty: easy to medium
Recipe type: dessert, ideal for breakfast or a snack, great for family or guests
Ingredients
300 ml milk
200 ml oil
100 g sugar
1 large cube of fresh yeast
4-5 eggs
flavors (to taste; vanilla essence, lemon or orange zest)
500 g flour
200 g jam or sweet cheese (for filling)
salt
Preparation Method
1. In a large bowl, combine the warm milk, sugar, and crumbled yeast. Stir gently and let it sit for a few minutes to activate the yeast.
2. Add the eggs (I usually use 4 eggs, but you can use 5 if they're smaller), oil, salt, and your preferred flavors. Mix until well combined.
3. Gradually add the flour, mixing with a spoon at first. Once the dough starts to come together, knead it by hand. It shouldn't be too soft or too hard. If it feels too sticky, add a little more flour, but not too much.
4. Cover the bowl with a clean towel and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour and a half. The dough should visibly increase in size, but don't stress if it doesn't double in volume.
5. Once the dough has risen, divide it into 5 roughly equal pieces.
6. Roll each piece into a circle. Cut each circle into 8 equal triangles.
7. Place a teaspoon of filling at the base of each triangle (I use sweet cheese, jam, or chocolate spread, whatever I have on hand). Roll each triangle from the base to the tip to form a croissant.
8. Arrange the croissants on a lined baking tray, leaving some space between them as they will expand in the oven. Repeat with all the pieces until you have 40 croissants.
9. Bake in a preheated oven at 200°C for about 1 hour and a half. Check after 1 hour to make sure they don’t burn; they should be golden brown, not dry.
10. In the meantime, make a simple syrup from water and sugar (the ratio is to taste, but it should be enough to soak all the croissants). Let the syrup come to a boil.
11. When the croissants are baked, dip them one by one into the hot syrup to soak well. Remove and let them drain on a rack.
12. Sprinkle with coconut on top if you have it or feel like using it.
Why I Make This Recipe Often
I love that the dough stays tender even after cooling. They pair well with any filling and hold up nicely for a day or two at room temperature without hardening or drying out. The recipe is simple and doesn’t require any special techniques.
Tips and Variations
Tips
Do not let the yeast come into direct contact with the salt, as it can inhibit fermentation.
If you don’t have time to let them rise for exactly 1 hour and 30 minutes, try not to shorten it too much, or they will turn out denser.
Croissants should be baked at medium to high heat, but check to ensure they don’t burn on the edges.
Let them cool a bit before soaking; they don’t need to be hot, but they shouldn’t be completely cold either.
Substitutions
You can use margarine instead of oil, but the texture will be slightly different.
For the filling, any thicker jam works, but avoid very runny jams.
If you don’t have fresh yeast, you can use dry yeast – just check the equivalencies on the package.
Variations
You can fill them with chocolate cream, Turkish delight, or even grated apples, but make sure they’re not too watery.
If you want, you can add orange or lemon zest to the dough for flavor.
The syrup can be flavored with vanilla or lemon.
Serving Ideas
They are good both warm and cold.
You can sprinkle them with coconut or powdered sugar after soaking.
They make a great snack or breakfast paired with a glass of milk.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I use whole wheat flour?
I don’t recommend it, as the dough becomes harder to knead and won't stay as fluffy. You can try a mix, but I haven't tested the ratios.
2. How do I check if the yeast is good?
When you add it to the warm milk with sugar, it should foam on the surface within 5-10 minutes. If not, use a different yeast.
3. What should I do if the dough is too sticky?
Add a little flour, but don’t overdo it. The dough should be soft but not runny.
4. How long do the croissants last after making them?
Stored at room temperature, covered, they last for two days without any problems.
5. Can I freeze the croissants?
I don’t recommend it, as they lose their soft and tender texture after thawing.
Nutritional Values
Approximately, for one croissant: about 130-150 kcal.
Carbohydrates: 20-25 g
Protein: 2-3 g
Fat: 4-5 g
The values are approximate and can vary depending on the type of filling used and how much syrup each croissant absorbs.
Storage and Reheating
Syrup-soaked croissants keep well at room temperature, covered, for up to two days. If you want to reheat them, you can microwave them for a few seconds. I don’t recommend freezing them, as the texture changes. If you have leftovers, you can place a piece of parchment paper between them to prevent sticking.
I started making these croissants on a Sunday when I was in the mood for something sweet but not too complicated. Since then, I've made them a few more times, especially because they stay soft even after a day or two. I fill them with whatever I have in the fridge – cheese, jam, even chocolate. If you're looking for something simple, this is the kind of recipe where you can't really go wrong, just follow the steps in order.
Quick Info
Total time: 3 hours
Preparation time: about 1 hour (including shaping and filling)
Rising time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Baking time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 40 croissants
Difficulty: easy to medium
Recipe type: dessert, ideal for breakfast or a snack, great for family or guests
Ingredients
300 ml milk
200 ml oil
100 g sugar
1 large cube of fresh yeast
4-5 eggs
flavors (to taste; vanilla essence, lemon or orange zest)
500 g flour
200 g jam or sweet cheese (for filling)
salt
Preparation Method
1. In a large bowl, combine the warm milk, sugar, and crumbled yeast. Stir gently and let it sit for a few minutes to activate the yeast.
2. Add the eggs (I usually use 4 eggs, but you can use 5 if they're smaller), oil, salt, and your preferred flavors. Mix until well combined.
3. Gradually add the flour, mixing with a spoon at first. Once the dough starts to come together, knead it by hand. It shouldn't be too soft or too hard. If it feels too sticky, add a little more flour, but not too much.
4. Cover the bowl with a clean towel and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour and a half. The dough should visibly increase in size, but don't stress if it doesn't double in volume.
5. Once the dough has risen, divide it into 5 roughly equal pieces.
6. Roll each piece into a circle. Cut each circle into 8 equal triangles.
7. Place a teaspoon of filling at the base of each triangle (I use sweet cheese, jam, or chocolate spread, whatever I have on hand). Roll each triangle from the base to the tip to form a croissant.
8. Arrange the croissants on a lined baking tray, leaving some space between them as they will expand in the oven. Repeat with all the pieces until you have 40 croissants.
9. Bake in a preheated oven at 200°C for about 1 hour and a half. Check after 1 hour to make sure they don’t burn; they should be golden brown, not dry.
10. In the meantime, make a simple syrup from water and sugar (the ratio is to taste, but it should be enough to soak all the croissants). Let the syrup come to a boil.
11. When the croissants are baked, dip them one by one into the hot syrup to soak well. Remove and let them drain on a rack.
12. Sprinkle with coconut on top if you have it or feel like using it.
Why I Make This Recipe Often
I love that the dough stays tender even after cooling. They pair well with any filling and hold up nicely for a day or two at room temperature without hardening or drying out. The recipe is simple and doesn’t require any special techniques.
Tips and Variations
Tips
Do not let the yeast come into direct contact with the salt, as it can inhibit fermentation.
If you don’t have time to let them rise for exactly 1 hour and 30 minutes, try not to shorten it too much, or they will turn out denser.
Croissants should be baked at medium to high heat, but check to ensure they don’t burn on the edges.
Let them cool a bit before soaking; they don’t need to be hot, but they shouldn’t be completely cold either.
Substitutions
You can use margarine instead of oil, but the texture will be slightly different.
For the filling, any thicker jam works, but avoid very runny jams.
If you don’t have fresh yeast, you can use dry yeast – just check the equivalencies on the package.
Variations
You can fill them with chocolate cream, Turkish delight, or even grated apples, but make sure they’re not too watery.
If you want, you can add orange or lemon zest to the dough for flavor.
The syrup can be flavored with vanilla or lemon.
Serving Ideas
They are good both warm and cold.
You can sprinkle them with coconut or powdered sugar after soaking.
They make a great snack or breakfast paired with a glass of milk.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I use whole wheat flour?
I don’t recommend it, as the dough becomes harder to knead and won't stay as fluffy. You can try a mix, but I haven't tested the ratios.
2. How do I check if the yeast is good?
When you add it to the warm milk with sugar, it should foam on the surface within 5-10 minutes. If not, use a different yeast.
3. What should I do if the dough is too sticky?
Add a little flour, but don’t overdo it. The dough should be soft but not runny.
4. How long do the croissants last after making them?
Stored at room temperature, covered, they last for two days without any problems.
5. Can I freeze the croissants?
I don’t recommend it, as they lose their soft and tender texture after thawing.
Nutritional Values
Approximately, for one croissant: about 130-150 kcal.
Carbohydrates: 20-25 g
Protein: 2-3 g
Fat: 4-5 g
The values are approximate and can vary depending on the type of filling used and how much syrup each croissant absorbs.
Storage and Reheating
Syrup-soaked croissants keep well at room temperature, covered, for up to two days. If you want to reheat them, you can microwave them for a few seconds. I don’t recommend freezing them, as the texture changes. If you have leftovers, you can place a piece of parchment paper between them to prevent sticking.