The Secret Trick to Better Croutons
It’s hard to beat the buttery flavor and layered, flaky swirls of a freshly baked croissant from your favorite bakery. Maybe you’re dunking the pastry into a frothy cappuccino. Or you're digging into a flaky breakfast sandwich piled high with eggs, ham, and cheese. Whatever the case, one thing is for certain: croissants are a universally beloved treat.
However, like many baked goods, croissants are delicate and prone to staling. They’re not like cakes and quick breads, which will retain their flavor and texture for several days after they’re baked due to their high sugar content. Croissants are fleeting and tend to taste best the day they’re made. However, a day-old croissant doesn’t need to be wasted. Instead, take a cue from TikTok creator @nutrition_by_megan and turn your fluffy pastries into crispy croutons. Your salads will never be the same (and there will never be such thing as too many croissants).
View the original article to see embedded media.
Why Turn Croissants Into Croutons
Turning leftover croissants into crunchy salad toppers is a great way to give new life to the pastries that were once layered and buttery, but have taken a turn to become soft and chewy. All of the butter inside the pastry helps them turn into super crisp, golden croutons without any additional oil.
And the signature croissant layers will loosen up in the oven, creating deep and crunchy nooks and crannies to soak up your favorite salad dressing.
Related: I Tried Ina Garten's Tomato Soup With Grilled Cheese Croutons
The Best Kind of Croissant for Croutons
A classic butter croissant will produce the flakiest croutons with a blank-slate flavor to pair with your other salad mix-ins and favorite salad dressing. But if you come across a croissant flavored with everything seasoning or another spice blend, that will add an additional pop of savory flavor too.
Sweet croissants, such as chocolate or almond, may not make the best croutons for a salad. The higher sugar content can make the pastries more likely to burn. Of course, if sweet croissants are all that you have, you shouldn't feel discouraged to try this hack. Simply use a lower temperature and keep a close eye on them when you crisp them in the oven. Dessert croissant croutons would be absolutely magnificent topped on an ice cream sundae.
Related: 32 Best Stuffed Croissants Recipes
The Best Way to Make Croissant Croutons
Because croissants are already extremely buttery, you don’t need to do much to turn them into salad toppings. Simply tear the pastries into bite-sized bits and arrange them in a baking dish or on a baking sheet. Tearing, rather than slicing the pastries with a knife, produces more jagged edges that crisp up nicely in the oven.
Space your crouton pieces out on the baking sheet so they brown evenly on all sides. Bake for about 10 minutes at 350°F, until they’re golden brown and crisp all over. Let the croutons cool for a few minutes before you add them to a salad to avoid wilting your greens.
How to Serve Croissant Croutons
Toss your crispy pastry bits onto any savory salad. Of course, croutons are a must on a traditional Caesar salad, but why not add some crunch to a Greek salad or really any salad you throw together with the contents of your crisper drawer? Truly, there are few salads that won’t benefit from the addition of golden croissant croutons!
