Caramel Apple Croissants are just the thing for a cozy fall breakfast or a sweet treat any time of year.
Imagine the flaky layers of a buttery croissant, filled with tender, spiced apples and drizzled with sweet caramel. It’s a delightful combination of textures and flavors.
I find that this is a perfect dessert that is not that difficult to make!
Recipe Overview: Caramel Apple Goodness
These Caramel Apple Croissants are essentially little hand pies, combining the best parts of an apple pie and a croissant.
They’re warm, comforting, and have that perfect balance of sweet and slightly tart.
You can serve these beauties for breakfast, brunch, or even as a dessert with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
They’re also great for potlucks or bake sales because they’re easy to transport and everyone loves them.
And if you have any leftovers, they’re a great treat with your morning coffee.
Detailed Ingredients for Caramel Apple Croissant
Here’s what you’ll need to make these delicious treats:
- Croissants: 6 large, store-bought croissants. You want them to be day-old, if possible, as they’ll hold their shape better.
- Apples: 2 medium apples. I like to use Honeycrisp or Gala, but any baking apple will work. Granny Smith is a good choice if you prefer a tarter flavor.
- Brown Sugar: 1/4 cup, packed. This adds sweetness and a hint of molasses flavor to the apple filling.
- Butter: 2 tablespoons, unsalted. This helps to sauté the apples and create a rich filling.
- Cinnamon: 1 teaspoon, ground. A classic spice that pairs perfectly with apples.
- Nutmeg: 1/4 teaspoon, ground. Adds a warm, nutty flavor.
- Salt: A pinch. Enhances the sweetness of the filling.
- Caramel Sauce: 1/2 cup. You can use store-bought or homemade caramel sauce.
- Optional Toppings: Powdered sugar, for dusting. A sprinkle of chopped pecans or walnuts would also be delicious.
- Possible Substitution: If you can’t find croissants, try using puff pastry sheets. You’ll need to cut them into squares or rectangles.
Step-by-Step Instructions: Making Your Caramel Apple Croissants
Let’s get baking! Here’s how to make these delightful pastries:
- Prepare the Apples: Peel, core, and dice your apples into small, bite-sized pieces. You want them to be about 1/2 inch in size.
- Cook the Apple Filling: In a medium skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the diced apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the apples are softened but not mushy, about 5-7 minutes. They should still have a little bit of bite to them.
- Prepare the Croissants: Gently slice each croissant horizontally, almost all the way through, but leaving a small “hinge” on one side. Be careful not to cut all the way through.
- Fill the Croissants: Spoon the warm apple filling evenly into each croissant. Don’t overfill them, or the filling will spill out during baking.
- Bake: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the filled croissants on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the croissants are golden brown and heated through. The filling should be bubbly.
- Drizzle with Caramel: Once out of the oven, let the croissants cool slightly on the baking sheet for a few minutes. Then, generously drizzle each croissant with caramel sauce.
- Add Toppings (Optional): If desired, dust the croissants with powdered sugar or sprinkle with chopped nuts.
- Serve Warm and enjoy these sweet caramel apple croissants.
Variations & Tips for the Perfect Caramel Apple Croissant
- Spice it Up: Feel free to add a pinch of cardamom or allspice to the apple filling for extra warmth and flavor.
- Make-Ahead: You can prepare the apple filling a day ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator. You can also assemble the croissants a few hours in advance and keep them covered in the fridge until ready to bake.
- Storage: Leftover croissants can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Reheating: To reheat, warm the croissants in a 300°F (150°C) oven for 5-10 minutes, or until heated through. You can also microwave them for about 20-30 seconds, but they may lose some of their crispiness.
- Serving Suggestion: A dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream would be a perfect accompaniment to these warm, gooey croissants.
Key Details
- Prep time: 15 minutes
- Cook time: 20 minutes
- Total time: 35 minutes
- Servings: 6 servings
- Equipment you’ll need: Medium skillet, baking sheet, parchment paper, knife, spoon
Caramel Apple Croissant
Flaky croissants filled with tender, spiced apples and drizzled with sweet caramel, perfect for a cozy fall breakfast or a sweet treat any time of year.
Ingredients
- 6 large croissants
- 2 medium apples Honeycrisp or Gala
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- Pinch of salt
- 1/2 cup caramel sauce
- Powdered sugar optional
- Chopped pecans or walnuts optional
Instructions
- Peel, core, and dice apples into small pieces.
- Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Cook until apples are softened but not mushy, about 5-7 minutes.
- Slice each croissant horizontally, leaving a hinge.
- Spoon warm apple filling into each croissant.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake croissants on parchment-lined baking sheet for 10-12 minutes, until golden brown.
- Drizzle generously with caramel sauce.
- Dust with powdered sugar or nuts if desired. Serve warm.
