Description

Almond Croissant Muffins, also known as Cruffins, are a delightful hybrid of flaky croissants and tender muffins. These treats feature layered puff pastry rolled with a sweet almond filling and baked in muffin tins to achieve golden, buttery perfection. Finished with a dusting of powdered sugar and topped with slivered almonds, cruffins are perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dessert, offering a luxurious bakery-style pastry experience at home.

Ingredients

Scale

Almond Filling

⅓ cup almond flour
¼ cup granulated sugar
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 egg yolk
½ teaspoon almond extract

Puff Pastry and Toppings

1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour (for rolling)
2 tablespoons sliced almonds
Powdered sugar for dusting

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Instructions

Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease or line a standard 6-cup muffin tin to prevent sticking.
Make the Almond Filling: In a small bowl, combine the almond flour, granulated sugar, softened butter, egg yolk, and almond extract. Mix thoroughly until the mixture becomes smooth and creamy, ensuring all ingredients are well blended to create a rich almond spread.
Roll Out the Puff Pastry: Lightly flour a clean surface and roll out the thawed puff pastry into a 12×10-inch rectangle. This provides enough surface area to spread the filling evenly and roll the pastry tightly.
Spread the Filling: Evenly spread the almond filling mixture over the entire surface of the rolled puff pastry, ensuring full coverage to infuse flavor into every layer.
Form the Log: Starting from the long side of the pastry rectangle, tightly roll the pastry and filling into a log shape. This tight rolling helps create the distinctive layered texture.
Slice for Muffins: Carefully slice the log in half lengthwise, then cut each half into three equal pieces. You will end up with six strips, ready to be shaped into muffin-sized spirals.
Shape and Place in Muffin Tin: Take each strip and roll it into a spiral, exposing the flaky layers. Place each spiral into a prepared muffin cup, arranging them so they hold their shape during baking.
Add Toppings: Sprinkle sliced almonds over the tops of each spiral to add crunch and an appealing finish.
Bake: Bake the cruffins in the preheated oven for 22 to 25 minutes, or until they are golden brown and puffed, indicating the pastry is fully cooked and flaky.
Cool and Finish: Remove the muffins from the oven and let them cool slightly in the pan. Then dust each cruffin with powdered sugar for a classic, sweet finish before serving.

Notes

For extra flavor and shine, brush the cruffins with simple syrup immediately after baking.
These pastries are best enjoyed fresh on the day they are made for optimal flakiness.
Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 days to maintain freshness.
Reheat briefly in the oven to restore crispness before serving.