Almond croissant hack

Posted: October 22, 2024 Updated: October 22, 2024

This quick and easy hack (barely a recipe!) will have you eating your own almond croissant fresh from the oven in under thirty minutes.

Almond croissants are so delicious, but even if you’re not on a gluten free diet like I am, they can get expensive. Once you’re buying them for a few people it really adds up.

So whether you want to keep costs down or it’s just impossible to find an almond croissant nearby, this is for you!

My first almond croissant

My first almond croissant was actually a gluten free one, and it was only in 2022! I don’t think I ever ate one before going gluten free.

To be honest back then croissants never really appealed to me? Just sort of butter and air. 🤷

But that changed in 2022 when I lived in Sydney and was able to visit Sebastien sans Gluten in Leichhardt. If you live in Sydney and you haven’t been, you absolutely need make a visit.

So the first almond croissant I ate was a bit of a dud… why? I got given a chocolate filled one by mistake! I know most people would love this, but for me chocolate in pastry is too much. Gilding the lily, as they say.

The next one I got though, was fresh from the oven, made by Sebastien himself. It was perfection, I finally understood what people were raving about (gluten free or otherwise).

But what do you do for your gluten free almond croissant fix if you don’t live in Sydney?

Almond croissant hack

It was actually on my trip to Finland over Christmas in 2023 that I learned about this almond croissant hack. Our friends had made some the day before after seeing videos on social media.

It had never occurred to me that an almond croissant is a regular croissant that is cut in half, filled and then rebaked.

I had always assumed it had it’s own special recipe and method to get the almond filling inside.

I set a mental note in my head that I must try this back in Australia, however like many of my cooking goals, it gathered dust in the back of my mind.

Supermarket ingredients you’ll need for almond croissant hack

It wasn’t until October (10 months later!) when I was in Woolworths for my weekly supermarket specials posts on Facebook that I came across a stand with discounted gluten free croissants.

I thought to myself, “Yes! Get those for the croissant hack you want to do.”

My inner monologue then reminded me that I’ve already got croissants in the freezer waiting. 😅

But with terrible weather forecast for the following day I decided it was time. I checked what ingredients I would need and set about finding them in the store.

Almond croissant hack ingredients

Almond croissants can come together at home with just

• Croissants
• Almond meal
• Flaked almonds
• Egg
• Caster sugar
• Icing sugar
• Vanilla extract

Some ingredients are harder to find without a may contain warning for gluten. I’ve posted links to the products so it’s easier.

For supermarket croissants the only gluten free ones you’ll find are from Woolworths. You can also buy plain croissants (including vegan ones) from Glutenfree4u stores around the country.

When it comes to the filling you may encounter may contain warnings for gluten on the nut products. I bought mine at Woolies. For almond flakes the Woolworths and Lucky brands are suitable.

I also got the almond meal at Woolworths, the Macro brand is tested gluten free but it’s very expensive. I was able to get a 150g bag which doesn’t have a may contain for gluten. Oddly the online listing shows it does, but I think it’s out of date. McKenzie also do an almond flour but it’s a bit expensive.

Don’t go to Coles, both the Coles home brand and Sunbeam almond meal and almond flakes have may contain warnings for gluten. 🙅

Caster sugar should be gluten free no problems. I understand historically icing sugar wasn’t – now I see why, there’s starch in some products! Thankfully these days, the starch that’s included in some brands is tapioca (naturally gluten free). I can’t remember which brand I’ve bought, I think CSR.

Similarly, vanilla extract should always be gluten free. I have Queen in my pantry!

Tips, tricks, variations

Firstly, don’t worry about the consistency of your frangipane (almond mix). I put mine together following a frangipane recipe I’d come across and it was so goopy! It didn’t look like a paste at all. 😅

I think the issue was that my butter… isn’t actually pure butter! I had never looked, but it’s Lurpack spreadable which it turns out is 23% canola oil. Oil of course is much more fluid at room temperature.

It’s either that or the egg. Australians tend to buy large egg sizes, a lot bigger than what you’d find in the UK or US.

So, either use a small egg, or half a beaten egg to get a thicker, paste consistency. But, if it’s liquidy like mine was, it still works beautifully. The only issue I had was the frangipane dribbling down the top of the croissant – not a bad thing at all. 😁

But if you want a thicker consistency, simply add extra almond meal.

If a chocolate almond croissant has piqued your interest, give it a go! Add in a few chocolate chips or buttons after the layer of frangipane. When it’s out of the oven give it a dusting of cocoa and icing sugar to complete the look.

Leftover frangipane

While this recipe makes a small amount of almond frangipane, it’s actually quite a lot for two little croissants.

Because of the egg I wouldn’t recommend freezing leftover mix or storing it in the fridge for too long.

Buuuuuuut, you can make yourself another delicious treat with the leftovers. My husband demanded a pun name for it, and my friend came up with the goods – frangi-pan.

All you need to do is toast a slice of bread, spread the frangipane on top, sprinkle with almond flakes and bake in the oven just like you did with the croissants. Hey presto, almond croissant vibes without croissants!

Want more fun and easy breakfast recipes? I actually have a few! Check out these cute baked egg cups (great for bread with holes in it). Or if you need another amazing hack make some Maccas style sausage and egg muffins!

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