Easy Almond Croissants (Bakery-Style with Store-Bought Croissants)

These Easy Almond Croissants transform buttery store-bought croissants into a bakery-worthy treat with minimal effort. Filled with rich almond cream and topped with sliced almonds, they’re crisp on the outside, soft on the inside and packed with sweet almond flavour.

This recipe is perfect for brunch, holiday mornings, afternoon coffee or whenever you want an impressive pastry without making croissant dough from scratch. Using Costco croissants keeps this recipe simple while delivering delicious bakery-style results. My Mom asked me to make this for her birthday instead of a cake! I think you’ll like this recipe!

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What are Easy Almond Croissants?

Almond croissants are classic French pastries traditionally made by filling day-old croissants with frangipane (almond cream), then baking them until golden and crisp. The filling becomes soft and rich while the croissant develops an irresistibly flaky exterior.

This recipe of mine uses a shortcut version of buttery Costco croissants, making it easy to recreate a bakery favourite at home in 30 minutes.

Here’s Why You Will Love Easy Almond Croissants

• Bakery-quality with minimal effort: Store-bought croissants save hours of work while still producing beautiful, flaky pastries.
• Rich almond flavour: The homemade almond cream is buttery, nutty and just slightly sweet without being overpowering.
• Great for entertaining:These croissants look elegant enough for brunches, Mother’s Day, Easter, Christmas morning or special breakfasts. I even made this for my office gathering.

Equipment and Tools to Make Easy Almond Croissants

Mixing bowl

Hand mixer or whisk

Rubber spatula

Serrated knife

Baking sheet

Parchment paper

Cooling rack

Ingredients

Alright, let’s make our shopping list! To make this recipe, you will need…

Large buttery croissants: Day old Costco croissants work perfectly because they’re large, buttery, and hold plenty of filling. There are some store bought croissants that are made with lard or margarine. Those are not as crispy. Make sure you buy croissants made with butter!

Sugar: I use both white and brown sugar. Sweetens the almond cream.

Egg: Provides structure and richness.

Unsalted butter: Creates a rich, creamy filling.

Almond flour: Adds authentic almond flavour and a soft texture.

All-purpose flour: Helps stabilize the filling while baking.

Sliced almonds: Adds crunch and beautiful presentation. I buy the ones with almond skin still on them. They are prettier!

Vanilla extract: Rounds out the sweetness in my simple syrup.

How to Make Easy Almond Croissants

Let’s make this dish!

Prepare the oven. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Make the simple syrup. Heat the sugar, water and vanilla until dissolved. Allow it to cool before using.

Assemble the almond frangipane. Beat together the eggs and sugars until light and fluffy. Stream in the melted butter and mix well. Gently fold in almond flour, flour and sliced almonds.

Prepare the croissaints. Using a serrated knife, slice each croissant in half horizontally. Brush the inside of each croissant with simple syrup. Spread a generous layer of almond frangipane over each bottom half before closing them. Spread another thin layer over the tops of each croissant and sprinkle generously with sliced almonds. Bake for 20 minutes until the almond filling is lightly golden and the croissants are crisp.

Easy Almond Croissants Options and Substitutions

Want to mix things up with this recipe? Feel free to…

• Use almond meal instead of almond flour for a slightly more rustic texture.
• Add orange zest to the almond cream for a fresh citrus flavour.
• Mix mini chocolate chips into the filling.
• Add 1 tsp almond extract for an extra flavour boost.
• Dust generously with powdered sugar on cooled croissants.

Storage and Reheating Tips

These croissants are best eaten day of. Store leftover almond croissants in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Reheat in a 325°F oven for 6 minutes or in an air fryer for 3 minutes to restore their crispness.

Avoid microwaving, as it softens the flaky layers.

Make Ahead Options

Prepare the almond cream up to 3 days in advance and refrigerate.

You can also assemble the croissants the night before, cover them, refrigerate and bake fresh the next morning.

Recipe Tips

Use day-old croissants for the most authentic bakery texture.

It’s okay to overfill the croissants. The filling will bake into a delicious pastry!

Melted butter creates the smoothest almond frangipane.

A light coating of simple syrup on the croissant exterior helps recreate the moist texture found in French bakeries.

Dust with powdered sugar only after the croissants have cooled slightly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do Easy Almond Croissants taste like? The pastry is buttery, flaky and crispy while the rich almond cream filling is perfectly sweet, nutty and lightly fragrant.

Can I freeze almond croissants? Yes. Freeze after baking for up to 2 months. Reheat directly from frozen in a 325°F oven until warmed through.

Do I have to use Costco croissants? No. Any large butter croissants from your local bakery or grocery store will work well.

Why are almond croissants made from day-old croissants? Traditional bakeries repurpose day-old croissants by filling them with almond cream and baking them again, creating the delicious pastry many people know and love.

Hungry for More Costco Croissant Recipes?

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Lastly, if you make my Easy Almond Croissants be sure to leave a comment or give this recipe a star rating! I love to hear from you guys and respond to each and every comment. Also, don’t forget to tag me @cookwith.chopsticks and #cookwithchopsticks on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you have made makes me sooooo happy! You can also follow along on YouTube, TikTok, Facebook and Pinterest.