Recently I attended a food and writing retreat where one of the participants wrote an entire essay about the morning she baked a chocolate croissant from Trader Joe’s frozen foods section. She had a particularly sensuous writing style and by the end of her reading, I was quite taken with the picture of a hot croissant pulled fresh from my oven and eaten in bed while the morning fog beat at the windows.
So, you know, I thought I’d give it a try.
Leaving aside the fact that you have to plan ahead by putting the frozen croissant out on the counter the night before, it was indeed a perfect experience. The pastry defrosted and poofed up during the night, baking up crisp and golden in the oven the following morning. And nothing beats biting into a warm, slightly yeasty pastry and having it dissolve into a melted bittersweet pool of chocolate in your mouth.
Well, almost nothing.
(Image: Dana)
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
Oh drat. I was hoping for a recipe to make this delicious treat rather than a recommendation to go buy a pre-packaged frozen bakery item. *sigh*
view The Green Cat's profile
Food & writing conferences! Where? When?
view MarmaladeInk's profile
The Green Cat--I hear you! But in my experience, making croissants from scratch at home is quite a lot of work and the results are often iffy. It really is an art! A long time ago I worked in a bakery where croissants are made and saw how much support (lots of helpful equipment and several shifts of brawny bakers) was needed to make them. Ever since then I've given up on it as homemade treat. So yes, the frozen version is a compromise, but the fact that you bake it at home in your own oven helps a lot.
Marmalade Ink--The retreat was called Food, Memory and Words, held this past June at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center in California. It was led by Deborah Madison and it was amazing. I don't think they will be offering it again until next year but you can get on their mailing list.
Dana V
view Dana V's profile
I've seen the frozen croissants at my local TJs-given I love chocolate croissants but have no desire to bake my own, are they worth it?
view rosebud's profile
The retreat sounds wonderful: words food Deborah Madison Zen center? sounds heavenly!
I also thought this might be a recipe on how to make chocolate croissants. :(
view Eliza's profile
the plus signs got lost in my above post. Sorry it looks so odd!
view Eliza's profile
Just go to Epicurious if you must have a recipe! Though I can think of nothing less relaxing in the morning...This is one case where the bakery/frozen section is truly my friend.
view cmcinnyc's profile
The Green Cat, Eliza--
Pain au Chocolat, or Chocolate croissants, are very time consuming ( around 3 days from scratch) and very very difficult to make in a home kitchen. unless you have a bakers block table. I make them on a daily basis and let me tell you, it would probably be easier to go to a bakery and buy some or try the trader joes croissants.
view redmolly's profile
my shortcut to chocolate croissants: pre-made puff pastry from Pepperidge farm (I actually keep boxes of this on hand and use them frequently) cut it into the size you like (you'll be folding it over at the end or rolling it up so keep that in mind) smear with nutella. Fold/roll. Pop in oven for 10-12 minutes. Enjoy. Yum.
I might go have one now....
view EmmieB's profile
I was hoping for a recipe too. i guess this is better to just look at the picture and be tempted, but its torture!
view Hexstatic in Montreal's profile
I have no problem throwing some TJ choco croissants in the oven, but where-oh-where does that awesome plate holding the flaky croissant remnants come from?? I love the sun and the peeks at the landscape!
view hopacita's profile
Williams Sonoma has great frozen ones- in chocolate, standard and mini. Same thaw the night before and bake in the morning. They area family tradition for Christmas. Bet Trader Joes are cheaper!
view ayjohnson's profile
My roommate and I LOVE these TJ's chocolate crossaints- better than most you find at bakeries even. And they're cheap!
view lz's profile