Kitchn Love Letters

I Can’t Stop Thinking About This Lidl Breakfast Pastry — And It’s Less than $1

Amanda Marikar
Amanda Marikar
Amanda is a versatile writer and editor, specializing in digital media and communications, with a background in the food industry and the arts. After more than a decade working front-of-house in Michelin star restaurants in NYC, she has parlayed her love of cuisine into food writing and styling, recipe development, and ambitious home cheffing. As the descendent of Sri Lankan and New England heritage, she’s cultivated a palate for spicy curries (the hotter the better), nostalgic treasures (tomato aspic!), and gastronomic adventure. Amanda is captivated by exploring culture through cuisine, and has an entire shelf in her refrigerator dedicated to hot sauce.
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published May 12, 2022
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I recently visited Lidl for the first time and, since I got back, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about a return trip. Known for its clean, minimalist vibe, intuitive layout, sustainable practices, and outstanding discounts, Lidl really shines with an array of private-label products, fresh produce, and weekly deals. But it’s the grocer’s bakery section that has me already planning my next pop-in.

Situated just past the entryway, Lidl’s on-site bakery lures shoppers in with the fragrance of European-style bread and pastries baked daily in-store. The shelves are overflowing with an abundance of crusty loaves, dimpled focaccia slices, chubby pretzel rolls, Portuguese egg tarts, sugar-kissed donuts, and more straight-from-the-oven delights. The pièce de résistance is the curved butter croissant.

Credit: Amanda Marikar

Lidl Curved Butter Croissant, $.69 for 1

Crispy! Flaky! Buttery! Hand picking a still-warm croissant out of the case with crinkly paper and tearing into its crisp pastry layers to reveal a cloud-like, steamy, tender interior, is one of life’s joys — like a pastry hug. It’s one of the best croissants that I’ve tasted this side of the Atlantic. The flaky crescent transported me to a Parisian café. All I was missing the café au lait. (Luckily, Lidl has that, too.)

On my next visit, I’ll enjoy one croissant à la minute and grab a bundle to take home. Leftover croissants are a blank slate of buttery possibilities. What do I have planned? I’m glad you asked.

Credit: Amanda Marikar

Have you tried next-day croissants as a vessel for chicken salad? A twist on avocado toast? The ultimate bacon, egg, and cheese? Day-old croissants can be cubed, toasted, and served over salad as croutons, or submerged in egg custard for cheesy stratas or sweet French toast. And if you like your brunch food on the sweeter side, they’re perfect for an extra-rich croissant bread pudding (perhaps studded with chocolate chunks).

Also, have you ever heard of croissant brittle? I hadn’t before. And now it’s on the top of my to-make list, along with Nigella Lawson’s recipe for something called French lasagne, which swaps croissants for noodles! So, needless to say, I’ll be picking up a few extras on my next trip to Lidl. 

Do you have a favorite grocery you buy at Lidl? Tell us in the comments below.

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