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Easy Chocolate Croissants

Easy Chocolate Croissants – Use store bought puff pastry to make these flaky homemade croissants filled with chocolate in no time. 

When we were in France a couple years ago we all fell in love with croissants and French pastries.  We even took a croissant baking class and learned how to make them from scratch.  They were over the top buttery, flaky and delicious. Sometimes you just need a little shortcut so you can get to enjoy them again!  That is where these come in.  

Take a shortcut and use store bought puff pastry to make these chocolate croissants in just minutes

 

Store bought puff pastry dough is the perfect shortcut to make croissants in just minutes.  All you have to do is let the dough thaw and then roll.  Couldn’t be much easier.  It might not be the exact same buttery taste that you get in France, but it will rival almost any croissant you can find in the US.

Can I Use Croissant Dough Instead of Puff Pastry

Yes, the recipe will work and they will puff up.  There aren’t quite the same layers in package croissant dough as there is puff pastry, so they won’t be nearly as flaky.  But they will still be buttery and delicious. 

Pain au chocolat are such a great French treat. These take a little shortcut with puff pastry but are still super flaky and delicious

If you want to make chocolate croissants from scratch you can just follow the recipe I posted for Homemade Croissants after our class in Paris.  It has all the tips and tricks you need to make the perfect croissant dough. To make chocolate croissants in France they use sticks of dark chocolate.  Back in the US I have never been able to find those same sticks.  So I like to break up pieces of dark chocolate, use chocolate chips, or even spread a little Nutella in the center.  Any form of chocolate works.  

In France Pain au Chocolate are rolled out of rectangle dough and not triangles like traditional croissants.  So that is what I did with these.  And just look at all those flaky layers!  Trust me you will not be disappointed using this short cut. 

Flaky croissants filled with chocolate

How to Make Chocolate Croissants

  1. Thaw the puff pastry dough for about 40-45 minutes.  You want it to sill be very cold, but be able to unfold and work with.  
  2. Cut each sheet along the fold lines, and then in half the other direction.  So you will have a total 6 rectangles for each sheet of puff pastry.  
  3. Place about 1 oz of chocolate along the edge of the dough.  You can use whatever your favorite chocolate is.  Then just roll and place on a lined baking sheet.  
  4. Gently brush each croissant with an egg wash and then bake until golden brown and flaky. 
  5. Once they have cooled for a few minutes dust with powdered sugar.

Easy Chocolate Croissants - Use store bought puff pastry to make these flaky homemade croissants filled with chocolate in no time. 

Croissants are best served the same day.  Unfortunately they are not something you can really make ahead or even freeze.  So if you just want a few, use only one sheet of puff pastry dough.  Save the other sheet in the freezer for when your cravings strike again. 

More Chocolate Dessert Recipes to Try

Yield: 12

Easy Chocolate Croissants

Easy Chocolate Croissants - Use store bought puff pastry to make these flaky homemade croissants filled with chocolate in no time. 

Easy Chocolate Croissants - Use store bought puff pastry to make these flaky homemade croissants filled with chocolate in no time. 

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Additional Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 package puff pastry (2 sheets)
  • 3/4 cup nutella or 12 oz of dark chocolate
  • 1 Tbsp powdered sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 Tbsp water

Instructions

    1. Thaw puff pastry for about 40 minutes, until it unfolds easily, but is still very cold.  
    2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
    3. Cut each sheet into thirds along the fold lines, and then in half the other directions.  You will have 6 equal rectangles for each sheet.  
    4. Place about a tablespoon of Nutella or 1 oz of any other chocolate along the base of each rectangle.  Roll up over the chocolate and place onto a lined baking sheet.  
    5. Beat egg and water together. Gently brush over each croissant.
    6. Bake for 15-18 minutes until golden brown. 
    7. Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes before dusting with powdered sugar

Nutrition Information

Yield

12

Serving Size

1

Amount Per Serving Calories 112Total Fat 6gSaturated Fat 4gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 2gCholesterol 16mgSodium 24mgCarbohydrates 12gFiber 1gSugar 8gProtein 2g

Nutrition Disclaimer: All information presented on this site is intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information shared on dinnersdishesanddesserts.com should only be used as a general guideline.

Did you make this recipe?

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Erin S
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Frannie in The True North

Friday 7th of April 2023

Love your recipes! Wondering if dark chocolate chips would work in this pain au chocolat version. Not sure if they'd melt properly. Thank you

Erin S

Sunday 9th of April 2023

Yes, they should work great

Deseree

Tuesday 21st of April 2020

I will love this any time of day! I can't wait to give this a try soon.

Jacque Hastert

Tuesday 21st of April 2020

Perfect for anyone who loves Nutella! This is one delicious idea for breakfast, brunch, or dessert.

Toni

Sunday 19th of April 2020

This was really amazing! My kids can't stop eating this!

Catalina

Saturday 18th of April 2020

I would like to wake up with these delicious nutella croissants!

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