The Most Brilliant Use for Costco Croissants Is Not a Breakfast

One of the best deals at Costco is undoubtedly its giant container of fresh, buttery croissants. My local warehouse sells a dozen for just $7.95, which means each croissant costs just 66 cents each. They’re absolutely delicious lightly warmed up with a smear of jam, but by the time I get to my third or fourth croissant, I’m ready to mix things up. Enter Sabrina Stavenjord, the Instagrammer who’s been for turning Costco croissants into next-level creations.

So far, she’s given them the tiramisu, s'mores, and birthday cake treatment (to name a few) and they’ve all looked like they come from a fancy bakery. For her latest riff, Stavenjord turned to a classic holiday treat—Christmas cracker candy (aka cracker toffee candy)—only she is, of course, using croissants as a base instead of saltine crackers. She’s reimagined the Christmas classic by drawing on one of the trendiest foods of 2024: the flat croissant. The moment I saw her post, I knew I needed to give it a try.

How to Make Croissant Christmas Cracker Candy

Creating the ultimate crispy croissant base took some trial and error. Stavenjord tested several techniques to achieve the ideal balance of crunch and buttery flakiness and finally settled on a pan-frying method, so that’s the one I tried.

To make this treat, start by creaming together softened butter, brown sugar, honey, salt, and vanilla extract. Slice store-bought croissants in half lengthwise, roll them flat, and generously spread the butter mixture on top. Caramelize the croissants in a hot frying pan, using parchment paper and a second heavy skillet to press them down, and cook until golden and crisp. Let the croissants cool and harden on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Next, melt some semi-sweet chocolate and spread it on top of the flat croissants. Sprinkle with flaky salt and chill in the freezer for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the chocolate is set.

My Honest Review of Croissant Christmas Cracker Candy

I spotted flat croissants at several bakeries recently, but had yet to try them. I was surprised by how simple it was to replicate their cookie-like transformation at home. When caramelized, the croissants crisped up beautifully in just a few minutes.

My 5-year-old and I both loved the chocolate-topped flat croissants, but would I consider them Christmas cracker candy? Not quite. It’s missing the signature airy crunch and snap that comes from the combination of saltines and toffee. It’s also more time-consuming, and one of the best things about the traditional version is how easy and simple the recipe is. That said, the croissant variation is super decadent and a total visual showstopper, especially since I ended up swapping in Trader Joe’s croissants for Costco’s, since they have that the iconic crescent shape.

Tips for Making Croissant Christmas Cracker Candy

If you’re planning to give Croissant Christmas Cracker Candy a try this holiday season, here are a few things helpful tips:

• Use a nonstick pan. The brown sugar-butter mixture gets super sticky as it starts to melt, so make sure you use a nonstick pan. This not only makes it easy to flip the croissants over, but also for cleaning up.

• Slice the croissants with a serrated knife. For the cleanest, most even cut, use a serrated bread knife. This helps keep the croissant shape intact.

• Keep an eye on the heat. I caramelized the croissants in two batches and the second one cooked much more quickly since the pan was already hot. Some areas were a bit more scorched than planned, so I recommend lowering the heat to prevent burning.

• Go mini. Instead of full-sized croissants, use a package of mini ones. They’d be adorable packaged individually as a holiday party favor or boxed together as an edible gift.

• Add different toppings. Stavenjord’s original recipe includes a finishing sprinkle of flaky sea salt, but these croissants are also the perfect canvas for holiday sprinkles, crushed candy canes, freeze-dried strawberries, or other festive garnishes.
  

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