Cruffin Recipe {Vegan Croissant Muffins} (2024)

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This Cruffin recipe is a vegan version of a famous Croissant Muffin - a beautiful and delicious sweet pastry. Unlike a traditional Cruffin that features homemade laminated dough, my Cruffin is made with yeast which makes the whole process so much easier.

Also, try my Banana Chocolate Muffins and Chocolate Cruffins - the same great dessert loaded with chocolate ganache.

Cruffin Recipe {Vegan Croissant Muffins} (1)

Cruffin

It took me and my mom a few shots to perfect this Cruffin recipe, but the result was so worth it.

Now imagine this: soft and flavorful yeast dough that is filled with raisins, shaped into a muffin, baked, and then topped with chopped walnuts, drizzled with melted chocolate, and sprinkled with powdered sugar.

Sounds good, isn't it? Let me assure you - it really is delicious!

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And given the fact that these Cruffins are prepared with vegan ingredients, it makes them a little bit healthier.

Cruffin Recipe {Vegan Croissant Muffins} (2)

What is Cruffin pastry?

If you love croissants and muffins, let me introduce you to the simplified version of them - Cruffins.

Originally created in 2013 in Australia for a local pastry shop, this beautiful dessert then obtained its widespread popularity when was trademarked by Mr. Holmes Bakehouse from San Francisco.

Typically, Cruffins are made with the laminated dough which is a sophisticated term for puff pastry.

Making puff pastry is a whole different story and is not a very quick thing to do.

Enter sweet yeast dough- easy to make with pantry ingredients and no need to laminate.

In addition, Croissant Muffins are always filled with something sweet. More on that later.

These Vegan Cruffins are great for breakfast, dessert, or even a special occasion.

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Ingredients

The wonderful part about this Cruffin recipe is that you can make them with pantry ingredients. Here's what you need:

  • almond milk
  • active dry yeast
  • apple sauce
  • olive oil
  • Maple syrup
  • all-purpose flour
  • salt
  • raisins
  • chocolate chips - I love using Hu Chocolate Gems. They're the only plant-based chocolate "chips" that I recommend. Sugar-free, Oil-free, and Soy-free. Enter the code IRYNA15 for 15% off on all Hu Kitchen products.
  • chopped walnuts
  • powdered sugar

If you're trying to limit refined sugar, feel free to omit powdered sugar. It is used only for decoration and is not an essential ingredient.

Instructions

1. Proof the yeast

In a large bowl combine warm (105-115 F) almond milk and active dry yeast. Let it sit for 10 minutes.

2. Combine milk-yeast and remaining liquid ingredients

Whisk in apple sauce, olive oil, and Maple syrup in a bowl with milk and yeast.

3. Combine wet and dry ingredients

In another large bowl mix together flour and salt and stir in wet ingredients. Knead the dough by hand until it is smooth and elastic. Cover the bowl with the dough with a clean kitchen towel and place the bowl in a warm place until it doubles in size. This should take about 40-60 minutes.

4. Divide the dough and roll it out

After your dough has doubled, divide it into 6 even size balls. On a lightly floured surface, roll each ball into a rectangle (or oval) approximately 5 by 15 inches long. Brush the rectangle with some olive oil and sprinkle a handful of raisins on top. Starting from the short end, roll the dough into a log. Now, roll out the log until it's about 10 inches long.

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5. Shape the log into a Cruffin

Now, comes the easy part. Using a sharp knife, cut the log lengthwise into 2 smaller logs. Roll each log into a spiral and place it into a muffin cavity. Repeat the process with the rest of the dough.

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6. Let the dough rest and bake

After you fill out all muffin cavities, let the unbaked Cruffins rest in a warm place for 30 minutes. After that, bake in a preheated 395 F oven for 20 minutes.

Immediately, remove Cruffins on a cooling rack and let them cool for 15 minutes. Finally, drizzle Cruffins with melted chocolate, sprinkle with some chopped walnuts, and dust with powdered sugar. Enjoy!

Cruffin Recipe {Vegan Croissant Muffins} (7) How to store Croissant Muffins?

These delicious treats will keep well on a counter for 1 or 2 days.

You can also freeze them. Just wrap them up tightly in a parchment paper or freezer-friendly bag and store them in a freezer for up to 1 month.

Recipe Variation

Raisins. If you don't have them, you can fill these Cruffins with chocolate chips, dried cranberries, or ever unsweetend dried cherries, yum! Use a minimum of 2 tablespoons per piece of dough. The more filling - the juicer Cruffin will be.

Olive oil.I also tried this recipe with almond butter and coconut cream.

Despite that, the olive oil version was the most flavorful, almond butter or coconut cream are decent substitutes as well. I imagine, using a fruit jam as the main spread will also be delicious.

Cruffin Recipe {Vegan Croissant Muffins} (8)

Recipe

Cruffin Recipe {Vegan Croissant Muffins} (9)

Cruffin Recipe {Vegan Croissant Muffin Recipe}

This Cruffin recipe is a vegan version of a famous Croissant Muffin - beautiful and delicious sweet pastry. Unlike a traditional Cruffin that features homemade laminated dough, my Cruffin is made with yeast which makes the whole process so much easier.

4.58 from 19 votes

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Course: Dessert

Cuisine: French

Prep Time: 25 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Resting Time: 1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 2 hours hours 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 12 Croissant Muffins

Calories: 489kcal

Author: Iryna Bychkiv

Ingredients

Instructions

Proof the yeast

  • In a large bowl combine warm (105-115 F) ½ c + 1 tablespoon of almond milk and active dry yeast. Let is sit for 10 minutes. (I always use food thermometer to check the temperature).

Combine milk-yeast mixture and the remaining liquid ingredients

  • To a bowl with yeast whisk in apple sauce, ½ cup + 1 tablespoon of olive oil and Maple syrup.

Combine wet and dry ingredients

  • In another large bowl mix together flour and salt and stir in wet ingredients. Knead the dough by hands until it is smooth and elastic. Cover the bowl with a dough with a clean kitchen towel and place in a warm place until it doubles in size, about 40 to 60 minutes.

Divide the dough and roll it out

  • Divide the dough into 6 even size balls. On a lightly floured surface, roll each ball into a rectangle (or oval) approximately 5 by 15 inches long. Brush the rectangle with 1 teaspoon of olive oil (at this point you have 4 remaining tablespoon of olive oil) and sprinkle 2 tablespoon of raisins on top. Starting from the short end, roll the dough into a log. Now, roll out the log until it's about 10 in long.

Shape the log into a Cruffin

  • Using a sharp knife, cut the log lengthwise into 2 smaller logs. Roll each log into a spiral and place into a muffin cavity. Repeat the process with the rest of the dough. Note 1

Let the dough rest and bake

  • Preheat the oven to 395 F. After you fill out all muffin cavities, let the unbaked Cruffins rest in a warm place for 30 minutes. After that, bake Cruffins for 20 minutes. Remove Cruffins on a cooling rack and let them cool for 15 minutes.

Prepare the "topping"

  • Place chocolate chips and the remaining 1 tablespoon of almond milk in a small bowl. Microwave for 20 seconds and whisk until chocolate has melted and is smooth. Using a fork or a pastry bag fitted with a thin tip #1, drizzle melted chocolate over Cruffins. Top with chopped walnuts and dust with a powdered sugar.

Video

Notes

Note 1

If you have a silicone muffin tin, there's no need to grease it. If you have a steel non-stick muffin tin, I recommend greasing it.

Nutrition

Calories: 489kcal | Carbohydrates: 56.2g | Protein: 6.1g | Fat: 28.5g | Saturated Fat: 6.6g | Sodium: 79mg | Potassium: 255mg | Fiber: 2.5g | Sugar: 21.3g | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 3mg

Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @Lavender.And.Macarons or tag #lavenderandmacarons!

Cruffin Recipe {Vegan Croissant Muffins} (10)
Iryna Bychkiv

Website

Iryna Bychkiv is the founder and writer of the culinary website Lavender & Macarons, where she shares clean, European-inspired recipes that are delicious, easy to prepare, and made with wholesome ingredients. Iryna loves creating meals that are simple yet healthy and unique, including vegan and vegetarian recipes.
Iryna is also a freelance writer for MSN and Associated Press Wire.

Cruffin Recipe {Vegan Croissant Muffins} (2024)

FAQs

Is crescent dough the same as croissant dough? ›

To put it simply, crescent rolls are bread, whereas croissants are pastries. While both recipes result in light, fluffy, and buttery sweet treats, the ingredient lists are noticeably different. For example, croissants typically have milk and substantially more butter, whereas crescent rolls usually have more sugar.

Which is healthier, croissant or English muffin? ›

If you are looking for a healthier breakfast option compared to croissants, brioche, crescent rolls, and Danish pastries, English muffins are a great choice. Unlike laminated pastries, English muffins do not contain as much fat because the butter content is lower.

What are Cruffins made of? ›

A cruffin (sometimes spelled croffin) is a hybrid of a croissant and a muffin. The pastry is made by proofing (also called proving) and baking laminated dough in a muffin mould. The cruffin is then filled with a variety of creams, jams, crème pâtissières or curds, and then garnished.

Is croissant dough the same as puff pastry? ›

While both puff pastry and croissant doughs are laminated, puff pastry does not include yeast and croissant dough does. The yeast gives the dough an even lighter texture. Croissant doughs also contain more sugar than puff pastry.

Why are croissants no longer crescent-shaped? ›

The reason that Tesco provides for its decision is in itself striking: the boss of the company, one Harry Jones, announced that it is the “spreadability” factor that has killed the kink, insisting that “the majority of shoppers find it easier to spread jam, or their preferred filling, on a straighter shape with a ...

What can you use instead of croissant dough? ›

You want what is called puff pastry dough. It is usually found near pie crusts at the store. It is sold flat or folded, but isn't sold in a roll like crescent dough.

What is healthier for you, a bagel or croissant? ›

The bagel has a third more protein than the croissant, but less fibre. With less than half the fibre of the grainy bread and only marginally more protein, the bagel also won't fill us up as much as the grainy bread.

Is there such thing as a healthy croissant? ›

The nutritional value of a croissant varies based on the type, but these buttery pastries are typically high in calories, fat, and carbohydrates. While this does not make croissants healthy, croissants can still be a part of a balanced meal by combining them with fruit, vegetables, nut butter, or eggs.

Is danish dough the same as croissant? ›

The base dough, known as the detrempe, varies depending on the type of pastry. For example, puff pastry dough is made up of flour, water, and salt; croissant dough is prepared with flour, sugar, yeast, salt, and milk; while Danish dough includes the same ingredients as a croissant dough but adds eggs to the mix.

Why are croissants not vegan? ›

Traditionally, no – croissants aren't vegan because large quantities of dairy-based butter are used during their production; in the pastry and added in layers for lamination. However, it is possible to buy or make your own plant-based croissants that are delicious.

What is the difference between a cronut and a cruffin? ›

The cronut, a croissant-doughnut hybrid, was one of the first viral cakes. Since cruffins (croissant-muffins) turned up in supermarkets, high street chains and my local coffee shops, I'm more likely to find one of these gargantuan dough sculptures than an ordinary croissant after 10am.

What does a cruffin taste like? ›

A cruffin is a cross between a croissant and a muffin that tastes like a cinnamon roll. It's like getting the best of all three treats in one muffin, or should I say, cruffin. The creator (the original!) of the Easy Cruffin is Kleinworth & Co. and I love that she shared it with the world!

Can you use Pillsbury Crescent Rolls instead of puff pastry? ›

Lucky for you, easy-bake crescents stand in for traditional puff pastry. It's a classic dessert with convenience!

Which country are croissants eaten in? ›

Through its many evolutions, food experts and historians agree that the croissant has become a uniquely French pastry. The French government even named it as the national French product in 1920. Many other countries also have their own spin-offs of the croissant.

What is croissant dough also called? ›

Croissant and Danish pastries, typically served for breakfast, are examples of laminated yeast doughs, while puff pastry, also known as pâte feuilletée or mille feuille (meaning one thousand layers), is an unleavened type.

Does Pillsbury make croissant dough? ›

Pillsbury Crescent Rolls, Original Refrigerated Canned Pastry Dough, 8 Rolls, 8 oz - Pillsbury.com.

Does croissant translate to crescent? ›

The croissant gets its name from its shape: in French, the word means "crescent" or "crescent of the moon." The Austrian pastry known as a Kipferl is the croissant's ancestor—in the 1830s, an Austrian opened a Viennese bakery in Paris, which became extremely popular and inspired French versions of the Kipferi, ...

Is pizza dough the same as croissant dough? ›

Authentic croissants use a slightly richer yeast risen dough with milk and eggs but pizza dough has a similar consistency and will yield delicious results. You don't have to use the same recipe as me, as long as it is yeast risen, and has the springy consistency of a normal pizza dough.

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