Cruffin Recipe {Vegan Croissant Muffins} (2024)

Jump to Recipe

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!

Never Miss A Recipe!

Get HEALTHY Vegan Recipes straight to your inbox weekly!

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.

Cruffin Recipe {Vegan Croissant Muffins} (3)

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.

Cruffin Recipe {Vegan Croissant Muffins} (5)

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.

Cruffin Recipe {Vegan Croissant Muffins} (6)

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

Print Pin Rate

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

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.

How many calories in a croissant vs English muffin? ›

Croissants are packed with butter, and scones and muffins are typically large individually-baked pieces of cake. A plain croissant is really your best bet, ranging from 240 to 350 calories. As for muffins and scones, they start in the 400-calorie range.

Where did the Cruffin come from? ›

Originating in the vibrant food scene of Melbourne, Australia, cruffins have swiftly gained popularity worldwide. These hybrid pastries feature the buttery, flaky layers of a croissant, combined with the moist, cake-like texture of a muffin.

What to do with leftover croissant dough? ›

When you're left with scraps or bits of dough after your homemade croissant endeavor, don't let them go to waste. Instead, gather those remnants and gently press them together into a loaf pan. Be sure the loaf pan is greased. Then cover it, and let it rest.

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.

Was the croissant made in Romania? ›

The croissant as we know it today is a French adaptation of an Austrian pastry. In 1839, August Zang introduced Viennese baking, including the Austrian kipfel, to Paris. Soon the crescent-shaped kipfel became popular enough that Parisian bakers made it and simply named it “crescent” in French: croissant.

Which is healthier, muffins or croissants? ›

So neither one is significantly more or less healthy than the other. A whole grain muffin, on the other hand, such as bran muffin or a corn muffin containing oat bran or cornmeal, would likely contain more protein and fiber and would therefore be healthier than a croissant.

Are croissants healthier than bread? ›

Bread tends to be a healthier option when compared to croissants, considering the ingredients used in each. The high butter content in croissants means they have a higher fat content when compared to bread. Bread is also generally lower in calories and carbs, per serving.

Are muffins healthier than donuts? ›

When it comes to calories, carbs, and sugar, there's a clear winner: doughnuts. The fried rings have 155 fewer calories, half the carbs, and 21 fewer grams of sugar than muffins. Muffins don't lose out completely, though: They have 1 g more protein than doughnuts—and half the saturated fat.

Is cruffin French? ›

Inspired by the French brioche pastry, the cruffin reached its present-day form and shape through a series of experiments. The bakers at the Tenderloin bakery were quite determined to achieve the perfect croissant dough like the French.

What country invented croissants? ›

Across various accounts of croissant history, most sources agree that it originates from Austria as the kipferl.

Is A croissant Mexican? ›

A croissant (UK: /ˈkrwʌsɒ̃, ˈkrwæsɒ̃/, US: /krəˈsɒnt, krwɑːˈsɒ̃/; French: [kʁwasɑ̃]) is a French pastry made from puff pastry in a crescent shape. It is a buttery, flaky, viennoiserie pastry inspired by the shape of the Austrian kipferl, but using the French yeast-leavened laminated dough.

Can you freeze croissants to keep them fresh? ›

Yes, you can freeze croissants. You can freeze whole, fully baked and ready-to-eat croissants, and you can also freeze croissant dough. Elisa Lyew, CEO and executive chef of Elisa's Love Bites Dessert Atelier in New York, says store or bakery-purchased croissants should be frozen as soon as possible.

Why are croissants twice baked? ›

The reason they're twice-baked is because… they're stale day old croissants that need to be refreshed. Letting croissants go stale means they lose moisture overnight which makes them easier to cut for the twice-baked appearance. How to make twice-baked almond croissants? Take a day old croissant and cut length-wise.

What can I do with old Costco croissants? ›

At this point, the croissants will be a little stale. So rip one or two up into rustic croutons, toss with just a little bit of olive oil, salt, and pepper—or any seasoning blends you love—and toast at 375°F for 10 to 15 minutes, tossing them around mid-way to get even browning and crisping.

What is a croissant What is it made of? ›

A croissant is typically made of yeast-risen dough. The dough is first layered with butter and then rolled. It is folded many times in a process called lamination. Then the dough is cut into triangles, rolled to form a crescent shape and baked.

What is a Cronut made of? ›

The Cronut (a portmanteau of croissant and doughnut) is a pastry created and trademarked in 2013 by the French pastry chef Dominique Ansel. It resembles a doughnut and is made from croissant-like dough filled with flavored cream and fried in grapeseed oil.

What are crescent rolls made of? ›

Ingredients: Enriched Flour Bleached (wheat flour, niacin, ferrous sulfate, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), Water, Vegetable Shortening (soybean oil, hydrogenated palm oil, fractionated palm oil, water, mono and diglycerides, TBHQ and citric acid [preservatives], beta carotene [for color]), Sugar, Baking ...

What is Croffle made of? ›

Croffles require croissant dough which can either be made or purchased. Purchasing croissant dough is the more practical method. Options for prepared dough include store-bought croissant dough like Pillsbury or unbaked croissant dough from a local bakery. The dough is rolled in a croissant configuration.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Chrissy Homenick

Last Updated:

Views: 5673

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (54 voted)

Reviews: 93% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Chrissy Homenick

Birthday: 2001-10-22

Address: 611 Kuhn Oval, Feltonbury, NY 02783-3818

Phone: +96619177651654

Job: Mining Representative

Hobby: amateur radio, Sculling, Knife making, Gardening, Watching movies, Gunsmithing, Video gaming

Introduction: My name is Chrissy Homenick, I am a tender, funny, determined, tender, glorious, fancy, enthusiastic person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.