These Brownie Batter Croissants are a way to cheat at a homemade brunch recipe! Use up stale croissants, or buy a box from the store just for this purpose! I love the idea of using croissants you already have to save the work of making them from scratch. They are fudgy and gooey and have that crisp croissant outer. Like a warm dessert sandwich, irresistible.

The filling comprises my ultimate brownie recipe. This means the croissants ooze out chocolate goodness, with a little bit of crispy texture. The brownie stays fudgy in the middle and gives the top of the croissants an extra chocolatey bite. The brownie ratio is pretty mega, so the croissants are suitably packed with that brownie filling. Spread it over the top for a gorgeous bite. Finally, dust with powdered sugar for a little extra glamor.

We don’t all have the same 24 hours in a day, and this recipe proves that you really don’t need much time to create something with love to share with the family on a cozy weekend morning. These are definitely best eaten while still warm. If you’re feeding a crowd, this recipe is so easy to double up.

INGREDIENTS NEEDED

There are no specialist ingredients or equipment required for this bake. I can find everything I need at my local supermarket or grocery store. I use a large sheet pan, and there is no need for baking parchment unless you want to save on washing up. As mentioned above, feel free to use any chocolate hazelnut spread you like. When buying Kinder Buenos, I just buy whatever is most economical. Whether you prefer to buy the mini ones, or whole bars is fine. We crush them up either way so it truly does not matter..

Plain Croissants
Dark/Semi-Sweet Chocolate, Melted
Unsalted Butter
Light Brown Soft Sugar
Granulated Sugar
Large Free Range Eggs
Vanilla Extract
Plain (All Purpose) Flour
Cocoa Powder
Optional: Powdered Sugar (Icing Sugar)

USING UP STALE CROISSANTS

There are SO many ways to use up stale croissants, but this is by far my favorite. You can also find a bread and butter pudding using old croissants in my cookbook ‘Part-Time Baker’. Using up stale croissants doesn’t have to be a challenge. In fact, with a little creativity, you can turn those slightly past-their-prime pastries into something delicious. Here are several ways to breathe new life into your stale croissants:

French Toast: Transform your croissants into a luxurious breakfast by slicing them in half and soaking them in a mixture of beaten eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla extract, and a pinch of cinnamon. Cook on a buttered skillet until golden brown and serve with maple syrup.
Bread Pudding: Cut the croissants into chunks and mix them with raisins, nuts, and a custard made from eggs, sugar, milk, and vanilla. Bake until the custard is set for a comforting dessert.
Croutons: Dice the croissants, toss them with melted butter and your favorite seasonings, and bake until crispy. They’ll add a buttery crunch to soups and salads.
Savory Sandwiches: Croissants are great for sandwiches. The slight staleness won’t be an issue once they are filled with moist fillings like ham and cheese, turkey and cranberry, or chicken salad.
Panzanella Salad: Revive your croissants by tearing them into pieces and mixing with fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, basil, olive oil, and vinegar for an Italian bread salad.
Croissant Bread Crumbs: Process the croissants in a food processor until fine, and use the crumbs as a topping for baked casseroles, macaroni and cheese, or as a breading for fried foods.
Croissant Pudding: Similar to bread pudding, you can soak pieces of croissants in a chocolate or lemon custard before baking for a twist on the classic dessert.

By repurposing your stale croissants in these ways, not only do you reduce food waste, but you also get to enjoy a variety of delicious new treats.

TOP TIPS FOR THE BEST Brownie Batter Croissants

Plain Croissants: You can buy these new from the store, or use up some one or two day old stale ones. As they go in for another bake, either option is fine! Use whichever shape or size suits you.
Melted Butter: As mentioned above, this contributes to the shiny top!
Melted Chocolate: Try to use a higher quality dark chocolate where possible, as this really does contribute to that final flavour.
Light Brown Sugar and Granulated Sugar: It is the combination of both sugars that creates the fudgy texture and rich flavour.
Cocoa Powder: Again, where possible try to use a higher quality make. This contributes so much to the flavour and I find some cheap ones really dull the richness!
Powdered Sugar: Dust the powdered sugar over the top at the end for a really Instagrammable effect.
Bake Time: These croissants need about 20 minutes of bake time. We want the croissant to get warm and crispy again without burning the chocolate drizzle.
Variations: Feel free to change these up with different chocolate candy or even stuff with raspberries to suit whatever you like! This is such a fun way to use up odd ingredients you have in your pantry (like that leftover Easter or Halloween chocolate).

For my Brownie Batter Croissants, I use a basic cookie or sheet pan. Use baking parchment if you want to save on washing up. If you want more wild brunch recipe ideas, check out my Pumpkin Spice Pancakes. For videos and baking inspiration, head on over to my Instagram. If you make this recipe, don’t forget to drop it a star rating, leave a review or share a photo on your socials!

STORAGE FOR MY Brownie Batter Croissants

As these are made using pantry ingredients, they can also be stored in the pantry/cupboard. Make sure to seal in an airtight container. Alternatively, place back into the box that the original croissants came in! When ready to eat, simply reheat! Either use the microwave and blast for 20-30 seconds, or pop back into the oven for 5-10 minutes on 400f/180c.