Almond Crescent Rolls: Easy Bakery-Style Croissants Recipe

These almond filled and chocolate drizzled almond crescent rolls couldn’t be easier to make thanks to Pillsbury crescent rolls, and they’re a great addition to any party or cookie tray!

I have a not-so-steady relationship with almond paste and extract. On one hand, I’ve never really loved the taste. But on the other—the logical hand—I know I love almonds, so why can’t I love the almond flavor in baked goods, too? Here’s what I’ve decided: it’s a grown-up taste, kind of like a good black and white cookie or a strong cup of coffee. You just have to grow into it!

Up until recently, almond flavoring only ever showed up for me in frosting, and honestly? I cannot abide almond extract in frosting atop a cupcake or cookie. In my world, vanilla extract rules all frosting, forever and always. But as I’ve experimented more in my baking, almond has slowly crept into my recipes—starting with a batch of cut-out sugar cookies that finally won me over.

Why This Almond Croissant Recipe Hack Works So Well

I’ve also fallen for layers of almond paste in cakes and the almond-y flavor of a french macaron, but that’s about the extent of it—until I tried these crescents. So, so, SO good, and so easy! This recipe is basically an easy almond croissants shortcut: no yeast, no proofing, no fuss. Think of it as the lazy baker’s almond croissant recipe, using crescent roll dough instead of laminated pastry dough. It gives you that same almond filling flavor you’d get from fresh croissants at a fancy bakery, minus the hours of work.

This recipe is nothing more than placing a sheet of almond paste over the crescent roll dough, rolling it up, and baking just like you normally would. Ohmyword, the baking—I couldn’t believe how incredible these made my house smell in the oven! A drizzle of chocolate and a sprinkling of sliced almonds puts these crescents right over the edge, and the almond flavor only gets better as they cool to room temperature.

Tips For Turning Day-Old Croissants Or Costco Croissants Into This Treat

Can we talk about stale croissants for a second? If you’ve got day-old croissants or costco croissants sitting around (we’ve all bought way too many from the grocery store), don’t toss them! Split the bottom half of each croissant from the top halves of the croissants, brush both sides with a quick simple syrup, then layer in an almond filling made from almond paste, a cup of sugar, softened unsalted butter, large eggs, and a tsp almond extract whizzed together in a food processor. Spread it generously, close them back up, and brush the top of the croissant with egg wash (just an egg yolk beaten with a splash of water) for that glossy, golden brown finish.

Bake on a parchment paper-lined large baking tray or baking sheet at medium heat until golden brown and bubbly. For best results, let them cool slightly on a wire rack before dusting with confectioner’s sugar or icing sugar. Last step: slice one open and watch the almond flour-scented steam escape. Be still my heart!

More Ways To Enjoy Almond Crescent Rolls And Almond Flavor

If you’re like me and cautious about almond paste or extract, have no fear of these crescents! They’re utterly delicious, stunning, and will please a crowd wherever you go. Serve them alongside homemade marmalade, a jar of jam, or even a swipe of nut butter like in this peanut butter apple dip for dunking. They’re also a lovely companion to a slice of coconut cake on a dessert table, since both lean into that dreamy, nutty flavor profile.

Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for a day or two, though honestly, they rarely last that long in my house. Next time I make these, I’m doubling the batch—one pan always disappears before I even get a picture taken! If you love simple semi-homemade treats like this, you’ll also want to try my easy cinnamon sugar fritters made from the same crescent dough.

Save And Share This Almond Croissant Recipe

I love hearing how you make recipes your own, so snap a photo and tag me when you give these a try! Want more drool-worthy ideas? Sign up for a free account today to build your own curated recipe collections right alongside mine, and browse sites like Punchfork LLC for even more inspiration. All trademarks and recipe names mentioned here, including Pillsbury and Costco, belong to their respective owners, and no, this post has nothing to do with an authorised Rolls-Royce Motor Cars dealership—just a fun phrase that stuck with me from scrolling too much third party content late at night! With the volume of requests I get for simple almond treats, I knew this one deserved a refresh. Plain flour, a little vanilla extract, and ground almonds are truly all you need for almond magic.

Check Out These Other Great Recipes

• 48 Breakfasts and Desserts using Pillsbury Crescents

• Easy Cinnamon Sugar Fritters

• 100+ Sweet Recipes that Start with Pillsbury

Almond Filled Crescents

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Ingredients

• 8 pack roll of Pillsbury crescent rolls
• 1 tube almond paste
• 1/4 cup melting chocolate
• 1/4 cup almond slices

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375ºF.
2. Unroll crescent roll dough and lay flat on a piece of parchment or other non-stick work surface. Set aside.
3. Open the almond paste and knead it on a non-stick surface until it is soft and pliable. Roll it into a ball, and then roll it out into a flat circle. Slice it, like a pizza, into 8 slices.
4. Place each slice on each crescent slice of dough, and roll up like you would normally roll a crescent roll.
5. Bake for 11-13 minutes until golden brown. Let cool.
6. Melt chocolate and drizzle over the crescents. Sprinkle the almonds over while the chocolate is still wet. Let cool completely.
7. Store in an airtight container until ready to serve (do not store for longer than 24 hours).

Notes

Recipe slightly modified from Taste of Home