Description

This delightful Strawberry Vanilla Bean Cronut recipe combines the flaky layers of classic puff pastry with a luscious vanilla bean whipped cream and sweet strawberry jam filling. Fried to a golden perfection and glazed with a smooth sugary topping, these cronuts offer a perfect balance of crispiness and creamy sweetness, making them an irresistible treat for dessert lovers.

Ingredients

Scale

Pastry

1 sheet puff pastry, thawed

Filling

1/2 cup strawberry jam
1/2 vanilla bean or 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
1/2 cup heavy cream

Glaze

1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon milk

For Frying

Oil for frying (vegetable or canola)

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Instructions

Prepare Pastry: Roll out the thawed puff pastry on a lightly floured surface and fold it over itself into thirds, like folding a letter. Roll again gently to smooth and achieve an even thickness.
Cut Cronut Shapes: Use a 3–4-inch round cookie cutter to cut rounds from the dough. Then, use a smaller cutter to punch out the centers of each round, creating classic donut shapes. Place the cut cronuts on a baking sheet and freeze them for 20 minutes to help maintain their shape during frying.
Heat Oil: Meanwhile, heat oil in a deep pot or fryer to 350°F (175°C), ensuring the oil is hot enough for frying without absorbing excess oil.
Fry Cronuts: Fry the cronuts in batches for 2 to 3 minutes on each side until they puff up beautifully and turn a golden brown color. Use a slotted spoon to remove them and drain on paper towels to remove excess oil.
Warm Jam: While the cronuts cool, gently warm the strawberry jam in a small saucepan until it becomes spreadable but not runny.
Prepare Whipped Cream: In a mixing bowl, whip the heavy cream along with the scraped seeds from the vanilla bean or the vanilla bean paste until soft peaks form, creating a fragrant and fluffy filling.
Make Glaze: Mix powdered sugar and milk together until smooth to create a shiny glaze for the cronuts.
Assemble Cronuts: Once the cronuts are cool enough to handle, slice each cronut in half horizontally. Spread a generous spoonful of the vanilla bean whipped cream inside, followed by a layer of warmed strawberry jam. Close the cronuts carefully and drizzle or spread the glaze over the top.
Serve: Serve the cronuts fresh for the best texture and flavor, enjoying the delightful contrast of flaky, creamy, and fruity layers.

Notes

For added texture and sweetness, roll the cronuts in granulated sugar immediately after frying.
To save time, you can use store-bought vanilla whipped cream and strawberry jam.
Cronuts are best enjoyed on the same day they are made for optimal freshness and crispness.

Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: Dessert, Pastry
Method: Frying
Cuisine: French-American