Delicious Cruffins Recipe – Flaky, Buttery & Filled with Sweet Delight

🎉 Introduction

Ever wondered what happens when a croissant and a muffin join forces? You get the irresistibly delicious Cruffin — a flaky, buttery pastry with a muffin’s shape and a croissant’s tender, laminated layers.

These Delicious Cruffins are filled with your favorite jam or chocolate spread, sprinkled with cinnamon sugar, and finished with a dusting of powdered sugar or a drizzle of melted chocolate. They’re pork-free, alcohol-free, and the ultimate pastry indulgence you can bake at home.

Perfect for a fancy brunch, a holiday breakfast, or a weekend baking adventure, cruffins are simpler than they look and are guaranteed to impress!

🧰 Equipment Needed

• Stand mixer with dough hook (or hand kneading)
• Rolling pin
• Muffin tin (12-count)
• Pastry brush
• Measuring cups & spoons
• Sharp knife or pizza cutter
• Small bowl for cinnamon sugar
• Clean towel or plastic wrap

🛒 Ingredients

🥚 Fresh Produce

• 1 large egg

🥣 Dry Ingredients

• 2¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• Cinnamon sugar (for coating)
• Powdered sugar (for dusting)
• Flaky sea salt (optional, for topping)

🧈 Dairy

• ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened (plus extra for greasing)
• ¾ cup warm milk
• Grated cheese (optional, for a savory twist)

🍯 Condiments & Fillings

• Jam or chocolate spread (your choice)
• Melted chocolate (optional for drizzling)

👩‍🍳 Directions

Step 1: Prepare the Dough

• In a small bowl, dissolve active dry yeast in ¾ cup warm milk (110°F). Let sit for 5 minutes until frothy.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine flour, granulated sugar, and salt.
• Add the egg and activated yeast mixture.
• Knead with a dough hook for 6–8 minutes until a smooth, elastic dough forms.
• Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let dough rise in a warm spot for 1 hour, or until doubled in size.

Step 2: Prepare the Butter for Laminating

• Divide ¾ cup softened butter into small chunks.
• Place butter on a piece of parchment paper, shape into a rectangle (about 6×8 inches), and refrigerate while the dough is rising.

Step 3: Roll & Laminate the Dough

• Once dough has doubled, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface.
• Roll into a large rectangle (about 12×18 inches).
• Spread the chilled butter evenly over the dough.
• Fold the dough into thirds like a letter (lamination fold).
• Rotate the dough 90°, roll out again, and fold once more.
• Cover and refrigerate for 20–30 minutes to relax the gluten.

Step 4: Shape the Cruffins

• Roll the dough out again into a thin rectangle (approx. 12×20 inches).
• Spread a thin layer of jam or chocolate spread across the entire surface.
• Using a sharp knife or pizza cutter, cut the dough into 6 long strips.
• Roll each strip up into a tight coil, then stand them upright in greased muffin cups.
• Cover loosely and let rise for another 30 minutes.

Step 5: Bake the Cruffins

• Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
• Bake for 18–22 minutes, until golden brown and puffed.
• Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.

Step 6: Finishing Touches

• Brush warm cruffins with melted butter.
• Roll or sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
• Dust with powdered sugar or drizzle with melted chocolate.
• Optional: Sprinkle with flaky sea salt for a sweet-salty balance.
• For a savory version, sprinkle grated cheese on top before baking.

🍽️ Servings & Timing

• Servings: 12 cruffins
• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Rise Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
• Bake Time: 20 minutes
• Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes

🧊 Storage & Reheating

• Room Temperature:
  Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
• Freezing:
  Freeze baked cruffins (unfilled) for up to 2 months. Reheat and fill before serving.
• Reheating:
  Warm in the oven at 325°F for 5–7 minutes or microwave for 15–20 seconds.

🥄 Variations

• Savory Cheese Cruffins: Skip sweet fillings and sprinkle grated cheese & herbs before rolling.
• Nutella Cruffins: Use Nutella spread for a chocolate-hazelnut twist.
• Cinnamon Roll Cruffins: Fill with cinnamon sugar paste and top with a cream cheese glaze.
• Berry Jam Cruffins: Use raspberry or strawberry jam with fresh berry garnishes.
• Lemon Poppy Cruffins: Add lemon zest and a light lemon glaze post-bake.
• Pistachio Honey Cruffins: Fill with pistachio paste and drizzle with honey.
• Maple Pecan Cruffins: Fill with chopped pecans and maple syrup drizzle.
• Chocolate Chip Cruffins: Sprinkle mini chocolate chips inside the layers.
• Almond Cruffins: Fill with almond paste and dust with powdered sugar & slivered almonds.
• Vegan Cruffins: Use plant-based butter and a flax egg substitute.

❓ 10 FAQs

1. Do I need a stand mixer?
   It makes kneading easier, but you can knead by hand for about 10–12 minutes.
2. Can I use store-bought croissant dough?
   Yes, but homemade dough gives a superior texture and flavor.
3. What’s the best filling for cruffins?
   Jam, chocolate spread, or even a simple cinnamon-sugar paste.
4. Can I make cruffins ahead of time?
   Yes, shape and refrigerate overnight. Bake fresh the next morning.
5. How do I get extra flaky layers?
   Keep the dough chilled between folds and don’t overwork.
6. Can I freeze cruffins after baking?
   Absolutely. Freeze unfilled and reheat as needed.
7. Is it necessary to laminate the dough?
   For that signature flaky texture, laminating is key.
8. How do I prevent cruffins from sticking to the pan?
   Grease well or use foil muffin liners.
9. Can I make them gluten-free?
   Use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend, though texture may vary.
10. What’s the difference between a cruffin and a croissant?
    A cruffin is a croissant-shaped into a muffin form, often filled and sugar-coated.

🏁 Conclusion

These Delicious Cruffins are a delightful fusion of flaky croissant layers and a muffin’s charm — filled with sweet jam or chocolate, dusted with sugar, and impossible to resist. With simple ingredients and a little love, you can recreate this bakery-style treat at home without pork products, alcohol, or complicated steps.

Perfect for brunch tables, coffee breaks, or a special breakfast surprise.

Adam

Delicious Cruffins Recipe – Flaky, Buttery & Filled with Sweet Delight

Ever wondered what happens when a croissant and a muffin join forces? You get the irresistibly delicious Cruffin — a flaky, buttery pastry with a muffin’s shape and a croissant’s tender, laminated layers. These Delicious Cruffins are filled with your favorite jam or chocolate spread, sprinkled with cinnamon sugar, and finished with a dusting of powdered sugar or a drizzle of melted chocolate. They’re pork-free, alcohol-free, and the ultimate pastry indulgence you can bake at home. Perfect for a fancy brunch, a holiday breakfast, or a weekend baking adventure, cruffins are simpler than they look and are guaranteed to impress!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 30 minutes mins

bake & Rest time 1 hour hr 50 minutes mins

Total Time 2 hours hrs 20 minutes mins

Servings: 12 cruffins

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

🥚 Fresh Produce

• 1 large egg

🥣 Dry Ingredients

• 2¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• Cinnamon sugar for coating
• Powdered sugar for dusting
• Flaky sea salt optional, for topping

🧈 Dairy

• ¾ cup unsalted butter softened (plus extra for greasing)
• ¾ cup warm milk
• Grated cheese optional, for a savory twist

🍯 Condiments & Fillings

• Jam or chocolate spread your choice
• Melted chocolate optional for drizzling

Equipment

• Stand mixer with dough hook (or hand kneading)
• Rolling Pin
• Muffin tin (12-count)
• Pastry brush
• Measuring cups & spoons
• Sharp knife or pizza cutter
• Small bowl for cinnamon sugar
• Clean towel or plastic wrap

Method

 

Step 1: Prepare the Dough

1. In a small bowl, dissolve active dry yeast in ¾ cup warm milk (110°F). Let sit for 5 minutes until frothy.
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine flour, granulated sugar, and salt.
3. Add the egg and activated yeast mixture.
4. Knead with a dough hook for 6–8 minutes until a smooth, elastic dough forms.
5. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let dough rise in a warm spot for 1 hour, or until doubled in size.

Step 2: Prepare the Butter for Laminating

1. Divide ¾ cup softened butter into small chunks.
2. Place butter on a piece of parchment paper, shape into a rectangle (about 6×8 inches), and refrigerate while the dough is rising.

Step 3: Roll & Laminate the Dough

1. Once dough has doubled, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface.
2. Roll into a large rectangle (about 12×18 inches).
3. Spread the chilled butter evenly over the dough.
4. Fold the dough into thirds like a letter (lamination fold).
5. Rotate the dough 90°, roll out again, and fold once more.
6. Cover and refrigerate for 20–30 minutes to relax the gluten.

Step 4: Shape the Cruffins

1. Roll the dough out again into a thin rectangle (approx. 12×20 inches).
2. Spread a thin layer of jam or chocolate spread across the entire surface.
3. Using a sharp knife or pizza cutter, cut the dough into 6 long strips.
4. Roll each strip up into a tight coil, then stand them upright in greased muffin cups.
5. Cover loosely and let rise for another 30 minutes.

Step 5: Bake the Cruffins

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Bake for 18–22 minutes, until golden brown and puffed.
3. Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.

Step 6: Finishing Touches

1. Brush warm cruffins with melted butter.
2. Roll or sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
3. Dust with powdered sugar or drizzle with melted chocolate.
4. Optional: Sprinkle with flaky sea salt for a sweet-salty balance.
5. For a savory version, sprinkle grated cheese on top before baking.

Notes

🧊 Storage & Reheating

Room Temperature:
Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Freezing:
Freeze baked cruffins (unfilled) for up to 2 months. Reheat and fill before serving.

Reheating:
Warm in the oven at 325°F for 5–7 minutes or microwave for 15–20 seconds.

🥄 Variations

Savory Cheese Cruffins: Skip sweet fillings and sprinkle grated cheese & herbs before rolling.

Nutella Cruffins: Use Nutella spread for a chocolate-hazelnut twist.

Cinnamon Roll Cruffins: Fill with cinnamon sugar paste and top with a cream cheese glaze.

Berry Jam Cruffins: Use raspberry or strawberry jam with fresh berry garnishes.

Lemon Poppy Cruffins: Add lemon zest and a light lemon glaze post-bake.

Pistachio Honey Cruffins: Fill with pistachio paste and drizzle with honey.

Maple Pecan Cruffins: Fill with chopped pecans and maple syrup drizzle.

Chocolate Chip Cruffins: Sprinkle mini chocolate chips inside the layers.

Almond Cruffins: Fill with almond paste and dust with powdered sugar & slivered almonds.

Vegan Cruffins: Use plant-based butter and a flax egg substitute.

❓ 10 FAQs

Do I need a stand mixer?
It makes kneading easier, but you can knead by hand for about 10–12 minutes.

Can I use store-bought croissant dough?
Yes, but homemade dough gives a superior texture and flavor.

What’s the best filling for cruffins?
Jam, chocolate spread, or even a simple cinnamon-sugar paste.

Can I make cruffins ahead of time?
Yes, shape and refrigerate overnight. Bake fresh the next morning.

How do I get extra flaky layers?
Keep the dough chilled between folds and don’t overwork.

Can I freeze cruffins after baking?
Absolutely. Freeze unfilled and reheat as needed.

Is it necessary to laminate the dough?
For that signature flaky texture, laminating is key.

How do I prevent cruffins from sticking to the pan?
Grease well or use foil muffin liners.

Can I make them gluten-free?
Use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend, though texture may vary.

What’s the difference between a cruffin and a croissant?
A cruffin is a croissant-shaped into a muffin form, often filled and sugar-coated.

🏁 Conclusion

These Delicious Cruffins are a delightful fusion of flaky croissant layers and a muffin’s charm — filled with sweet jam or chocolate, dusted with sugar, and impossible to resist. With simple ingredients and a little love, you can recreate this bakery-style treat at home without pork products, alcohol, or complicated steps.

Perfect for brunch tables, coffee breaks, or a special breakfast surprise.