The Frozen “Cloud” Croissants I Serve Every Easter
Brunch at home might not sound as swanky as going to a sit-down restaurant with servers refilling your dwindling mimosa and a kitchen churning out jiggly egg dishes, but with the proper provisions, celebrating Easter or Mother’s Day at home can be just as luxurious.
The key to an at-home brunch spread that delights guests and doesn’t stall someone at the stove flipping pancakes or cracking eggs is a stand-out make-ahead dish. And what better star of the show than a platter piled high with gleaming butter croissants?
The pastries are even better when you don’t have to travel far (or at all!) or spend a minute learning how to laminate dough. The best delightfully flaky, incredibly layered pastries for your spring brunches come from a surprising place: Williams Sonoma.
What’s So Great About Galaxy Desserts Classic Croissants?
These croissants could easily have emerged from the display case of a high-end bakery. The outer layer is kissed with a rich golden caramel color, and the spiraled interior is airy and cloud-like. These pastries are wonderfully butter-forward, as any good croissant should be, with a subtle sweetness that makes them an excellent vehicle for sweet or savory toppings.
I especially love how these croissants arrive and are prepared. They’re shipped from Williams Sonoma frozen. You rest the little spirals at room temperature overnight, at which point they’ve fully thawed and risen. Then the pastries are baked for 15 to 20 minutes while your home is filled with the rich aroma of a French patisserie — they’re guaranteed to make guests’ eyes widen in excitement.
The best part is that you serve and enjoy the pastries fresh from the oven, with warm, fragrant steam greeting you when you break into one. This experience is nearly impossible to replicate with shop-bought croissants — even from the best viennoiserie in Paris.
Galaxy Desserts® Classic Croissants
What’s the Best Way to Serve Galaxy Desserts Classic Croissants?
If I’m hosting a group, I like to serve the classic butter croissants from Galaxy Desserts and the frangipane-stuffed almond croissants. This way people have options, but you really can’t go wrong if you stick to the classic pastry.
I love that these showstopping treats make a home brunch feel elevated with very little work. With the croissants at the center of the table, guests are happy dunking their pastries into coffee and tea or assembling sandwiches with smoked salmon, cream cheese, and capers. For those with a sweet tooth, I’ll offer jam. And a fancy little pot of clotted cream is always a nice addition.
Although it’s rare for me, if you end up with leftover croissants, they make excellent croutons. Tear the pastries up into bite-sized bits, toss them with olive oil and salt, and bake at 350°F until they’re crunchy (note that delicate croissants take on color faster than bread, so you’ll need to keep a close eye on them in the oven).
Buy: Galaxy Desserts Classic Croissants, $26.95 for 8 croissants at Williams Sonoma
Do you have a go-to pastry you buy for Easter? Tell us about it in the comments below.
