Description
Indulge in a delightful French-American fusion dessert with these Strawberry Vanilla Bean Cronuts. Featuring flaky, golden puff pastry fried to perfection, filled with luscious strawberry jam, creamy vanilla bean whipped cream, and fresh diced strawberries, these homemade cronuts are a perfect treat for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Puff Pastry and Frying
- 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil (for frying)
Filling and Topping
- 1/2 cup strawberry jam
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 vanilla bean (seeds scraped) or 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
- 1 tablespoon powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup diced fresh strawberries
- Additional powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Prepare the Puff Pastry: Roll out the thawed puff pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface and fold it in thirds like a letter to layer it further. Roll it out again to flatten the dough evenly to the desired thickness.
- Cut the Donut Shapes: Using a round cookie cutter, cut out 6 to 8 donut shapes from the pastry. Then, use a smaller cutter to cut out the centers, creating the classic donut hole shape.
- Heat Oil for Frying: In a deep skillet or heavy-bottomed pan, heat 1/2 cup vegetable oil over medium heat until it reaches 350°F (175°C), ideal for frying the cronuts to a golden crisp.
- Fry the Cronuts: Fry the cut puff pastry cronuts in batches for about 1 to 2 minutes per side, or until they puff up and turn golden brown. Use a slotted spoon to turn them gently for even cooking.
- Drain and Cool: Remove the fried cronuts from the oil and drain on a paper towel-lined plate to absorb excess oil. Let them cool slightly so they can be handled safely.
- Prepare the Vanilla Bean Cream: In a small bowl, whisk together the heavy cream, scraped vanilla bean seeds or vanilla bean paste, and powdered sugar until soft peaks form, creating a light and fragrant whipped cream.
- Assemble the Cronuts: Carefully slice each cronut in half horizontally. Spread a spoonful of strawberry jam on the bottom half, add a generous dollop of vanilla bean whipped cream, and sprinkle with diced fresh strawberries.
- Finish and Serve: Replace the top halves of the cronuts, then dust the assembled cronuts with additional powdered sugar. Serve immediately for the best freshness and flavor.
Notes
- Use store-bought puff pastry for convenience, but chilling and layering your own puff pastry dough can enhance flakiness.
- Substitute strawberry jam with raspberry jam or any fruit compote for variety.
- Serve these cronuts fresh to enjoy their perfect crispy and creamy texture.
