This Starbucks-inspired Baked Apple Croissant recipe has been tested to perfection and is about to become your new fall obsession! With only 7 ingredients, these flaky, soft, cinnamon apple-filled treats couldn’t be simpler to make. It’s the perfect way to kick off the season with something truly special.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love These Homemade Apple Croissants
- Starbucks Copycat Recipe – When Starbucks releases its fall menu every year, we always run to try out all of the new fall drinks and treats! But since that can get pretty expensive over time, it’s great to have this copycat recipe in your back pocket.
- Flaky Texture/Apple Pie Flavor -Is there anything better than crispy and tender puff pastry, filled with the warm, sweet flavors of apple pie? These are over-the-top, need another bite, tell all your friends, good.
- Impressive – Pastries are often left to the experts at stores and bakeries, but not these! Impress your friends and family with an easy treat that feels special.
- SO Easy – They look and taste like they require skill and experience to make, but they don’t at all. The store-bought puff pastry and super simple filling only take a few steps that are fool-proof.
Puff Pastry Apple Croissant Recipe
As we head into autumn and cooler temps, I have found myself dreaming of mornings with hot tea and treats bursting with fall flavors like Apple Cider Muffins and Pumpkin Banana Muffins. Starbucks has served Apple Croissants for a few fall seasons now and when I saw it was coming back this year I knew I wanted to try to make them at home!
Even though puff pastry isn’t technically croissant dough, you still get all those flakey layers and tender crust. I chose puff pastry over croissant dough because it’s easier to find in grocery stores and much easier to work with, but still results in a similar taste and texture. You can also save time by using storebought apple pie filling and the recipe just got even easier! I’ll be making this on repeat all season.
Love puff pastry? Try these Apple Goat Cheese Puff Pastry and Nutella Puff Pastry recipes, too!
Ingredients in Apple Croissants
- Granny Smith Apples – Tart, firm, and a little acidic, Granny Smith apples stand up well to the cinnamon and sweet filling so you can taste strong apple flavor and not just sugar and spice. You can also substitute with any tart apple you like.
- Cornstarch – The cornstarch helps thicken the filling so it doesn’t seep through the pastry dough. Substitute with equal parts of tapioca starch or potato starch if you prefer.
- Butter – The butter adds a creaminess to the filling mixture. Substitute with plant-based butter in equal amounts.
- Brown Sugar – Use light or dark brown sugar for this recipe. Either one would be delicious.
- Cinnamon – If you have apple pie spice, you can use that as a substitute! It really takes things to another level.
- Lemon Juice – Just a little splash of lemon juice helps balance all the sweetness.
- Puff Pastry – Puff Pastry sheets are found in the frozen dessert or frozen dough section of the grocery store. Make sure the dough is completely thawed before cutting and forming the croissants in the muffin tin.
How to Make Puff Pastry Apple Croissants
I love how truly easy this recipe is to make. Here’s how to do it:
- In a nonstick skillet, combine all of the ingredients for the apple filling, and cook over medium heat until thick.
- Preheat the oven and line 8 muffin tins.
- Place one puff pastry square in each muffin liner and fill with apple filling.
- Using wet fingertips, fold over the corners of the dough to enclose the filling.
- Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown and cool for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Recipe Variations
The simplicity of these apple croissants means that they’re perfect for adding your own flair! Here are some ideas:
- Save Time – Short on time? Use store-bought apple pie filling! Simply add 2 heaping Tablespoons of prepared pie filling and follow the recipe as written.
- Toppings – Sprinkle powdered sugar or cinnamon over the top of the apple croissants after they come out of the oven. Drizzle the icing from this Apple Pie Cinnamon Roll Casserole recipe over the top of the cooled croissants before serving.
- Make Them Smaller – Using a mini-muffin pan, cut each sheet of puff pastry into 16 squares instead of 8, and add just 1 Tablespoon of filling to each one. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until they are slightly brown.
- Fillings – These puff pastry-filled croissants can be filled with so many other options! Use any flavor of pie filling you like, like cherry pie filling. You could also fill them with pieces of dark chocolate for chocolate croissants.
Storing Apple Croissants
These apple treats are best eaten slightly warm on the same day you bake them, but let’s be real, they’re good any time! Here’s how to store them:
Allow the croissants to cool completely and place them in an airtight container. Keep them for the following timelines:
- Room Temp – Up to 2 days
- Refrigerator – Up to 1 week
- Reheat – Microwave for 15-20 seconds until warm
More Starbucks Copycat Recipes
- Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino
- Maple Pecan Latte
- Cranberry Bliss Bars
- Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
- Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew
- Caramel Brulee Latte
- Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino
More Fall Treat Recipes You’ll Love
- Cinnamon Streusel Muffins
- Honeybun Cake
- Mexican Cinnamon Cookies
- Pumpkin Pie Blizzard Recipe
- Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies
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Baked Apple Croissant
Equipment
Ingredients
Apple Filling
- 2 medium granny smith apples peeled and diced very small, about 2 cups
- 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 Tablespoon butter
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1/2 cup water
Croissants
- 2 sheets puff pastry cut into 8 equal squares
Instructions
- In a nonstick skillet, combine all of the ingredients for the apple filling and stir very well.
- Turn the heat to medium and cook, stirring often, until the apples soften, and the sauce thickens. This takes about 10-12 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Line 8 muffin cups with parchment squares or cupcake liners.
- Add one square of puff pastry dough to each liner and fill with 2 heaping Tablespoons of filling.
- Using wet fingertips, fold over the corners of the dough to enclose the filling.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until lightly browned.
- Allow them to cool in the pan for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Notes
Reheat the apple croissants in the microwave for 15 seconds before eating.
Save time by using storebought apple pie filling.
Make sure the puff pastry dough is completely thawed before using.
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