Description
Homemade cruffins blend croissant-like flakiness with muffin magic, creating a pastry sensation that delights bakery enthusiasts. Sweet layers of buttery richness promise an irresistible treat you won’t be able to resist.
Ingredients
Scale
Primary Ingredients:
- 3 cups (375 g) all-purpose flour
- 2 ¼ teaspoons (1 packet) active dry yeast
- 1 egg
- ¾ cup (180 milliliters) warm milk
- ½ cup (115 grams) unsalted butter, softened
- ¼ cup (60 milliliters) unsalted butter, melted
Supporting Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
Filling and Topping Options:
- Cinnamon sugar
- Jam
- Chocolate spread
- Grated cheese
- Powdered sugar
- Melted chocolate
- Flaky salt
Instructions
- Prepare the foundational pastry mixture by combining dry ingredients in a spacious mixing vessel, whisking flour, sugar, salt, and yeast until uniformly blended.
- Incorporate warm milk, melted butter, and egg into the dry ingredients, stirring until a shaggy, cohesive dough emerges.
- Transfer the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead vigorously for 8-10 minutes, developing gluten and creating a silky, elastic texture. Alternatively, utilize a stand mixer with a dough hook for 5-6 minutes of efficient kneading.
- Nestle the dough into a lightly greased bowl, envelop with a clean kitchen towel, and allow to proof in a draft-free, warm environment for 1-1.5 hours until it doubles in volume.
- Deflate the risen dough and segment into six equal portions, preparing for intricate shaping.
- Meticulously roll each dough segment into an ultrathin rectangular sheet, spreading a delicate layer of softened butter across the surface.
- Enhance the flavor profile by sprinkling cinnamon sugar, jam, or preferred filling evenly across the buttered surface.
- Tightly roll the rectangle into a compact log, then bisect lengthwise to reveal enticing layered inner textures.
- Craft each strip into an elegant coil, strategically positioning cut layers outward to showcase the pastry’s delicate architecture.
- Carefully nestle the coiled dough into a greased muffin tin, repeating the process for remaining dough segments.
- Loosely cover the filled muffin tin and permit a final 30-minute rise to develop volume and lightness.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C), creating an ideal baking environment.
- Bake the cruffins for 20-25 minutes, monitoring until they transform into a resplendent golden-brown with irresistibly flaky edges.
- Allow the cruffins to rest in the tin for 10 minutes, facilitating gentle cooling and structural stabilization.
- Transfer to a wire rack and finish with elegant embellishments: dust with powdered sugar, drizzle with chocolate, or sprinkle with flaky sea salt to complement the chosen filling.
Notes
- Ensure milk is warm (not hot) around 110°F to activate yeast without killing it, preventing dense dough texture.
- Use high-protein bread flour for better gluten development, creating more elastic and lighter cruffin structure.
- Room temperature ingredients blend smoother, helping dough incorporate evenly and rise consistently.
- Chill butter before spreading to maintain clean layers and prevent absorption into dough, preserving flaky pastry texture.
- Experiment with alternative fillings like Nutella, fruit preserves, or savory herb spreads for diverse flavor profiles.
- Gluten-free option: Replace wheat flour with cup-for-cup gluten-free blend and add xanthan gum for structural support.
- Vegan adaptation: Substitute dairy milk with almond milk, butter with coconut oil, and egg with ground flaxseed mixture.
- Overnight proofing enhances flavor complexity by allowing slow fermentation in refrigerator, developing deeper taste notes.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg