The Fantabulous Chronicles

Who can resist the siren call of a splendid croissant? I mean, seriously, these buttery delights perform a magic trick right in your mouth, vanishing into those flaky layers like culinary Houdinis.

But hang on, fall’s tapping on the window like an eager dinner guest, and we’re over here brainstorming Halloween decorations and plotting our autumnal feasts. Yep, we’re diving headfirst into the fall spirit, even though it’s still a few weeks away, which seems to start with trees showing off their wardrobe changes in shades of red and gold. Oh, those plum trees are the real MVPs this year, flaunting their leafy transformation like they just stepped out of a high-end fashion show.

But let’s talk about the truly important matters at hand – croissants and pumpkins. In our household, it’s a showdown of tastes: our little croissant connoisseur, our daughter, is all in for that buttery goodness, while our eldest son? Well, he’s got an unquenchable pumpkin passion. I swear, he’d munch on a raw pumpkin like it’s a gourmet snack if you gave him half a chance.

So here’s the master plan: let’s blend these two obsessions into a masterpiece. Drumroll, please – introducing the pumpkin croissants! It’s like the universe heard our cravings and said, “Why not both?” Flaky croissants meet the essence of fall, that pumpkin magic, all rolled into one delicious package. It’s the kind of thing our daughter would high-five us for and our pumpkin enthusiast son might just do a pumpkin-themed victory dance. Let the baking adventures begin! 🥐🎃

For this fantabulous recipe, we’re breaking things down into a triumvirate of taste – behold, the mighty trio of ingredients: the dough, the buttery filling, and the splendid glazed topping.

Ingredients – Dough:
2-1/2 Cup Bread Flour
1-1/2 Cup All Purpose Flour
1 Tbsp. Yeast
2/3 Cup Pumpkin Puree
1/4 Cup + 2 Tbsp. Milk
2/3 Cup Granulated Sugar
Pinch of Salt
1 Cup Cold Water
1/4 Cup Melted Butter
Egg Wash or Maple Syrup

Ingredients – Butter:
1-3/4 Sticks of Room Temp Butter (14 Tbsp)
1 Tbsp. Cinnamon
1-1/2 tsp. Ground Ginger
1-1/2 tsp Cardamom

Ingredients – Glaze:
1 Cup Powdered Sugar
1 tsp. Maple Syrup
1/2 tsp. Vanilla Extract
Milk – As needed

Directions:

1. Grab your fanciest, laughably oversized bowl because we’re throwing a dough-tastic bash! We’ve got bread flour, all-purpose flour, milk, yeast, pumpkin purée, sugar, and a dash of salt all crammed in there – and they’re here to party in doughy harmony! Blend them together like a band ready to rock the kitchen.
2. Now, brace yourself for the entrance of the unexpected party crashers – cold water and melted butter! They burst onto the floury scene like they own the place, demanding to join the doughy dance floor. Give ’em a good stir until they’re grooving along with the rest.
3. Time to shift the spotlight to our floured stage – kneading time! Get ready to channel your inner dough whisperer and work that dough like a yoga guru. Smooth and stretchy, my friend, we’re aiming for dough enlightenment!
4. Escort your dough celebrity to its very own dough spa – a cozy bowl with a snug cover. Let it bask in the limelight for an hour, growing to twice its former glory. Fame suits it well!
5. Meanwhile, in the behind-the-scenes butter realm, mix up a concoction of butter, cinnamon, ground ginger, and cardamom – the Spice Girls of the butter world! Give it a spa day in a baggie flatten it until it’s all thin and fabulous, then tuck it into the fridge. Yep, even butter deserves a glamorous pampering.
6. Once your dough has finished its diva growth spurt, roll it out like you’re unveiling the red carpet at a Hollywood event. And here comes the superstar – the flattened spice-infused butter baggie! Drape that dough with buttery elegance, fold it up like a luxurious cloak – place dough on one half and fold the other on top, and don’t forget to brush off any floury paparazzi.
7. Reveal your buttery masterpiece, give it a thoughtful fold, and roll it out like you’re plotting an epic board game strategy. Roll, fold, repeat – do it more times than you can count (3-5 times) and you might just feel like a dough acrobat! Time for a cozy 2-hour nap in the fridge, or an overnight slumber party – we’re keeping that butter cool as a cucumber.
8. Now, the dough is ready to make its grand entrance – it’s rested, it’s rolled, and it’s ready to dazzle as triangles! Flatten that dough like you’re giving it a motivational pep talk into a 18”x24” rectangle, then slice and dice into sassy triangles about 3” wide at the base. Roll them up with the finesse of a pro origami artist, tuck in those points, and voilà – haute couture croissants!
9. Let those croissants chill under a plastic wrap blanket for a glorious 2 hours – they’re having their beauty sleep, just like the stars do.
10. As the oven heats up to a sizzling 375 degrees and the croissants get dolled up, it’s time for the ultimate glaze showdown! Will it be the egg wash or the suave maple syrup? Let your taste buds be the judges – it’s a glaze-off extravaganza! Personally, I’m team maple syrup, but you do you.
11. Baking to a radiant golden perfection for 20-25 minutes, your kitchen transforms into the backstage of a baking concert. The aroma? That’s your standing ovation, and those croissants? They’re the headlining rock stars of your oven.
12. Now, it’s the grand finale – the icing extravaganza! Powdered sugar, maple syrup, and vanilla are here to create a sweet symphony – mix until they’re harmoniously jamming. Add a splash of milk to set the perfect icing tempo – adjust to your preferred groove. Drizzle that sweet serenade over your croissant celebrities and let them take their well-deserved final bow.
13. Bravo! It’s time for your taste buds to take a bow of their own. These croissants are ready to take you on a flavor-filled journey filled with comedy and drama – the ultimate baking blockbuster. So relish each bite and savor those flavors like a true dough enthusiast!

As the fall season kicks in, what kinds of foods instantly pop into your mind? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below. And if you’re finding our posts delightful, take a quick second to show some love by hitting that like button and subscribing. This way, you’ll stay in the loop for all the upcoming exciting content we’re cooking up!