Cheesy Croissantwich Recipes

GRILLED CHEESE CROISSANT DONUT (CHEESY BACON CROISSONUT)

Steps:

• Open one tube of dough and unroll onto a lightly floured clean work surface. Lightly dust the top of the dough and a rolling pin with flour and roll the dough to a 12-by-14-inch rectangle, about 1/8 inch thick. Roll out the second tube of dough to the same size and thickness.
• Place the cheese slices in a single layer over one rectangle of dough. Put the second rectangle of dough on top of the cheese slices and roll with the rolling pin to seal. Fold the right side of the dough over one-third of the way to the center, and do the same with the left side to tri-fold the dough. Roll the dough back out to a 6-by-10-inch rectangle about 3/8 inch thick. Using a 3-inch donut cutter or 3-inch round cutter with a 1-inch round hole, cut out 4 donut shapes from the dough.
• Pour enough oil in a heavy-bottomed Dutch oven to come 3 inches up the sides. Heat over medium-high heat until a deep-fry thermometer inserted in the oil registers 340 degrees F. Fry the donuts in batches until golden brown, about 1 minute per side. Drain on a wire rack-lined baking sheet.
• In a small bowl, mix together the Dijon mustard and honey until well combined. Use a pastry brush to brush the tops of the donuts with the honey mustard and sprinkle with the chopped bacon. Serve immediately.

CROISSANTS

Steps:

• Combine yeast, warm water, and 1 teaspoon sugar. Allow to stand until creamy and frothy.
• Measure flour into a mixing bowl. Dissolve 2 teaspoons sugar and salt in warm milk. Blend into flour along with yeast and oil. Mix well; knead until smooth. Cover, and let rise until over triple in volume, about 3 hours. Deflate gently, and let rise again until doubled, about another 3 hours. Deflate and chill 20 minutes.
• Massage butter until pliable, but not soft and oily. Pat dough into a 14x8-inch rectangle. Smear butter over top two thirds, leaving 1/4-inch margin all around. Fold unbuttered third over middle third, and buttered top third down over that. Turn 90 degrees, so that folds are to left and right. Roll out to a 14x6-inch rectangle. Fold in three again. Sprinkle lightly with flour, and put dough in a plastic bag. Refrigerate 2 hours. Unwrap, sprinkle with flour, and deflate gently. Roll to a 14x6-inch rectangle, and fold again. Turn 90 degrees, and repeat. Wrap, and chill 2 hours.
• To shape, roll dough out to a 20x5-inch rectangle. Cut in half crosswise, and chill half while shaping the other half. Roll out to a 15 x 5 inch rectangle. Cut into three 5 x 5 inch squares. Cut each square in half diagonally. Roll each triangle lightly to elongate the point, and make it 7 inches long. Grab the other 2 points, and stretch them out slightly as you roll it up. Place on a baking sheet, curving slightly. Let shaped croissants rise until puffy and light. In a small bowl, beat together egg and 1 tablespoon water. Glaze croissants with egg wash.
• Bake in a preheated 475 degrees F (245 degrees C) oven for 12 to 15 minutes.

CREAM CHEESE FILLED CROISSANTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a baking dish.
• Stir cream cheese, yogurt, and sugar together in a bowl until smooth. Fold strawberries into cheese mixture.
• Separate crescent roll dough into 8 triangles. Spoon cream cheese mixture into the middle of each triangle and roll dough around the filling, starting at the smallest end. Pinch to seal and place in the prepared baking dish.
• Bake in the preheated oven until puffed and golden-brown, 13 to 15 minutes.

CHEESY CHEESEBURGERS

Steps:

• Divide the beef into 4 equal portions. Press a cube of pepper jack into the center of each and shape the meat around the cheese; form into patties, about 4 inches wide and 3/4 inch thick. Season the patties with salt and pepper.
• Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the patties and cook until browned on the bottom, about 4 minutes. Flip the patties and top each with a slice of Cheddar; cook 4 to 5 more minutes.
• Meanwhile, toast the hamburger buns and spread with ketchup, mustard and/or mayonnaise. Fill with the burgers and top with lettuce, tomato and/or red onion. Serve with pickles.

HAM AND CHEESE CROISSANTS

Steps:

• Arrange racks in the upper third and lower thirds of the oven. Bring a skillet of water to a simmer over medium-high heat. Transfer the skillet to the floor of the oven and close the door. (The steam released inside the oven will create an ideal proofing environment for the pastries.) Line two rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
• Let the dough sit for 5 minutes at room temperature. Unwrap (save the plastic wrap for proofing) and place on a very lightly floured surface. If the dough has shrunk during chilling, roll it out again to a slab that's 16 inches long and 15 inches wide. Dust off any excess flour.
• Use a wheel cutter to trim 1/2 inch of dough from all four sides, straightening and squaring them off, creating a slab that's 15 inches long by 14 inches wide. Using a ruler, cut the slab lengthwise into 5 equal strips each measuring 3 inches wide. Cut each strip in half crosswise, creating 10 rectangles.
• Working with one rectangle of dough at a time, cover one half with a slice of ham, folding it as needed to leave a 1/2-inch border along the short side. Then, top with 1/2 ounce (2 tablespoons) of the cheese. Roll the dough into a snug spiral, starting at the end with the ham and cheese, then transfer the spiral to one of the prepared baking sheets, resting it on the seam. Repeat with the remaining dough, ham and cheese, dividing between the sheets and spacing evenly. Very loosely cover with plastic wrap so the pastries have some room to expand.
• Open the oven and stick your hand inside: It should be humid but not hot, as the water in the skillet will have cooled. You want the pastries to proof at 70 to 75 degrees (any hotter and the butter will melt, leading to a denser pastry). Gently place the baking sheets inside the oven on the two racks and let the pastries proof until they're doubled in size, extremely puffy and jiggle delicately on the baking sheet, 2 to 2 1/2 hours.
• When the pastries are proofed, remove the baking sheets from the oven and carefully uncover them. Transfer to the refrigerator and chill for 20 minutes while you heat the oven. Remove the skillet from the oven and heat to 375 degrees.
• In a small bowl, stir the yolks and heavy cream until streak-free. Remove the baking sheets from the refrigerator and use a pastry brush to gently brush the surfaces of each pastry with the yolk mixture. Transfer the sheets to the oven and bake for 20 minutes. Rotate the baking sheets and switch racks and continue to bake until the pastries are deeply browned, another 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool completely on the baking sheets.