Welcome to Trader Joe's 8 Mini Croissants review 2.0. It should actually be considered 3.0 as I never got a chance to try the original mini croissants. But since publishing this more than a year ago, some very passionate fans of the old product have come out to share their thoughts. And I'm happy to report this product is back and improved from the ones in a bag.
Review
If you are a fan of Trader Joe's Croissants, then you might have been disappointed by any change in the product and its formulation. For some reason, they've been tinkering with the mini croissants but not the almond or chocolate ones.
However, I felt the need to update this review because when I walked past the croissant section I noticed the bag was gone and there were croissants in different packaging. Usually, when there is updated packaging it means there has been a change.
Now, like the croissants in a bag, these do not require any overnight proofing. But what I can tell you is these are much improved over the ones in a bag. They are flakier and taste a lot less like Pillsbury crescent rolls and more like the much-loved croissants.
These cooked up with all the layers you could hope for. Now, again, I never tried the original Trader Joe's 8 Mini Croissants that were changed more than a year ago. However, that is what the comments section is for.
Overall
Would I buy this new box of Trader Joe's 8 Mini Croissants again? Yes, I would buy this box again. It seemed pretty solid this time around. But again, I didn't try the originals.
Product Photos
The box of Trader Joe's 8 Mini Croissants:
Calories and ingredients
Directions
Out of the box you get:
Out of the oven, you get:
Previous Review
All comments below refer to an earlier product prior to 11/19/19
The pros: Trader Joe's 8 Mini Croissants are new and replace the frozen ones you have to proof. Don't worry though, the Chocolate and Almond croissants are still in the frozen aisle.
The cons: If you imagined (like I did) that these would be about the size of say a crescent roll, then you will be surprised by how much they puff up. This bag is not resealable. They are made in Belgium.
The verdict:
I love a good croissant. So much so that a fellow friend and I decided to take a croissant-making class at Sur La Table a day or two before my wedding.
Yup, nothing says I don't need to fit into my clothes anymore, like learning to make buttery pastries.
So let's start off with a couple of things that are worth noting. This is a new product. Trader Joe's previously offered boxed variety with the same name that was just plain croissants. Those required time. Overnight + bake time. While the chocolate and almond croissants are still there, the plain ones have not been there the last few times I stopped into my local TJs.
Now, the chocolate ones are near perfection. The only downside is you can't just pop them in the oven. You have to wait for them to rise.
The almond ones are a close second, but they frequently leak their filling all over the cookie sheet. Also, they would be prettier if they mentioned the importance of an egg wash. In terms of taste, they are on point too.
These croissants are for those of us who fail to plan. I know I'll need to eat, but often I fail to plan. If you have about 25 minutes, then you might be pleasantly surprised by how good these are for something coming out of a bag.
Let's start off with the price. For $3.99 you are getting 8 not so mini but not full-sized pastries. Go into any French bakery and that might get you two if you are lucky.
Because of the ridiculously high heat here in NY, these were pretty much fully defrosted for me by the time I brought them home. So while I did not leave them out for 30 minutes, they did endure a shopping trip, a 25-minute car ride in 90-degree heat, plus putting the groceries away.
About 25-minute later I had golden brown pastries. I pushed it to the 30 minutes to ensure that they weren't quite as light as the ones on the picture on the bag.
You see, when it comes to croissants you want a bit of color. Without the color, it means you might be biting into mush. You want flaky layers. If I had let them stay in the oven a few more minutes I probably could have added to the layering.
But the outside was crisp and the inside light and tender.
For something that wasn't full-sized, it was pretty good. For something that does not require overnight proofing, they are pretty good.
Best of all these are less than half the calories of the chocolate or almond croissants and are a touch easier to make. It's like Trader Joe's understands just how lazy I am.
Don't get me wrong, those chocolate and almond ones are worth the time. But if you are looking for an upgrade to your Pillsbury Crescent Rolls, then you should give these a try.
Here is the visual rundown of what you get if you buy this product:
The bag of Trader Joe's 8 Mini Croissants:
The nutritional information:
The ingredients:
How to prepare:
How Trader Joe's describes these:
After being cooked you get:
Would I buy this again? Yes, I would buy Trader Joe's 8 Mini Croissants again. They were easy, peasy and tasted pretty good. Not French Bakery amazing, but darn good out of the bag.
Want to see more items I've reviewed from Trader Joe's? Click on Thoughts & Reviews of Trader Joe's for a searchable list.
Did you try it? Let me know what you think in the comments section!
The Bottom Line
Don't forget to share your thoughts by going to the "user review" at the bottom of the box (click on the number of stars you believe this product deserves) and leave a comment below.
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Trader Joe's 8 Mini Croissants
Product Name: Trader Joe's 8 Mini Croissants
Product Description: Trader Joe's 8 Mini Croissants are the third variation in the last two years of this classic.
Price: $4.49
Currency: USD
Availability: InStoreOnly
Summary
Trader Joe's 8 Mini Croissants are now the third variety of mini croissants we've seen and the second variety that requires no proofing
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Taste
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Value
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Worthy of Repurchasing
Pros
- These are an improvement over the previous ones in a bag
- The directions are on point
- They are light and airy tasting
Cons
- I still prefer the almond and chocolate croissants
- Proofing good bread is always worth the time for me
Dag says
These sounds yummy. I so wish they would make a savoury variety like ham and gruyere or spinach and feta.
becomebetty says
Hey Dag! Happy 4th! Oh yes, those are absolutely missing from shelves. But these could be made into a cute little sandwich too. Hope the weather by you has finally cooled down!
becomebetty says
Funny you should mention that, because guess what just hit Trader Joe's website: https://www.traderjoes.com/digin/post/uncured-ham--swiss-cheese-flaky-croissant-dough-squares
I haven't seen it in my store, but I'll keep an eye out!
Penelope Tucker says
I asked for these at my local TJs on Monday (and the only TJ in central Oregon. ..unless you drive 3 hours and go to Portlandia), and they had not received them yet. But I’m nervous that these won’t be as good as those you proof. Can you comment on their comparison to the old style mini croissants? I loved the older version and am happy I still have a few boxes still in the freezer.
becomebetty says
Hey Penelope! Unfortunately, I never got around to trying those. They were always on my list to try, but my inner Homer Simpson voice kept saying "Mmmmm...Chocolate" (croissants). That's the voice I kept listening to. Worth a try. I've even reheated them in the toaster oven and they held up well. I wish I could help more on this one.
Dag says
WHAT? Ham and cheese croissant squares?! I am going to Trader Joe's tomorrow! You just made my weekend LOL. Maybe this will make up for the chicken parmesan I just tried again. I put a comment on your past review.
becomebetty says
Hey Dag! I just picked up the Ham and Cheese croissant squares. Hope to get the review up in the next couple days. Glad the info made you weekend! Thanks as always for taking the time and stopping by!
Dag says
Well I just got back from TJS with for boxes of the ham and cheese croissant squares in hand. There were only six left. These look remarkably similar to Starbucks ham and cheese croissant pockets. They appear to be about the same size, the same ingredients and look visibly similar. We shall see how Trader Joe's version tastes. Where they definitely differ is the price! Starbucks version cost about $3.75 a piece. Trader Joe's box of 4 costs $4.99! I am looking forward to your opinion in your review.
Terry Dallas says
The new ones are NOT croissants; they're crescent rolls. The old ones were fabulous croissants and will be greatly missed. I won't be bothering buying the new ones. I'd like to finding who made the old ones and see if they're sold anywhere else.
becomebetty says
Hey Terry! Thanks so stopping by and sharing your thoughts on this. I did not get a chance to try the old ones so thanks for the comparison point.
Maureen says
Terry - the old plain colloids ants are made by Galaxy Desserts in Richmond, Ca. They are also sold at Willians Sonoma. They often have sales, and I think they're sold in larger packages for about $40 for two dozen.
Alex Bourov says
The old ones were wonderful, practically ideal. There is no comparison to a new ones. I'm puzzled now, why would TJs replace the great product with just an ordinary. Who's idea it was. If you really liked the new one, just add it to the roster, not replace the old great ones.
becomebetty says
Hey Alex! Thanks for posting this. I never got around to trying the other ones, so it is readers like you who I count on to fill in the gaps. Perhaps people did not love the proofing process, but who knows. Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your thoughts!
Michael Borrowman says
New ones are terrible. Not real croissants, just bready inside.What happened to flaky and butter? New ones freeze together in freezer and difficult to pull apart. Old ones were perfect. So easy and faster. New ones have a nasty after taste and seem very cheap. Please bring back your winning formula. They were the reason I shopped at Trader Joe's.
becomebetty says
Hey Michael Borrowman! I'm glad you can draw a comparison for everyone. I never tried the old ones. I'd recommend that you reach out to Trader Joe's directly here: https://www.traderjoes.com/contact-us/product-feedback and voice your concerns. Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by and share your thoughts!
thestreetprose says
X
I wholeheartedly agree with the previous posters- the new croissants are an abomination- a plague upon the buttery heavenliness of the previous version. To those who complained about having to proof them overnight I apologize to them for not realizing that we humans must eat in the future as well as the present. Your shortsightedness has left us with the easy bake version of microwaveable quality dough. Thank you for your persistent complaining about having to think. Now we can all enjoy these terrible croissants with a 10am crying session about how our daddy never loved us over bottle of 2 buck chuck over ice with a straw. This is what you made us.
becomebetty says
Hey thestreetprose! I never tasted the originals, so I'm glad everyone is sharing how different (and clearly unloved) they are to those who loved them. As always, if you truly hate them enough (and because I'm neither affiliated nor work for them) I always encourage people to voice their concerns about a discontinued or a bad replacement with TJ's themselves. Here is the link: https://www.traderjoes.com/contact-us/product-feedback
Dawn See says
Yes, unfortunately the new ones aren’t anywhere near as good as the croissants that proof overnight. We loved the old ones. Hopefully, they will bring back the old supplier.
becomebetty says
Hey Dawn, I left TJ's information in one of the comments. It's absolutely worth writing to them to share your experience to make your voice heard. Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by.
Dawn See says
I agree.