If you've picked up Trader Joe's 4 Almond Croissants you are in for a real treat. While the box doesn't look like much, inside this package is a treat worth the time it takes to make.
The taste
Out of the oven and cooled, these are crisp on the outside yet tender in the middle. The croissant itself is pretty spot on. The croissant dough is pleasantly buttery in taste. The sliced almonds have no difficulty staying in place.
The filling is what distinguishes these from the chocolate ones. While the chocolate filling is far more solid, the sweetened almond filling here is far thinner. However, with the amount of sweetness, it is not cloying.
Within the croissant, due to the baking process, it does become a bit hollowed out with the filling in the middle. That also means that there is a bit of margin for error (not on your part) where the filling will ooze out during the baking process.
But each bite is a bit ethereal if you enjoyed the taste of sweetened almond. The almonds on top make for an added crunch. And if you used parchment paper during the cooking process the filling that oozes out becomes a delicious almond brittle. Just be sure to give it time to cool.
The packaging
The packaging here is pretty standard. The four croissants come in a box. Within the box, these are packaged in a plastic sleeve covered in plastic wrap. The plastic wrap does keep the sliced almonds from slipping into the box.
The box doesn't scream out how delicious these actually are. This happens to be one of the items I find is often sold out or very limited every time I go to my local Trader Joe's.
Clearly, some people know about these. But the box doesn't announce the awesomeness of this product as much as it should. The box is also quite small which will force you to look a bit closer at the products in the freezer case.
The directions
The directions are pretty straightforward, however, I'd always recommend placing these on parchment as they have a tendency of the filling leaking out.
These are proofed when they have pretty much doubled in size. So be sure to give each one space from the next croissant.
I added an egg wash before putting these in the oven. That extra step allows for a shiny finish especially if you aren't dusting these with powdered sugar.
Just be warned that making these in the oven that the sweet almond filling tends to ooze out. It doesn't happen all the time. I've had some boxes where all the filling leaked after coming out of the oven. I've had some boxes where some leaked and not others. I've also had somewhere nothing has leaked. I've tried to troubleshoot this but haven't had much success.
Just note if croissants leak having parchment will make that molten filling easier to pick up AFTER it cools. This filling bubbles. So if it leaks this is where you need to allow it to cool. But if you've used parchment it is easy to peel off and enjoy on your own.
Also, move these on to a rack after removing from the oven to prevent the steam from getting trapped at the bottom. This will prevent them from getting a soggy bottom.
Can I air fry Trader Joe's Almond Croissants? According to Reddit, people have had success air frying these. You'll still need to let these rise overnight. Start by preheating your air fryer to 300F. Cook for about 20 minutes or until the exterior is golden brown. As an added bonus, there are some users who report the filling didn't ooze out the way they do in the oven.
Comparing Trader Joe's Croissants
As of the time of updating this review, there are currently three choices for croissants: mini, chocolate, and almond.
The mini croissants
- have had the recipe changed several times over there year and have had mixed feelings from people who have commented on this blog
- come 8 in a package
The chocolate croissants
- are the most similar to the almond croissants
- don't leak the way the almond croissants do
Frequently asked questions about this product
Below are some questions that you might have about this product:
The package costs $4.49 for four almond croissants.
This can mean either it is too cool where you are or you haven't given them enough time. You can proof these in the oven if your oven has a proofing setting which keeps the oven between 70-115F degrees.
After proofing, you'll need at least 20 minutes to bake and 10 minutes to cool. Don't try to eat these right out of the oven as the filling will be bubbling hot. Since the filling is sugary this will burn you.
Of all the varieties I've tried, Trader Joe's Almond Croissants have a filling that tends to leak. This is normal. Don't touch the filling immediately after this coming out of the oven.
Overall
For $4.49 this is a great deal for 4 croissants. Better yet, this is one of the tastiest croissants. I almost prefer this to the Trader Joe’s Frozen Chocolate Croissant. They are crisp out of the oven and the filling is just divine. I really thought the almonds only referred to the ones on top of the croissant. If you like almonds, this is a great item to reach for if you haven't tried it already.
Would I buy this again? Yes, I would buy Trader Joe's 4 Almond Croissants again. They are a delicious treat and one of my favorite items to buy in the frozen foods aisle.
A visual rundown of this product
The back of the box with the nutritional information:
The ingredients:
How to prepare:
How Trader Joe's describes this product:
Out of the freezer it looks like:
Out of the toaster oven after rising overnight it looked like this (I added an egg wash to it):
Want to see more items I've review at Trader Joe's? Click on Thoughts & Reviews of Trader Joe’s for a searchable list.
The Bottom Line
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Trader Joe's 4 Almond Croissants
Product Name: Trader Joe's 4 Almond Croissants
Product Description: Trader Joe's 4 Almond Croissants are a perennial favorite in the frozen foods aisle.
Price: $4.49
Summary
Trader Joe's 4 Almond Croissants are a long-standing favorite in the frozen food aisle and with good reason.
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Taste
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Value
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Worthy of Repurchasing
Pros
- Super delicious, ooey, and gooey almond paste filling that is superb out of the oven.
Cons
- You'll need to plan a little ahead and take these out of the freezer the night before.
- I've also found that they frequently leak the magical almond paste out of the croissant when cooking.
- Just be aware so the sugary magma does not burn you.
Finally found a place to buy Almond croissants. Years ago I used to buy them in a little cafe that went out of business, could never find good ones anywhere. If I ever find a Trader Joes around where I live I will be sure to purchase these.
These are delicious. I'm gad you mentioned it was common for the paste to come out while baking, I thought it was just me. Next time I'll definitely use parchment paper or remember to use cooking spray on my pan. i didn't let them rise overnight, but moved them from the freezer (they'd been there for months) to the fridge and then cooked from the fridge. Added a LOT of powdered sugar, just because. Will be purchasing these again, nice delicious treat. Just as good as my favorite bakeries.
Hey Lisa! Thanks for stopping by and sharing. I'm glad I could help. I know the leaking aspect is pretty common. I'm almost positive I used to have one a day for breakfast for a very long time.
These are sooooo good and the best almond croissants I've had. My new addiction! Worth the wait for them to proof. Perfect texture and taste. To be conservative on the fat grams in my day, I try to only eat half one day and half the next, but fail miserably most of the time. As a matter of fact, one morning I ate two, LOL. I was ashamed. Thanks for your review and thank you Trader Joe's!
You are welcome! Thank you for sharing!