Right before I got married, a coworker and I took a Croissant making class at Sur la Table. Yes, I had a fluffy white dress that was tailored to my exact frame and I was making buttered treats. Sorry, not sorry. When I walked away from that class I realized something important: they are a TON OF WORK (and a lot of butter). Labor of love is fine, but even Betty Crocker acknowledged women have things to do most of the time. Why mess with perfection when you can buy Trader Joe’s Chocolate Croissants in the freezer section.
In the three and half years since I posted the original review, these haven’t changed much. Which is a good thing because not all croissant products have been this lucky. And yes, just dig through the comment section alone. Trader Joe’s croissants have quite a passionate crowd.
But if you are willing to let these rise overnight and bake them fresh you’ll be rewarded with a pastry that is divine and one that will disappear right off of the table.
If you are new to this product, you might open up the box and say, “where is the rest of these?”
Don’t worry, that’s where the proofing overnight comes in. And believe me, this is so much less work than making it from scratch.
The key to success here is letting these get dark enough in your oven, lest they will deflate just after coming out of the oven. So don’t settle for golden brown with these. Wait until the sides are brown as well.
You’ll be rewarded with a treat that has lots of layers and the ooey-gooey chocolate center that will make you smile.
Here is a quick visual rundown of this product:
They are located in the freezer section in an unassuming box which looks as follows:
I remember taking my first package out and having the following thought: THAT’S IT?!
They are tiny. Yes, there are 4 in such a small package. Here is a teaspoon (not soup spoon for perspective’s sake.)
Directions are simple. Allow to rise for 9 hours.
Preheat oven (or toaster oven) to 350 F. Brush with egg wash.
Place in oven/toaster oven for 15 minutes until dark brown (even sides). In other words, if you are not careful it will be raw. Wait until the sides are brown as well. Wait for it to cool and enjoy an awesome treat in the morning. Or burn your mouth and go to work in agonizing pain. Either way, this is what it should look like:
Can you make it ahead? Yes, and eat them the next morning is fine. If you like Chocolate Croissants but don’t have a Starbucks budget then this is a fantastic treat (or in my case almost daily breakfast). Total home run Trader Joe’s.
Yes, I buy 3 boxes of Trader Joe’s Chocolate Croissants when I see them. As with anything Trader Joes, I’m never sure if I’m going to see this product again. Should you run out and get a box? If you love Chocolate Croissants, yes, but leave a box for me. If it’s a Saturday at Trader Joes, then take no prisoners.
Now, they aren’t diet food. So here is the nutritional information:
And the ingredient list:
And how to prepare these beauties:
And yes, these are one of my favorite items ever from Trader Joe’s.
Want to see more items I’ve reviewed from 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 Chocolate Croissants
Product Name: Trader Joe's 4 Chocolate Croissants
Product Description: Trader Joe's 4 Chocolate Croissants are a perennial favorite in the freezer section. They also seem to disappear as quickly as they've been cooked.
Price: $4.99
Summary
Trader Joe’s 4 Chocolate Croissants don’t look like much out of the box, but they puff up to some magical treat that is perfect for breakfast or dessert.
- Taste
- Value
- Worthy of Repurchasing
Pros
- Some of the best-frozen croissants out there
- Once these have risen all you need to do is set a timer.
- Delicious
Cons
- Requires overnight proofing. But please, don’t let this stop you from buying these
Looks fabulous, but too much fat for me (Dr Oz says never eat anything over 6g fat). Brenda, please find something low fat, low cal, and low sodium, that tastes really good. Thanks. 🙂
Brenda, I got a 404 message when clicking on the link in the email announcing this post.
Virtual hugs,
Judie
Thanks Judie! I’m working on somethings on the back end. I hate it when that happens. Sorry about that!
You made these sound so delicious that I absolutely need to try them!
These do sound amazing but too high in fat for me right now. Thxs for sharing though.