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.
Review & Taste
If you are new to this product, you might open up the box and say, "where is the rest of these?" and "how did they fit 4 whole croissants into a box?
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.
But despite their tiny size they will puff up and begin to look like croissants minus the golden brown exterior.
If for any reason your croissant isn't rising it is likely due to the temperature being cooler in your home. If that is the case, use your ovens proof setting or put your oven on its lowest setting and allow it to rise.
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.
Once the sides are nice and brown and yes, you'll be able to see those beautiful layers then it is ready to come out of the oven.
You will need to use some wait time. The chocolate in the middle will be too hot to consume. But once it is just warm there is a special treat waiting for you.
You'll be rewarded with a treat that has lots of layers and the ooey-gooey chocolate center that will make you smile.
And yes, this is hands down one of the best croissants I've ever found in the freezer aisle or even in the bakery aisle at the grocery store.
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.
You may find that these become your go-to for breakfast, special occasions, or a late-night dessert.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about Trader Joe's Chocolate Croissants
In the oven at 350F, you will need about 20-25 minutes of cooking time after proofing. If you are making these in an air fryer you will need 15-20 minutes at 350F.
Yes, these are not oven-ready and need to be proofed overnight at room temperature. You can speed up the process by using the proof setting on your oven for about 2 hours until they have doubled in size.
Overall
Would I buy Trader Joe's Chocolate Croissants again? Yes, I buy 3 boxes of Trader Joe's Chocolate Croissants when I see them. As with anything at Trader Joe's, 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 Joe's, then take no prisoners.
Product Review
They are located in the freezer section in an unassuming box that 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 eating 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.
Calories
Ingredients
Directions
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.
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Taste
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Value
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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.
My 17 year old son works at Trader Joe’s, lucky me! He brought home the chocolate and the almond croissants. Love them both!
Hey Barbara! Your son is one lucky guy. Tell him to stay safe. And I totally agree with you about these too. Thank so much for stopping by
Just bought my first box. Gonna save them for sunday bfast.
Who gave these a low score! Probably one of those ‘this is too high in fat, I didn’t try it’ folks. They’re absolutely amazing! I’ve tried the almond and the chocolate. Yep, a croissant is high in fat. I know, we were all just as shocked as you are.
Hey Alexis! Thanks for sharing!
Love these croissants! Question: After leaving croissants overnight to rise, if I want to serve them for dessert after dinner should I leave them out on the counter at room temperature during the day, or refrigerate them until closer to dinner time & then cook them?
You can leave them out for the day. But just be aware if there is anyone else around they do tend to disappear! Thanks so much for stopping by!
My husband shared this link with me this morning after eating one of these hot and fresh from the oven. I found these about a year ago. Yes, they are high in fat, so they are a splurge for us... meaning on Fridays, when we indulge in coffee also. LOL Fridays are also leg day, so it all evens out in the end. I love that you spotlighted this item. Trader Joe's has some really great items, but this is one of the best. If were to even attempt these at home, I would use at least 1 box of puff pastry $5 - $10 and 8 sticks of dark Belgian chocolate $6 - $9, so this is also a bargain.
Thanks so much for sharing Kristina!