It’s National Croissant Day this weekend, so here are 6 indulgent croissants from Chicago bakeries
Sunday is National Croissant Day, and if there was ever a reason to celebrate such a buttery, flaky, indulgent cause, we’re thinking this is our chance.
Thankfully, plenty of Chicago bakeries are rising to the occasion, offering up their takes on the traditional by way of ingredients such as cardamom, yuzu and, dare we say — truffles.
From a South Side pop-up to a North Side neighborhood fixture, here are six spots to visit this weekend to champion the croissant.
Butterdough canelada at Two Mile
Uvaldo Leon Meraz began working at a bakery right out of high school, spending years experimenting at home with different doughs, structure development and shaping techniques.
Eventually, the South Side native opened Butterdough, a small-batch bakery specializing in viennoiserie — the subset of pastry that includes croissants, brioche, pain au chocolat and Danish pastries — using the best ingredients he can find (think French-imported, A.O.P.-certified butter).
Though the bakery has vacated its McKinley Park storefront during the pandemic, you can find Butterdough popping up in the Beverly neighborhood at Two Mile Coffee Bar this Saturday and Monday through Saturday beginning Feb. 5. A half-dozen croissant renditions are on offer, including the canelada, a morning bun made with Mexican sugar that lands somewhere beautifully between cinnamon bun and churro. Two Mile Coffee Bar, 9907 South Walden Parkway, 773-629-6001, twomilecoffee.com ; instagram.com/butter_dough
Cardamom-chocolate or Tebirkes at Lost Larson
Now with a second location in Wicker Park, Lost Larson has doubled down on producing its artisan croissants, breads and pastries. Chef Bobby Schaffer draws from his fine-dining background and Scandinavian heritage to inform his menu — and the croissants are no exception.
Take, for example, the cardamom-chocolate croissant, comprised of dark chocolate and cardamom-scented dough; or the Tebirkes, a Danish favorite featuring sweet almond cream and poppy seeds.
No matter your pick, you can feel good about it — all of the croissants here incorporate whole wheat the bakery mills fresh from an organic farm south of the city. 5318 N. Clark St., 773-944-0587; 2140 W. Division St., 773-770-9015; lostlarson.com
Croissant Day sampler at Vanille
To honor National Croissant Day, owner Sophie Evanoff decided to bake up not one, not two, but six croissant variations.
Beyond the bakery’s always-available viennoiserie selection, taste your way through the Croissant Day specials, such as tangy yuzu meringue; a rich marriage of chocolate, raspberry and almond; and berry crumble.
The six specials will only be around for the weekend at the Lincoln Park bakery, and for those who have trouble deciding, snag a sampler box — the ultimate weekend six-pack. 2108 N. Clark St., 773-868-4574, vanillepatisserie.com
Stuffed German chocolate croissant at Floriole
This Lincoln Park bakery is known for its French pastries, but croissants frequently take the cake. Expect classics such as butter, almond and chocolate, along with a specialty stuffed croissant they change up on the regular.
Past renditions have included s’mores, key lime, and strawberries and cream, all using a freshly baked croissant that they fill accordingly.
Currently, you’ll find a most decadent midwinter debut: the Stuffed German Chocolate, a buttery croissant piped full of whipped dark chocolate ganache and topped with a crunchy layer of praline dark chocolate and toasted coconut. The dairy averse aren’t overlooked here, either; ask the team about the vegan croissants. 1220 W. Webster Ave., 773-883-1313, floriole.com
Ham-and-cheese at La Fournette
When World Baking Champion Pierre Zimmermann and his family set up shop in Old Town, they brought with them the traditions their Alsatian ancestors were perfecting for more than a century in France.
That means a from-scratch philosophy (sans improvers, dough conditioners or artificial flavors), and, when it comes to the croissant, a vehemently classic approach entailing a touch of sourdough, a long fermentation, and highest-quality ingredients (namely, bien sur, the butter).
Have a go at their ham-and-cheese croissant, an especially memorable take on the traditional thanks to sweet, Black Forest ham and Comté cheese cut straight from the wheel. Heated on-site, the handheld becomes a warm melding of nutty, tangy, pull-apart goodness. 1547 N. Wells St., 312-624-9430, lafournette.com
Truffle croissant at Kasama
Chefs and co-owners Genie Kwon and Tim Flores bring a Michelin-starred background to their work at Kasama, and one taste of Kwon’s pastries alone proves it.
Though the plain croissant and its spoon-cracking lamination speak volumes, the filled variations only dial up the decadence. One is built around apple butter and raclette cheese, an unassuming, sweet-and-savory pairing that is impeccably in sync.
Those looking to go big (and on Croissant Day, aren’t we all?) should consider the truffle croissant, a medley of black truffle and Délice de Bourgogne cheese. Topped with honey, pearl sugar and Périgord truffles, it’s one of the finest breakfasts in town. 1001 N. Winchester Ave., 773-697-3790, kasamachicago.com
Nicole Schnitzler is a freelance writer.
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