Delicious Cruffins

What Are Cruffins?

Cruffins are a trendy hybrid pastry — a mix between a croissant and a muffin. Invented by innovative bakers in Australia and popularized globally, cruffins are made by rolling up laminated (layered) dough, baking it in a muffin tin, and often filling or topping them with jam, custard, or sugar.

The result? A tall, flaky, golden, sugar-dusted pastry with crisp outer layers and soft, buttery centers. They’re as impressive to look at as they are to eat.

🍴 Recommended Kitchen Tools

• Rolling pin
• Muffin tin (standard size, 12-cup)
• Pastry brush
• Sharp knife or pizza cutter
• Stand mixer with dough hook (optional but helpful)
• Clean towel or plastic wrap
• Small spatula or piping bag (for filling, optional)

📝 Ingredients

For the Dough:

• 2 ¼ cups (280g) all-purpose flour
• 2 tbsp (25g) granulated sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 ¼ tsp (1 packet) active dry yeast
• ¾ cup (180ml) warm milk
• 3 tbsp (40g) unsalted butter, softened
• Extra flour for rolling

For the Butter Layer:

• ½ cup (1 stick or 115g) unsalted butter, room temperature

For the Finish:

• Melted butter (for brushing)
• Granulated or powdered sugar (for dusting)
• Optional fillings: cinnamon sugar, Nutella, jam, pastry cream, or lemon curd

🧑‍🍳 Preparation Steps

🔹 Step 1: Make the Dough

1. In a bowl, mix yeast and warm milk. Let sit for 5–10 minutes until foamy.
2. In a stand mixer or large bowl, combine flour, sugar, and salt.
3. Add milk/yeast mixture and softened butter. Knead until smooth and elastic (8–10 mins).
4. Cover and let rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until doubled in size.

🔹 Step 2: Prepare Butter Layer

1. While the dough is rising, spread softened butter between two sheets of parchment paper.
2. Shape it into a thin rectangle about 6×10 inches. Chill until firm but pliable.

🔹 Step 3: Laminate the Dough (Croissant Style)

1. Roll dough out into a rectangle about 10×16 inches.
2. Place the butter layer on one half of the dough. Fold the other half over the butter.
3. Seal edges, then roll out again into a long rectangle.
4. Fold like a letter (top third down, bottom third up). Chill for 30 minutes.
5. Repeat the rolling and folding process two more times, chilling between each turn.

🔹 Step 4: Shape the Cruffins

1. Roll dough into a large rectangle (approx. 12×18 inches).
2. Trim edges, then cut into 4–6 long strips.
3. Roll each strip tightly like a cinnamon roll, then cut each roll lengthwise to expose layers.
4. Twist each half and coil it loosely into a muffin tin cavity, spiral side up.
5. Cover and let rise for 30–45 minutes until puffy.

🔹 Step 5: Bake

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Bake cruffins for 20–25 minutes, or until golden brown and crisp on the outside.
3. Remove from the oven, cool slightly, and brush with melted butter.

🔹 Step 6: Finish

• Roll in granulated or powdered sugar.
• Pipe fillings into the center if desired (Nutella, jam, lemon curd, etc.).

🍋 Popular Cruffin Flavors

• Cinnamon Sugar Cruffins: Dust with cinnamon sugar for a donut-like twist.
• Lemon Curd Cruffins: Inject with tart lemon curd for a bright flavor burst.
• Nutella Cruffins: Fill with hazelnut spread and top with cocoa powder.
• Jam-Filled Cruffins: Pipe in raspberry, strawberry, or apricot jam.
• Vanilla Cream Cruffins: Add vanilla pastry cream for a luxurious finish.

💡 Tips for Success

• Cold butter, warm kitchen: Keep butter cool during lamination, but allow the dough to rise in a warm environment.
• Don’t skip the chill time: It helps keep layers defined and dough easy to handle.
• Use a sharp knife or pizza cutter: Clean cuts preserve those beautiful flaky layers.
• Use muffin liners or grease well: These pastries love to stick if you’re not careful.
• Don’t overproof: Once shaped, watch them rise—too long, and they’ll collapse when baking.

🔄 Make It Fit Your Diet

• Vegan Version: Use dairy-free butter and plant-based milk.
• Gluten-Free Version: Try with a high-protein gluten-free flour blend and xanthan gum.
• Low-Sugar Version: Reduce sugar in dough and use low-sugar jam or no filling.

❄️ Storage and Reheating

• Best fresh – Cruffins are at peak flavor and flakiness on day one.
• Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
• Reheat in a low oven (300°F or 150°C) for 5 minutes to refresh the texture.
• You can also freeze the shaped, unbaked cruffins and bake straight from frozen (add 5–10 minutes to bake time).

🎉 Perfect For…

• Brunch Parties
• Holiday Breakfasts
• Mother’s Day or Valentine’s Day
• Weekend Baking Projects
• Gifting in Pretty Boxes

📌 Conclusion: Try Cruffins Today!

Whether you’re a croissant lover, muffin fan, or simply a curious baker, cruffins offer the best of both worlds. With their flaky croissant layers baked into a muffin shape and the endless filling possibilities, they’re sure to become your next baking obsession.

They may look bakery-level fancy, but with a little time and love, you can make them at home — and wow everyone who tastes them.