The Best Strawberry Vanilla Bean Cronut Recipe for Sweet Tooths

Sweet, flaky layers meet luscious strawberry vanilla bean cronut magic that will tantalize every taste bud.

Pastry chefs have long dreamed of creating the perfect fusion between croissant and donut textures.

This decadent treat combines delicate buttery pastry with vibrant strawberry essence and fragrant vanilla bean notes.

Each bite promises a delightful crunch followed by smooth, creamy undertones.

Crafted with precision and passion, these cronuts elevate breakfast and dessert to an extraordinary culinary experience.

The delicate balance of flavors ensures a memorable indulgence that will leave you craving more.

Prepare to embark on a delectable journey that celebrates the art of pastry making.

What Sets Strawberry Vanilla Bean Cronut Apart

• Transform ordinary ingredients into an extraordinary dessert that looks like it's straight from a professional bakery, impressing friends and family with your culinary skills.
• Mix and match different fillings, experiment with jam variations, or swap out strawberries for other seasonal fruits to create a unique cronut experience every single time.
• Dive into a fun, multi-day cooking challenge that rewards you with an incredible pastry that combines the best of croissants and donuts in one delightful treat.
• Skip the expensive bakery prices and create a luxurious dessert in your own kitchen, saving money while enjoying a sophisticated and indulgent pastry.

Ingredients for Sweet Strawberry Vanilla Bean Cronut

• Flour, All-Purpose Flour, Bread Flour: A combination of flours provides the perfect structure and texture for the cronut's delicate layers.
• Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps with browning and fermentation of the dough.
• Butter: Creates the signature flaky, rich layers in the cronut through lamination.
• Eggs: Provide richness and help bind the pastry cream.
• Strawberries: The star ingredient that brings a fresh, fruity flavor to the cronut.

• Milk: Adds moisture and helps develop the dough's soft texture.
• Instant Yeast: Enables the dough to rise and develop a light, airy structure.
• Vanilla Bean: Imparts a deep, aromatic flavor to the pastry cream.

• Salt, Cornstarch, Flour (for pastry cream): Help thicken and stabilize the pastry cream.
• Freeze-Dried Strawberries, Granulated Sugar: Create a crisp, flavorful coating for the finished cronut.

Tools for Crafting Strawberry Vanilla Bean Cronuts

• Stand mixer: Essential for mixing and kneading dough with precision and ease.
• Large mixing bowl: Perfect for preparing and rising dough.
• Rolling pin: Crucial for rolling out and shaping laminated dough.
• Silicone mat: Helps prevent sticking and provides easy surface for proofing.
• 3.5'' and 1.2'' round cutters: Necessary for shaping cronuts precisely.
• Saucepan: Needed for making strawberry jam.
• Pastry bags with Bismarck tips: Required for filling cronuts with cream and jam.
• Deep pot or fryer: Ideal for frying cronuts at correct temperature.
• Slotted spoon: Great for safely removing cronuts from hot oil.
• Whisk: Useful for mixing pastry cream and tempering eggs.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Essential for accurate ingredient proportions.

Instructions for Flaky Strawberry Vanilla Bean Cronut

Step 1: Craft the Magical Dough

In a stand mixer, blend flours, sugar, salt, and instant yeast carefully.

Pour in water or milk and mix slowly.

Add butter cubes gradually, mixing until dough becomes smooth and elastic.

Stretch the dough to check for a delicate, transparent “window” that shows its perfect development.

Step 2: Let the Dough Dance and Rise

Shape the dough into a perfect ball and nestle it in an oiled bowl.

Cover with a damp cloth and let it relax in a warm spot for 90 minutes, watching it grow and transform.

Step 3: Shape and Chill the Dough

Gently deflate the dough, pressing it into an oval.

Fold the edges toward the center, creating a neat log.

Place on a tray and take a quick chill break in the freezer and refrigerator.

Step 4: Create Buttery Layers

Roll out the chilled dough into a rectangle.

Spread softened butter evenly across the surface.

Fold like a fancy letter, seal the edges, and begin the lamination dance.

Repeat folding and chilling three times to create those signature flaky layers.

Step 5: Rest and Prepare

Roll the dough into a perfect rectangular canvas.

Cover and let it rest in the refrigerator overnight.

Step 6: Whip Up Strawberry Jam

• Strawberries
• Sugar

Combine ingredients in a saucepan.

Let the strawberries release their juices, then cook until thick and jammy.

Strain to remove seeds and chill until needed.

Step 7: Create Dreamy Vanilla Pastry Cream

Whisk egg yolks with sugar, flour, and cornstarch.

Heat milk and vanilla, then carefully blend with egg mixture.

Cook until luxuriously thick and smooth.

Chill completely.

Step 8: Shape the Cronut Circles

Cut dough into perfect circles and create center holes.

Arrange on a lined tray and let them prove for 90 minutes until puffy and irresistible.

Step 9: Make Strawberry Sugar Dust

Crush freeze-dried strawberries and mix with granulated sugar to create a magical coating.

Step 10: Prepare Filling Station

Whip pastry cream to stiff peaks.

Fill piping bags with cream and strawberry jam, ready for action.

Step 11: Fry to Golden Perfection

Heat oil to sizzling temperature.

Fry cronuts until they turn a gorgeous golden brown, dancing in the hot oil.

Step 12: Decorate and Devour

Roll warm cronuts in strawberry sugar.

Inject with creamy filling and strawberry jam.

Top with fresh strawberry slices.

Serve immediately and watch eyes light up with joy!

Tips for Crisp and Creamy Strawberry Vanilla Bean Cronut

• Keep dough and butter at consistent 75-80°F to ensure perfect lamination and flaky layers.
• Pat fried cronuts on paper towels to remove excess oil, maintaining crispy exterior.
• Use high-quality vanilla beans and fresh strawberries for maximum taste complexity.
• Work quickly and gently during lamination to maintain butter's temperature and create delicate, airy texture.
• Allow proper proofing and resting periods to develop rich flavors and optimal cronut structure.

Variations to Try with Strawberry Vanilla Bean Cronut

• Gluten-Free Cronut Swap wheat flour with a blend of almond and rice flour, using xanthan gum to improve texture and binding.
• Vegan Strawberry Delight Replace dairy milk with coconut milk, eggs with aquafaba, and butter with coconut oil for a plant-based version.
• Low-Sugar Option Use monk fruit sweetener instead of sugar, and replace traditional jam with chia seed strawberry compote for reduced sugar content.
• Chocolate Lovers' Version Incorporate cocoa powder into the dough, use chocolate pastry cream, and dust with dark chocolate powder instead of strawberry sugar.

Pretty Ways to Serve Strawberry Vanilla Bean Cronut

• Brunch Centerpiece: Arrange cronuts on a beautiful wooden board with fresh strawberry slices, creating an Instagram-worthy display that highlights the pastry's golden layers and vibrant filling.
• Afternoon Tea Companion: Pair these cronuts with light Earl Grey tea or champagne, complementing the rich vanilla pastry cream and bright strawberry notes for an elegant dessert experience.
• Dessert Buffet Star: Include cronuts as the show-stopping finale of a dessert spread, allowing guests to marvel at the intricate laminated layers and delicate strawberry garnish.
• Gifting Delight: Package individual cronuts in clear bakery boxes with a ribbon, making them a luxurious homemade gift that showcases your baking skills and culinary creativity.

How to Keep Strawberry Vanilla Bean Cronut Fresh

• Store unfilled cronuts in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Wrap individually in plastic wrap to prevent drying out and maintain freshness.
• Freeze unfilled cronuts for up to 1 month. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe bag. Thaw overnight in refrigerator before reheating.
• Preheat oven to 300F. Place cronuts on a baking sheet and warm for 5-7 minutes until crisp. Avoid microwaving, which makes them soggy.
• If filled with cream, consume within 24 hours. Briefly warm at room temperature for 10 minutes before serving to restore texture and bring out flavors.

FAQs

• What ingredients make cronuts different from regular donuts?

Cronuts combine croissant-like layered pastry technique with donut shape, using laminated dough with multiple butter turns that create flaky, delicate texture unlike traditional dense donuts.

• Are cronuts difficult to make at home?

Cronuts require advanced baking skills and multiple-day preparation involving precise dough lamination, specific temperature control, and technical techniques like creating butter layers and multiple folding stages.

• Why do cronuts need multiple resting and chilling periods?

Chilling allows gluten to relax, butter layers to stabilize, and dough to develop complex flavor and structure, ensuring perfect flaky texture and preventing butter from melting during preparation.

Strawberry Vanilla Bean Cronut Recipe

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4.8 from 35 reviews

• Total Time: 4 hours
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Delightful strawberry vanilla bean cronut combines flaky pastry with luscious cream and fresh strawberries. French-inspired technique meets creative baking for an irresistible dessert that will satisfy sweet cravings.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 250 grams (8.8 ounces) bread flour
• 250 grams (8.8 ounces) all-purpose flour
• 100 grams (3.5 ounces) unsalted butter, cubed, softened at room temperature
• 125 grams (4.4 ounces) unsalted butter, softened
• 250 grams (8.8 ounces) whole milk

Dough and Filling Components:

• 15 grams (0.5 ounces) instant yeast
• 12 grams (0.4 ounces) kosher salt
• 40 grams (1.4 ounces) granulated sugar
• 65 grams (2.3 ounces) egg whites
• 190 grams (6.7 ounces) water or milk
• 50 grams (1.8 ounces) granulated sugar
• 20 grams (0.7 ounces) egg yolk
• 50 grams (1.8 ounces) whole egg
• 3 grams (0.1 ounces) vanilla paste
• 15 grams (0.5 ounces) all-purpose flour
• 15 grams (0.5 ounces) corn starch

Topping and Frying Ingredients:

• 50 grams (1.8 ounces) freeze dried strawberries, crushed into a fine powder
• 67 grams (2.4 ounces) granulated sugar
• Canola oil, palm oil, or grapes

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Instructions

1. Prepare dough in a stand mixer by combining flours, sugar, salt, and instant yeast. Add liquid and mix until ingredients integrate. Incorporate butter cubes gradually, mixing 5-10 minutes until dough becomes smooth and elastic. Check gluten development by stretching dough to translucent consistency.
2. Allow dough to rise in an oiled bowl, covered, for approximately 90 minutes until volume doubles.
3. Deflate dough and transform into a compact log. Create rectangular shape, then freeze briefly for 15 minutes on each side. Refrigerate for 1-12 hours before lamination process.
4. Roll chilled dough into rectangular shape. Distribute softened butter evenly across surface. Fold dough into thirds, sealing edges carefully. Chill between each folding rotation, completing three single turns.
5. Extend dough into precise rectangular dimensions. Refrigerate overnight to stabilize layers.
6. Create strawberry jam by macerating strawberries with sugar. Simmer until thickened, removing excess liquid and straining seeds. Refrigerate until needed.
7. Construct vanilla pastry cream by tempering egg mixture with heated milk and vanilla. Cook until thickened, then cool completely.
8. Cut dough into circular shapes with center holes. Allow cronuts to proof for 90 minutes, reaching desired height. Refrigerate briefly before frying.
9. Pulverize freeze-dried strawberries and combine with granulated sugar for coating.
10. Whip pastry cream to stiff consistency. Prepare piping bags with cream and strawberry jam.
11. Heat oil to 375F/190C. Fry cronuts individually until golden brown, draining excess oil.
12. Coat warm cronuts in strawberry sugar. Inject pastry cream and jam strategically. Garnish with fresh strawberry slices and additional cream.

Notes

• Maintain precise dough temperature between 75-80F to ensure proper gluten development and fermentation, which impacts the final texture of your cronuts.
• Chill the dough multiple times during lamination to keep butter layers distinct, creating those signature flaky, buttery croissant-like layers.
• Use a digital thermometer for accurate oil temperature when frying to prevent soggy or burnt pastries, ensuring a perfectly crisp golden exterior.
• Freeze-dried strawberries add intense flavor and vibrant color to the sugar coating, creating a more concentrated taste experience compared to fresh strawberries.

• Prep Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Frying
• Cuisine: French

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 330
• Sugar: 22g
• Sodium: 150mg
• Fat: 18g
• Saturated Fat: 10g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 36g
• Fiber: 1g
• Protein: 4g
• Cholesterol: 30mg