Today I want to tell you about a sweet recipe that's perfect for an indulgent snack. We're baking plush, crescent-shaped rolls—soft, cloud-light, and wonderfully aromatic—filled with jam and finished with a silky Nutella icing.

And before we go further, I want to highlight the fact that these are crescents, not croissants: no lamination, just a forgiving, tangzhong-based dough that delivers bakery-level tenderness at home. So let's begin.

Method

• Tangzhong :Off the heat, whisk flour with water and milk until smooth.
• Cook over low, stirring constantly, until thick like a soft paste.

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• Cool to room temperature.
• Dough: In a mixer bowl (dough hook) combine flour, both sugars, salt, yeast, egg, yolk, soft butter, cooled tangzhong, and ~70–80 ml lukewarm milk.

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• Mix on low; add the rest of the milk gradually until you get a soft, slightly sticky but cohesive dough. I usually end up adding around 120 ml total. But it really depends on the flour, the eggs, and the atmosphere. So keep a close watch.
• Knead 8–12 minutes on low–medium until smooth and elastic.
• Lightly oil hands (2–3 drops) and shape into a ball.

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• First rise: Place in a lightly oiled bowl, cover, and let proof for 90 minutes, or until doubled in size.
• Roll & portion: Roll the dough into a thin rectangle about 3–4 mm thick.
• Trim edges square; cut long triangles with a 10 cm base.

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• Test trimmings 5–10 minutes, re-roll, and cut again until you finish all the dough.
• Fill & roll: Place 25–30 g of jam at each base.

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• Press the starting edge over the jam, then roll tightly toward the tip. Curve slightly; place seam-side down.

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• Second rise: Arrange on a parchment-lined tray, cover loosely with a clean kitchen towel, and proof 45–75 minutes until puffy and slightly jiggly.
• Bake: Preheat to 180°C / 355°F (top & bottom heat). Brush with egg white + milk.

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• Bake 30–40 minutes, until deeply golden and baked through. Tent with foil if browning too fast.

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• Cool slightly on a rack.
• Nutella icing: Stir icing sugar with 1 tbsp water to a paste.
• Whisk in the Nutella paste.
• Add more water gradually until pourable and ribboning.

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• Drizzle over warm crescents.

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• Top with sliced almonds or chopped hazelnuts for crunch.

Crescents, Not Croissants — But With That Cozy Bakery Vibe

What they are (and aren't)

Ok. Let's get things set. So, these are milk-bread crescents—not laminated croissants.

Classic how-to-make-croissants guides focus on layers of butter and dough. On the other hand, this method uses a single enriched dough for a plush, tender crumb. To put it in simple terms, you will end up with more like a soft croissant bread recipe than a true croissant.

So, if you want an approachable path that still scratches the same itch as an easy croissant recipe or a simple croissant recipe, this is it.

A little history, culture, and why this works

In many Romanian homes, crescent-shaped sweet rolls (often called cornuri) have long been filled with jams, chocolate, or Turkish delight. The crescent shape echoes Europe's broader pastry heritage, but the texture sits firmly in the soft-roll family.

What I did more than what grandmothers in Romania usually do is to add tangzhong. I lean on tangzhong (a Japanese technique) to pre-gelatinize a portion of the flour. That lets the dough hold more water, giving you a silkier crumb, longer freshness, and a forgiving proof—qualities home bakers love when exploring homemade croissants alternatives.

My tweaks: moderate sugar so the filling shines, an egg + yolk for color and richness, and a semi-liquid Nutella icing that drapes instead of crusting. Choose fillings you love—apricot, sour cherry, plum, raspberry—any thick preserve works, keeping the spirit of homemade Nutella croissants without lamination. The result channels the comfort people seek in the best homemade croissants, but through a relaxed, week-friendly process.

Nutrition & balance

These are a treat: carbs from flour, fats from butter and Nutella, sugars from jam and icing.

For a lighter take, reduce the icing, use lower-sugar jam, or fill with stewed fruit. One crescent pairs nicely with plain yogurt and berries for added protein and freshness. Bake, share, and enjoy mindfully.

FAQ

Before we close, here are a few quick answers tailored to homemade crescents.

Q: Can you freeze homemade crescents?

A: Yes. Freeze fully cooled crescents on a tray, then bag for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temp and refresh 5–7 minutes at 160°C. You can also freeze shaped crescents after the second rise: freeze on a tray, bag, thaw overnight in the fridge, then proof briefly at room temperature before baking.

Q: How long do homemade crescents last?

A: Stored airtight at room temperature, about 1–2 days. Thanks to tangzhong, they stay soft a bit longer than many enriched rolls, but for peak texture, enjoy within 24 hours or freeze extras.

Q: Are homemade crescents healthy?

A: They're an occasional sweet bread. Lighten by reducing icing, choosing a less-sweet filling, or serving with a protein-rich side.

Q: Are homemade crescents hard to make?

A: No. Unlike laminated pastry, these use a single enriched dough: mix, rise, shape, rise, bake—beginner-friendly and reliable.

Q: How to store homemade crescents?

A: Cool completely and store airtight at room temperature up to 2 days. Avoid refrigerating (it stales bread faster). Rewarm briefly in a low oven to restore softness.

Conclusion

I hope you'll test this dish and tag us when you do. The full video of the recipe is available on YouTube—check it out, and don't forget to like and subscribe.

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