Croffle

The croissant and waffle are both popular breakfast items; the croffle combines the buttery layers of the croissant with the crispiness of the waffle.[2] Furthermore, the waffle patterning allows the pastry to catch syrups, sauces, or other toppings.[2] Many sweet and/or savory combinations are possible (e.g. avocado and feta, lemon cheesecake, and Nutella and banana).[2]

Although it was popularized in South Korea, Irish pastry chef and TV show host, Louise Lennox, is sometimes credited with having inventing the pastry.[1][2][3] Lennox collaborated with bakery chain Cuisine de France at a 2017 pop-up called La Petite Boulangerie in Dublin, Ireland where the croffle was the pièce de résistance.[1][2] However, a 2015 Food & Wine home cooking video in New York City also demonstrates how to make the croffle.[1][4]

In November 2018, the café Aufglet debuted the croffle in Seoul.[1][5] By early 2019, the croffle's popularity spread throughout the city, being served at various cafes and street food vendors.[1] In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic led to a dramatic increase in popularity.[1] The ingredients were accessible and the preparation was relatively easy, so people staying at home started making croffles and posting them on social media.[1] Some estimates suggest that waffle iron sales increased 300 percent from May 2019 to 2020.[1] On 7 April 2020, South Korean singer and actress, Kang Min-kyung, posted on Instagram that the croffle was "really, so, so, so tasty".[1]

Later in 2020, the croffle's popularity reached the United States, appearing in Flushing, Queens and Los Angeles Koreatown.[1][3] It continued to spread globally, and started being served in pastry shops in Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, Canada, and Indonesia.[1] Up to 2021, it continued to be popular on social media platforms like TikTok and YouTube.[1]

Croffle in a waffle maker

Croffles require croissant dough which can either be made or purchased. Purchasing croissant dough is the more practical method.[3] Options for prepared dough include store-bought croissant dough like Pillsbury or unbaked croissant dough from a local bakery.[3] The dough is rolled in a croissant configuration.[3] Then the croissant dough is rolled in sugar, either white or brown, and evenly coated.[3] This enables the croffle to have a crispy golden exterior.[3] The dough is then cooked in a waffle iron.[3] The waffle maker is preheated.[3] The croissant is pressed into it until golden and cooked through.[3] Various toppings can then be added.[3]