The Cronut: All Hype or Worth the Wait?

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Two-Cronuts

OK, so have you guys heard about the cronut?

This croissant-donut hybrid has been taking the interwebs by storm over the last few weeks.

Created by pastry chef Dominique Ansel of the eponymous New York City bakery, this morsel has gotten so much attention that Ansel went out and trademarked the name. That’s Ansel behind the counter, second from the right.

Dominique-Ansel-Cronut-pastry-chef

But…at a hefty $5 a pop, is the cronut all that it’s cracked up to be? Or is it another monstrous piece of hype that looks great online but just doesn’t hold up in person?

Mad love to Jennifer Novak, Cronut Tester Extraordinaire!

Jennifer Novak, longtime reader of The Hungry Mouse, offered to check it out for us while she was in Manhattan this weekend. (Thanks SO much for braving the line!) Jennifer is a professional Zumba student, and one of the nicest people we’ve met online.

So what’s the story with the cronut?

Here’s what Jennifer thought. (Want a hint? Sounds like cronuts might be Wolverine approved.)

“My very first thought when I woke up this morning was, ‘I want a cronut!’

Alas, I am back at home. . .

Here’s my experience. I’m honored to be able to report for The Hungry Mouse.

Tray-of-Cronuts

I got to the bakery just about 9 am on Sunday. The line was out the door. Fortunately, I was only #21 in line!

I ordered two cronuts, all in the name of research, of course.

Two-Cronuts-2

The cronut was exactly how it sounds.

Rich, flaky layers of dough that were whisper thin and could be pulled apart easily like a croissant but also a yummy greasy, sugary, fried taste that was reminiscent of freshly fried dough you would get at a county fair.

Side-View-Cronut

Side-View-Cronut-2

In between the layers of the cronut was the most delicious cream. The closest thing I could compare it to is the filling of a Boston cream pie donut, but much fresher, lighter and airier. I could eat a vat of that cream. It was also a bit like British clotted cream—sweet and light. It was like eating little bites of sweet air!

Inside-Cronut

The cronut had a lavender frosting piped on it. I was not crazy about that. It was already very sweet, and this extra bit seemed a bit too much.

I talked to the people next to me, and they all remarked the lavender frosting put it over the top.

It was very good. I loved the way the layers could be pulled apart. It was a delicacy.

I also tried some homemade Madelaines and the DKA, another house specialty. (Editor’s note: The DKA is a flaky, croissant-sounding creature with a crunchy, caramelized crust.)

Madelaines

DKA-2

DKA

All so yummy!

One added note: In the 20 or so minutes that I sat there, ate my cronuts, and drank tea, they sold out! There were a lot of unhappy people.

Oh, and I saw a movie star. It was Hugh Jackman, I think. . . I know he lives in the neighborhood. My friend lives in his building. There were lots of beautiful people there. I’m 99% sure it was him. Or else he has a clone.

Clearly, a place to see and be seen!”

Get your own cronut

Sounds like the cronut really is all that it’s cracked up to be, right? It’s nice when something lives up to its reputation. Especially in bakery land. I’m definitely a believer.

Dominique Ansel Bakery

189 Spring Street
New York, NY 10012

(212) 219-2773

What do you think?

Worth $5? That’s a lot for a souped up donut, but they look pretty darned good to us.

Many thanks again to Jennifer for reporting for us.

Now, to try to figure out how to replicate this little baby at home…

*All images copyright of Jennifer Novak, and are used by permission.

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Jessie Cross is a cookbook author and creator of The Hungry Mouse, a monster online food blog w/500+ recipes. When she's not shopping for cheese or baking pies, Jessie works as an advertising copywriter in Boston. She lives in Salem, Massachusetts with her husband and two small, fluffy wolves.

15 COMMENTS

  1. Come ON, why not just pour some sugar over a stick of butter and eat it with some (candied) bacon? I KNOWWWWW we wouldn't eat this "all the time" but I'd rather spend my wretched excesses on blue cheese (or any other cheese) and marrow bones! HAHA!!! OK, yeah, I'm a "savory" gal. Whatever floats your.........uh.....BMI?
  2. I didn't care for it even though all my colleagues enjoyed it immensely. With all that hype, I had expected it to have the wow factor but it didn't. I found the flavor far too bland and the cream inside tasted more like butter.
  3. Wish I could try these for myself! Living in South Africa though, I can hardly justify flying all the way to New York to sample a Cronut (although I was seriously tempted) so I recreated my own. After lots of testing (and eating) I think I cracked the recipe. Have a look but be warned, that dough requires lots of muscle power! Here’s the recipe: http://the-kate-tin.blogspot.com/2013/05/cracking-cronuts.html?
  4. Anyone that uses 'interwebs' in any way, ironic, unironic or whatever way these days is seriously dated. Sorry, I couldn't read past that.
    • Hahahahahahaha! Many thanks to you for your comment. Please continue policing the internet. Your efforts are valiant and highly appreciated, I'm sure. <3 +Jessie
  5. I had a cronut with coffee icing on top. It was the worst thing I have ever eaten in my life. I don't know which is worse, a cronut or a Krispy Kreme donut? The thing was loaded with too much damn grease/butter. My fingers were greasy and shiny like if I had a bucket of deep fried chicken. I could have shined up my car with just two hands. I'm ready to go to see my doctor just to check my cholesterol level. In fact, I just had an Activia yogurt so it can dispel the cronut from within. Never again shall I care for the dreaded cronut. I told my co worker that if I was invited to a party and that if all they had for appetizers were hotdogs and cronuts, guess which I'm going for? The doggies. Thanks, but, NO thanks.

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