Baked & Prepared

Croissant in gelato

Croissant is a laminated wheat-and-butter pastry used as a flavor base and inclusion in gelato, contributing about 77% solids, 21% butterfat and a lightly caramelized, buttery character. In a gelato mix it behaves as a fat- and starch-rich solid with modest sugar.

Balancing parameters

Per 100 g of product, verified against independent food-science sources (listed below).

ParameterValue
Total Solids76.6%
Water23.4%
Sugars11.3%
Fat21%
MSNF0%
Protein8.3%
POD (sweetening power)11
PAC (anti-freezing power)17.3

Typical use: 5-12% of the mix when blended in as a pastry paste; up to ~15-20% as a chunky baked inclusion.

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How to use it in gelato

Croissant is used two ways: blended into the base as a toasted-pastry paste for 'cornetto/croissant' flavors, or folded in as caramelized chunks. Its ~21% butterfat enriches body and mouthfeel, while its starch and pastry solids raise total solids and add structure, helping reduce iciness. Its sugars are modest (~11%) so it adds little sweetness; expect roughly pa 11 (POD from sucrose) and pac ~17 (sucrose plus the dough's salt). Because it brings fat and inert solids more than sugar, rebalance the recipe by trimming other fats and adding a little sugar/dextrose to keep sweetness and serving hardness on target. Toasting the pastry before infusing deepens flavor.

Origin & background

The croissant descends from the Austrian kipferl and was popularized in France; the laminated yeast-leavened butter version now called the croissant is documented in French bakery texts from the early 20th century, with the first French recipe commonly cited around 1905-1915. It became emblematic of the Parisian viennoiserie tradition.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

More baked & prepared ingredients

Substitutes for Croissant