Cheater Kouign Amann Recipe (2024)

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A delicate French pastry made in a hurry! This Cheater Kouign Amann Recipe captures the essence of traditional crusty sugar-crusted rolls, without all thetime and effort.

Cheater Kouign Amann Recipe (1)

Cheater Kouign Amann Recipe (2)

Cheater Kouign Amann Recipe

Every now and again I like to share a “cheater” recipe… A quick simplified version of awonderful classic recipe that takes a lot of time and effort to make.

I believe there are certain dishesworth spending hours to cook. However, most of us don’t have hours (or in some cases days) to spend on a single dish.

It’s just not practical.

Cheater Kouign Amann Recipe (3)

In some casesthere are ways to mimic the best qualities of said time-consuming dishes so we can all enjoy them.

Ergo the cheater recipe.

Cheater Kouign Amann Recipe (4)(These are mini Kouign Amann called Kouignette in Paris.)

French Kouign Amann Recipe

A couple of months ago, I had the opportunity to spend a week in Paris cooking and eating. While in Paris, I sampled french pastries on a daily basis, including the famed Kouign Amann. A sugar-coated croissant variation that is usually rolled or folded into little circular crowns.

After taking a croissant-making class (which was very fun, by the way) I felt I fully understood why hardly anyone makes croissants at home.

Cheater Kouign Amann Recipe (5)

Fresh hot croissants straight out of the oven are amazing.Uh. May. Zing.

Yet the classic preparation would take a total of three days to complete.

  • You make thedough on the evening of the first day, and chill overnight.
  • Fold in butter sheets and rest on the second day. Cut and roll the croissants on the evening of the second day.
  • Then bake on the third day after they’ve had time to rise.

See? Whohas time to do that?!

Making Kouign Amann from scratch would require the same kind of dedication.

Cheater Kouign Amann Recipe (6)

I just can’t fathom setting aside the time to do it, especially this time of year.

Yet hot sticky Kouign Amann would make a marvelous treat on Christmas morning!

What to do… What to do.

Make a Cheater Kouign Amann Recipe instead!

Cheater Kouign Amann Recipe (7)

How To Make Cheater Kouign Amann

Start by cutting thawed puff pastry sheets in half. Cut one-half into squares and the other half into strips.

Dip the squares in melted butter and then press one side in sugar. Lay the squares sugar-side-up on little pieces of parchment paper.

Cheater Kouign Amann Recipe (8)

Dip the strips in butter, then dip in sugar. Roll the strip loosely into spirals, and place them in the center of the puff pastry squares.

Then pick up the parchment paper squares and place them in the wells of a muffin tin.

Cheater Kouign Amann Recipe (9)

Press the pastry sheets down to fill in the wells. Don’t worry about messing them up…

Puff pastry has a way of fixing itself in the oven.

Cheater Kouign Amann Recipe (10)

Then bake!

As the puff pastry rises, the butter and sugar create sticky layerson the inside and crusty folds on the outside.

Heaven. Pure heaven. Even without the 3 day process.

Get the Full (Printable) Cheater Kouign Amann Recipe Below

Cheater Kouign Amann Recipe (11)

Authentic Kouign Amann Recipe?

Let me be clear, my Cheater Kouign Amann Recipe can’t compete with Fresh from-scratch authentic Kouing Amann with its seemingly endless sugar folds.

Yet, they do capture the taste and texture of real Kouign Amann, and are always welcomed at my house.

Cheater Kouign Amann Recipe (12)

With just 3 ingredients, it’s worth giving this Cheater Kouign Amann Recipe a try!

They are a marvelous addition to Christmas or New Years Day breakfast.

Happy Holidays!

Cheater Kouign Amann Recipe (13)

More Breakfast Treat Recipes

  • Tiramisu Baked French Toast
  • Dark Chocolate Gravy and Cinnamon Biscuits
  • Peach Pina Colada Stuffed French Toast
  • Carrot Cake Pancakes with Cream Cheese Maple Syrup
  • Arnold Palmer Sweet Rolls

Cheater Kouign Amann Recipe (14)

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Cheater Kouign Amann Recipe

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes minutes

Cheater Kouign Amann Recipe – A simple quick french Kouign Amann pastry recipe for new cooks and those in a hurry. This is a wonderful treat for holidays.

Servings: 16

Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

  • 1 box frozen puff pastry, 2 sheets thawed
  • 1/2 cup melted butter
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Cut out sixteen 5-inch parchment paper squares. Flour a work surface, lay the puff pastry sheets out, and roll the puff pastry sheets to remove the fold lines.

  • Cut a puff pastry sheet in half. With one half, cut eight even strips. With the other half, cut eight equal squares. Repeat with the second puff pastry sheet.

  • Dip the squares in the melted butter. Press one side of each square in sugar and lay each square sugar-side-up on its own parchment paper square. Then dip each strip in butter. Press one side of each strip in sugar and roll into a loose spiral. Place a spiral on top of each square.

  • Lower the parchment paper squares into the wells of a muffin tin. Press each piece down to fill out the wells. Then bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.

Nutrition

Serving: 1pastry, Calories: 243kcal, Carbohydrates: 20g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 17g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Cholesterol: 15mg, Sodium: 126mg, Potassium: 18mg, Fiber: 0g, Sugar: 6g, Vitamin A: 175IU, Calcium: 5mg, Iron: 0.8mg

Course: Bread, Breakfast

Cuisine: French

Author: Sommer Collier

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Cheater Kouign Amann Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the most buttery pastry in the world? ›

The Kouign Amann.

This perfect pastry has a fun and unique history, as well as quite a delicious reputation. The Kouign Amann (queen uh-mon) has numerous nicknames, all highlighting the pastry's most iconic ingredient — butter, and lots of it.

Can you freeze kouign amann dough? ›

Timing is key when rolling, folding and letting your kouign amann rise. If you do want to make these ahead of time to freeze and bake later, make the dough, do the first 2 folds and then freeze, well wrapped, for up to 3 months. Thaw the dough overnight in the fridge before continuing with the folds that use sugar.

What is the oldest pastry in the world? ›

The earliest known pastries were made by the ancient Egyptians. They baked cakes made from wheat and honey, often flavored with fruits and nuts. These cakes were baked on hot stones and were likely the first known example of baking.

What does kouign mean in French? ›

whose name is also typically Breton, "kouign" meaning cake and "amann" meaning butter. In order to make the most of its soft interior and its crunchy exterior made crunchy by the caramelisation of the sugar, it is advisable to taste the warm kouign-amann with a good glass of chouchen or a few pieces of apple.

Should you refrigerate kouign amann? ›

Alternately, the kouign amann can be refrigerated overnight (before rising) and baked the next day. If you'd like to take advantage of that option make sure to bring the pastries back to room temperature and rise before baking. While the kouign amann are rising, preheat the oven to 400º.

What is the difference between croissant dough and Kouign Amann dough? ›

Croissant vs. Kouign-Amann: What's the Difference? The main difference between croissant dough and kouign-amann is the latter's regionally inspired salty seasoning. After all, fleur de sel (“flower of salt,” a mineral-rich flaky salt) originated in Brittany.

Can I reheat kouign amann? ›

Kouign-Amann are best served fresh from the oven. Unfortunately, they are not the same pastry after they go cold. However, I found that you can reheat them in a toaster oven to restore them pretty closely to their original glory. They would make an excellent addition to a breakfast table or afternoon tea.

What is a type of dough that is buttery and sweet? ›

Shortcrust pastry and sweet crust pastry doughs can each be used to make pies. Both contain high amounts of fat, which help the dough get its flaky consistency. Sweet crust pastry is just like short crust pastry but just has an extra helping of sugar sneaked in. It's much like our Pure Butter Pie Crust recipe.

What is the most famous pastry in the world? ›

10 Most Popular Pastries in the World
  • Croissant. Hailing from France, the buttery croissant is a breakfast staple that has conquered the world. ...
  • Macaron. ...
  • Danish Pastry. ...
  • Éclair. ...
  • Cannoli. ...
  • Baklava. ...
  • Mille-Feuille. ...
  • Pastel de Nata.
Jul 8, 2023

What country makes the best pastry? ›

There's no doubt Portugal has the best pastry in the world, according to Taste Atlas.

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