Baked goodies are delicious and the best way to start our day for some of us, like crescent rolls and croissants. They also look quite similar, which is why most people think they are the same thing. But that is far from the truth! In this article, let us learn all about crescent rolls vs. croissants!
Recently, with all the global trade and everything, almost everything is available everywhere. It may not necessarily be true for every food, but it is true with bread. Croissants have gained much popularity, and crescent rolls are just a little behind in this race. They look similar but are very different from each other!
One of the similarities between crescent rolls and croissants is that they are both shaped like crescents. However, other than that, these two types of baked goods differ regarding ingredients and how they are made.
For those who may need to become more familiar with their differences, it can take a lot of work to tell the two apart. Of course, this is unless you are interested in baking bread! However, the differences become much more prominent when you slice the two.
Apart from the shape, let’s understand some other similarities between them. Also, what are the differences like? In this article, let us look at all that and much more. Happy reading!
Crescent Roll Vs. Croissant | The Difference Table
As I mentioned, many differences between the two can be discussed in detail. However, before we discuss them in detail, let’s look at the table below that points out the basic differences between a crescent roll and a croissant.
| Basis Of Difference | Crescent Roll | Croissant |
| Type Of Dough | Similar to bread dough | Laminated like a pastry |
| Texture | Soft | Flaky and crisp |
| Flavor | Neutral | Extra buttery |
| Preparation | Easier and just a few steps | Longer and has a lot of steps |
| Nutrition | Not very healthy | Even more unhealthy |
| Appearance | Smooth | Flaky with layers |
| Storage | Easier | Difficult |
What Is A Crescent Roll?
With all sorts of bread gaining popularity everywhere, crescent rolls have found their way into the world. Crescent rolls have become an essential part of many people’s cultures; some do not prefer any other type of roll in its place!
However, although they have gained popularity, there are still people who need to be made aware of what this type of bread is like. In most cases, people still confuse them with croissants. Although crescent rolls follow a similar concept, they differ from regular croissants.
A crescent roll means bread shaped like a crescent or the moon. This bread, unlike many others, does not have a very interesting backstory. Crescent rolls are an American invention that gained popularity in the 1960s.
Pilsbury was the company that made these for the first time, and that is how they ended up gaining popularity. Now, crescent rolls are available everywhere and in fresh and frozen forms. They are also available in various flavors across the world.
What Is A Croissant?
Unlike a crescent roll, croissants are much more popular worldwide. These baked goodies are considered a marvelous and exquisite treat, as they are rich in flavor and texture.
So, more people are aware of croissants as compared to crescent rolls. However, a huge misconception revolves around croissants, which is that they are French in origin! As shocking as it may be to hear this, that isn’t necessarily true!
Croissants are a type of pastry, more than bread, with roots in Austria. They were brought to France by an Austrian baker and gained popularity instantly. They are laminated pastries made with a lot of layers of flour dough.
Although croissants have their roots in Austria, the modern recipe for croissants was written by a French baker – Sylvain Claudius Goy. So, despite the Austrian heritage, the French made croissants popular.
Crescent Roll Vs. Croissant | Differences Between The Two
Earlier, we looked at some of the most basic differences between crescent rolls and croissants with the table. Now in this section, you will find a detailed guide on every difference between the two!
1. Type Of Dough
The first thing that sets apart a crescent roll from a croissant is the type of dough made to use them both. Compared to croissants, the dough for a crescent roll is very easy to put together.
A crescent roll follows the same process as you would expect for a regular bread roll, with a few minor changes here and there. However, croissants are considered more of a pastry and use a completely different type of dough.
Croissant dough is laminated, which means it has various interchanging layers of dough and butter. These layers make croissants rich, light, and flaky, different from crescent rolls.
2. Texture
The type of dough used for each of these is very different from the others. This accounts for many differences between the two in many aspects. One of the obvious differences between the two is the texture because of the type of dough.
Crescent rolls have a very smooth texture when seen as they are. They are soft on the outside and inside and seem like a regular bread roll. With croissants, however, both the outer and inner textures are very different.
The lamination process for the croissant dough creates steam while they are being baked. This, in turn, puffs up each layer of dough, making it flaky and crispy on the outside. Croissants are soft on the inside. However, not like a crescent dough.
3. Flavor
In most cases, you wouldn’t expect two types of bread to taste vastly different. Of course, this is unless they have some added flavors to them. Otherwise, all types of bread taste the same, right?
Not really! Although considered a type of bread, Crescent rolls have different flavor profiles. A crescent roll is generally very neutral in flavor. Eating a crescent roll just as it is will most likely taste just like a bread roll.
However, that is different with croissants; yet again, the reason behind that is lamination. Lamination creates a lot of layers and adds a lot of butter to croissants. This makes croissants extra buttery and rich in flavor compared to crescent rolls.
4. Preparation
When preparing each of these doughs, it isn’t just the lamination that sets them apart. Yes, lamination is a huge part of the considered process. However, the base preparation method for the two doughs is vastly different.
Crescent rolls, in most cases, have their dough made just like bread dough. The dough needs warm milk to activate the yeast and uses room-temperature butter. There is lamination here, however, without the butter, and it is also a shorter process.
Croissant dough is made very differently, where cold milk is added to the dough and cold butter. This helps the dough with forming all the layers later on. The final difference is the lamination process, where a lot of butter is added to the layers.
5. Nutrition
Most types of bread and pastries aren’t the healthiest food in the world; we are all aware of that. So, in this case, they can only be considered a healthy type of bread. However, some things make one unhealthier than the other.
The thing, you guessed it, is all the butter in the layering! For the first layer of croissant dough, a huge slab of butter is folded in between. It adds in a lot more calories and fat.
In the case of crescent rolls, layering is also happening there. But again, the difference is that no butter is used for lamination. That itself brings down the calories quite a lot!
6. Appearance
Crescent rolls and croissants have a similar appearance, as they are both shaped like a crescent. However, the similarities in their appearance end there! Other than that, there are a lot of differences between the two.
It is indeed similar to what I mentioned previously in the texture section. Crescent rolls have a smooth appearance, with no flakes or layers falling off them. This indeed makes them look like bread rolls, shaped like crescents.
Croissants, however, have a very flaky texture and appearance. The layers created by laminating the dough can be seen quite evidently, both on the outside and inside. Due to all the layers, croissants are also comparatively messier to eat.
7. Storage
Their storage is the last and final difference between a crescent roll and a croissant. It may also seem odd to hear this here as most types of bread bought from a supermarket are all stored in the same way.
However, that is only sometimes the case with these two baked goodies. Crescent rolls are easy to pack and can be packed tightly in Ziplocs or plastic bags, just like bread rolls.
Croissants, however, have all those flaky layers that need to be kept intact. If a croissant isn’t stored properly, all the flaky layers will disintegrate, which is different from how a croissant is supposed to be. So, they are always wrapped individually in foil.
Crescent Rolls Vs. Croissants | Similarities Between The Two
There are way too many differences between crescent rolls and croissants. However, to many people’s surprise, there are also a few similarities! Lets us take a look at some of them in this section.
1. Ingredients
The first similarity between crescent rolls and croissants is that they use almost the same ingredients. Both crescent rolls and croissants have certain fundamental ingredients that give them the form, structure, and texture they need.
These fundamental ingredients are flour, butter, sugar, yeast, milk, and salt. However, the difference remains in the way these ingredients are incorporated into their respective doughs is different from each other.
2. Shape
Another thing that crescent rolls and croissants share is that they are both shaped like crescents. That is one of the main reasons why most people get confused when they see the two side by side.
Crescent roll, as the name suggests, comes from its shape. Moreover, croissants are shaped just like crescents, which is where the original shape of the pastry came from. Even the word ‘croissant’ means crescent!
3. Fillings
Fillings that go into both these types of bread are something they share. Croissants have a richer flavor than crescent rolls, thanks to the butter. But that only makes the fillings taste even better!
Croissants can have a lot of fillings, both sweet and savory. Some common ones are chocolate, hazelnut, and almond too! Crescent rolls, too, have various fillings, both sweet and savory. Moreover, they can both be used as bread to make sandwiches!
Top Crescent Rolls Recipes To Try
I have mentioned some crescent roll recipes that you could try out in this section! These aren’t recipes for the crescent rolls per se, but just ideas about variations that could be tried out!
1. Pigs In Blankets
Pigs in blankets are delicious and probably one of the best appetizers ever! A version of this lovely treat can easily be made with crescent roll dough! Instead of buying some rolls, you can buy some dough from a supermarket or make it from scratch!
Then, take some cocktail sausages and wrap the dough around them to make them look like pigs in blankets. Finally, bake and serve hot with some of your favorite dipping sauces!
2. Nutella Crescent Rolls
Another way to make crescent rolls interesting is by using easy fillings that amplify their flavor straightaway! One such filling that always works, no matter what the bread may be, is Nutella!
This lovely chocolate hazelnut spread works best on crescent rolls after baking. As a bonus, you can top off the crescent rolls with chopped hazelnuts and sliced strawberries!
3. Apple Dumplings
These aren’t actual dumplings, but they are a version of them! Though the name may sound strange, Apple dumplings are the perfect fall dessert. It’s like an apple pie, but there is crescent dough instead of the pie crust!
To make apple dumplings, a similar concept follows for pigs in blankets. Prepare apple pie filling and bake them with crescent dough on the outside. Serve these hot with some caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream!
4. Ham and Cheese Rolls
Ham and cheese rolls are the perfect breakfast food! These roll-ups are soft, savory, gooey, and just plain delicious! Once you have these, regular ham and cheese sandwiches will seem so plain!
These rolls are best baked with the fillings inside, giving the cheese a gooey texture. However, you can add the ham and cheese later, along with some of your favorite sauces.
5. Strawberry and Cream Cheese Rolls
Strawberry and cream cheese are, again, a combination that always works! Pair that up with some good old crescent rolls; they taste even better! These rolls are the perfect sweet ending to any meal.
Or they could be a great way to start your day on a sweeter note! These rolls can be made either by baking everything together or baking the crescent rolls separately and then adding the cream cheese and strawberries!
Top Croissant Recipes To Try
This section has a few recipes that you could try out with croissants! Again, these aren’t recipes for regular croissants, but just some variations of the same that you should surely try out!
1. Pain Au Chocolat
Pain Au Chocolat, which translates to chocolate bread, is one of the more popular croissants. However, although this is a croissant variation, it looks different from one!
Instead of the regular crescent shape, a pain au chocolat is rectangular. The sort of chocolate used is also in the form of sticks, which makes it easy to achieve the rectangle shape.
2. Cheese Croissants
A tasty variety of croissants that are just as popular as their sweet counterpart are the humble cheese croissants. These look like regular croissants, as they follow a similar crescent shape.
With cheese croissants, the type of cheese can vary based on many factors. Although people now use the type of cheese, they prefer the most, cheese croissants were originally made with French varieties of cheese, like camembert and brie.
3. Croissant Breakfast Sandwiches
Do you want your breakfast to be the usual and extra indulgent at the same time? Then, say goodbye to regular bread and say hello to croissants instead! The best part about a breakfast sandwich is that it can be customized as you like!
I suggest adding a good portion of your favorite sauces, eggs, cold cuts, and cheese too! As a bonus, you can also toast the croissant a little bit, just so that the cheese melts!
4. Croissant Meatball Sandwich
Meatball sandwiches are one of the best types of sandwiches ever. Even with this sandwich, a really easy way to elevate it is by using croissants instead of a regular sub!
Slice a croissant in half and add all your favorite sauces, meatballs, and cheese. Again, as a bonus, toast the sandwich just a bit to make it extra indulgent, gooey, and delicious!
5. Croissant Pudding
Isn’t bread pudding just lovely? This dessert is truly decadent and soul-touching. Imagine how much better this dessert would be just by using croissants instead of regular bread!
The added butter in the croissants adds a lot of indulgences that regular bread never could! For this recipe, I suggest using older and drier croissants as they soak up the custard much better than fresh ones.
Crescent Roll Vs. Croissant | Which One Is Healthier?
Crescent rolls and croissants are both very rich types of bread. They are loaded with a lot more fat than regular bread. So, in most cases, these bread would only qualify as healthy. But one of them is indeed a lot more unhealthy in comparison!
Crescent rolls are usually the healthier option when compared with croissants. It does depend on the added fillings as well. However, if a plain crescent roll is compared with a plain croissant, the croissant would be unhealthy because of all the added butter during lamination.
Crescent Roll Vs. Croissant | Which One Is More Expensive?
Most types of laminated bread, especially those with fillings, tend to be more expensive than other varieties. The simple reason behind this is that a lot more goes into the lamination process, and these doughs are generally very rich. But in either case, one is a little more expensive than the other.
Croissants are always more expensive than crescent rolls. Croissants have a much richer dough than crescent rolls and require a lot more effort to prepare. Lastly, croissants have added butter in their lamination, which has to be top-quality. All of these factors account for croissants to be expensive.
Crescent Roll Vs. Croissant | Which One Is Better?
I believe picking the better food can be a task as food can be subjective. However, in the case of crescent rolls vs. croissants, croissants would win any day! This isn’t just the case with me; most people would surely agree here!
Croissants do stand out more because they have all of that extra butter. The butter adds a lot of flavor to the pastry and makes it extremely flaky. A well-made croissant should melt in your mouth; that’s how lovely they can be!
Can Either Of These Be Used As A Substitute For The Other?
As crescent rolls and croissants aren’t ingredients but more ready-food products, there is no need for substitution. However, if we consider their doughs, then no, their doughs cannot be used as substitutes for each other. Both these doughs are made in a certain way, following a method. So, you would need more than just one for the other.
Conclusion
This article has helped you understand all the differences between a crescent roll and a croissant! It is very easy to confuse the two with each other, especially if it is something other than what you are too familiar with. However, knowing some of the basic differences between them makes it much easier to distinguish between them!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is a crescent roll dough laminated?
Yes, a crescent roll dough is laminated too, but without butter.
Are croissants like puff pastry?
Yes, croissants are similar to puff pastry, which has no yeast.
Can one of them be used as a substitute for the other for breakfast sandwiches?
Technically, they both serve the same purpose, so yes, they can be interchangeable.
Does croissant mean crescent?
Yes, croissant does mean crescent.
Are crescent rolls an American invention?
Yes, crescent rolls are indeed an American invention and were first brought out by Pilsbury.
