Cream Pan's Strawberry Croissant: Pricey Delight

Cream Pan is a small French-Japanese bakery in Orange County, California, with two locations in Tustin and Fountain Valley. They are famous for their strawberry croissants, which are made with puff pastry, custard cream, fresh strawberries, and powdered sugar. While the price of the strawberry croissants is not listed on their website, people rave about the quality and taste of these croissants, with lines out the door at all times of the day and thousands of croissants flying out the door each weekend.

Cream Pan Bakery's history

Cream Pan Bakery is a small bakery in Orange County, California, with two locations in Tustin and Fountain Valley. The bakery was founded in 2002 by owner Yoshinori Inada, who sought to bring his background in Japanese and French baking to the United States. Inada was trained in French-style baking in Japan and continues to experiment with new techniques and flavours.

The bakery's signature item is its strawberry croissant, which was introduced shortly after Cream Pan opened. The strawberry croissant is a puff pastry turnover filled with pastry cream and fresh strawberry slices, finished with a dusting of powdered sugar. The popularity of this pastry has led to people travelling from all over to try it and even inspired copycat recipes. In addition to their strawberry croissants, Cream Pan offers a variety of sweet and savoury items, including breads, desserts, and meals such as Japanese-style sandwiches, hot dogs, and curry rice.

Over the years, Cream Pan has expanded its menu to include dozens of pastries, breads, and cakes. The bakery is dedicated to using high-quality ingredients and ensuring that their food is always fresh. Their staff starts baking late at night and continues through the early morning to provide a variety of options for their customers. Cream Pan has received numerous accolades, including being named the Best of Orange County 2020 for bakeries and earning a spot on TripAdvisor's Traveler's Choice list in 2020.

The bakery's influence extends beyond its physical locations, as people have created copycat recipes to recreate the strawberry croissant at home. The popularity of Cream Pan's strawberry croissants has inspired people to experiment with baking and share their experiences through online reviews and comments. Cream Pan has become a beloved part of the Orange County community, with people lining up to try their famous strawberry croissants and other delicious offerings.

The popularity of strawberry croissants

Croissants are soaring in popularity in the United States, with 42% of retail bakeries now carrying croissants—a higher percentage than donuts or bagels. This popularity can be attributed to the versatility of the pastry, as it can be made into unique products that are either sweet or savoury and can be eaten at any time of the day.

Cream Pan, a small French-Japanese bakery in Orange County, California, has become famous for its strawberry croissants. The bakery, with locations in Tustin and Fountain Valley, has lines out the door no matter the time of day. Their strawberry croissants are so popular that people travel from all over to try them. The pastry, which resembles puff pastry more than a croissant, is folded like a turnover and topped with pastry cream and fresh strawberry slices, with a dusting of powdered sugar to finish.

The popularity of Cream Pan's strawberry croissants has inspired many copycat recipes, with people attempting to recreate the treat in their own kitchens. The key to these recipes is using fresh or frozen croissants and making a simple pastry cream filling, which can be made a day in advance. The croissants are then sliced horizontally, spread with the pastry cream, topped with fresh strawberries, and sandwiched together. A dusting of powdered sugar adds a touch of sweetness and extra flair.

Recipe for strawberry croissants

Ingredients:

• Puff pastry
• Sugar
• Cornstarch
• Salt
• Egg yolks
• Whole milk
• Vanilla extract
• Butter
• Strawberries
• Powdered sugar

Method:

Firstly, make the custard. Whisk together sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a bowl. Add the egg yolks and beat until the mixture becomes lighter in colour. Set aside.

Add milk and vanilla extract to a pot over medium heat. Heat until the mixture begins to bubble at the edges, but do not let it boil.

Slowly add the warm milk to the batter, whisking until smooth. Continue to add the warm milk until it is all combined.

Return the mixture to the pot and heat over medium-low heat, whisking continuously until it thickens. Remove from the heat and add the butter, stirring until it is melted and incorporated. Transfer the custard to a bowl and chill in the fridge.

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

Cut the puff pastry sheets into squares. Brush the sheets with egg wash and fold each one, pressing down on the edges to ensure they do not rise too much. Brush the outside with more egg wash.

Bake the pastries for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and allow to cool to room temperature.

Slice each croissant in half and fill with custard and sliced strawberries. Dust the tops with powdered sugar.

Tips:

For an extra special touch, try making your own strawberry jam to spread on the croissants. Simply chop fresh strawberries and place them in a small pot with vanilla seeds, lemon juice, vanilla extract, and sugar. Simmer over medium heat for 13-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the mixture becomes thick. Allow the jam to cool to room temperature before spreading on the croissants.

You can also experiment with different fillings. For example, try using a combination of blueberries and raspberries, or a mix of nuts and berries.

Finally, if you want to get creative with the presentation, try making "Santa Hat" croissants by slicing the top of a strawberry and placing it on top of the croissant, with a little extra whipped cream on top.

Other Cream Pan pastries

Cream Pan is a bakery in Orange County, California, that offers a wide range of pastries, breads, sandwiches, rice dishes, desserts, and donuts. While they are famous for their strawberry croissants, they have a lot more to offer. Here are some of their other pastries:

Strawberry Banana Croissant

Much like their famous strawberry croissant, this pastry is a delightful combination of sweet fruit and creamy custard. The addition of banana creates a unique flavour profile that is sure to tantalize your taste buds.

Raspberry Cream Cheese

This pastry is a perfect blend of tangy and sweet. The sharpness of raspberry is balanced by the creamy richness of cream cheese, resulting in a decadent treat that is sure to satisfy any craving.

Scones

Cream Pan offers a variety of scones, including Choco, Mixberry, and Blueberry. These scones are perfect for those who enjoy a more traditional pastry option. They are great for breakfast or as an afternoon treat with a cup of tea or coffee.

An man (Red Beans Bun)

For those looking for something unique, Cream Pan offers this intriguing red beans bun. It is a Japanese-inspired pastry with a sweet red bean paste filling. This treat is sure to surprise and delight anyone looking for a break from the usual pastry options.

The cost of a strawberry croissant

The strawberry croissant is a signature offering at Cream Pan, a French-Japanese bakery in Orange County, California. The bakery has gained a reputation for its unique and irresistible strawberry croissants, with people lining up to try them. While Cream Pan does not disclose the price of their strawberry croissants, the process of making and selling these pastries is quite intriguing.

Cream Pan was founded by Yoshinori Inada, who started experimenting with croissants, fresh custard cream, strawberries, and powdered sugar in 2002. Since then, the strawberry croissant has become a staple in Tustin, drawing thousands of customers each weekend. The bakery's success can be attributed to the quality and imagination of its pastries, with the strawberry croissants being the star attraction.

The strawberry croissant from Cream Pan resembles puff pastry more than a traditional croissant. The pastry is folded like a turnover, filled with pastry cream and fresh strawberry slices, and finished with a dusting of powdered sugar. The bakery's success and the popularity of its strawberry croissants have led to requests for more Cream Pan locations in Irvine and Los Angeles.

While the exact cost of a strawberry croissant from Cream Pan remains unknown, the bakery's dedication to creating high-quality, imaginative treats has clearly paid off. The long lines of customers and the rapid sales of their signature pastry indicate that people are willing to pay for the unique and delicious experience that Cream Pan's strawberry croissants offer. The bakery's focus on taste and quality has made their strawberry croissants a sought-after treat in the area.

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