If you love something, make it flat—that’s how the saying goes, right? When it comes to flat croissants, at least, that’s definitely the case. We all know (and love) the classic flaky croissant, but bakeries and home chefs have taken the pastry to new heights (or lows?) by flattening it and frying it to make it even crispier.
The flat croissant trend is a great way to breathe a second life into a past-its-prime pastry, but it's also given us all new ways to enjoy croissants. People are dipping flat croissants in chocolate and other coatings or they’re sprinkling them with sugar, sprinkles, or other sweet toppings. In short, everyone is making their own take on the flat croissant—and now we’re doing the same with our Flat Croissant Ham & Cheese Sandwich.
We’ll be the first to say that a good breakfast dish can work for any meal, breakfast-for-dinner or otherwise, and the Flat Croissant Ham & Cheese Sandwich is exactly the kind of dish that transcends the boundaries of the morning meal and keeps you going for hours, whenever you eat it. The flaky croissant, toasted to perfection, gives you the carbs you need for energy all day. Inside, thinly sliced deli ham and a melty blend of gruyere and white cheddar cheese provides protein to keep you fuller longer. We also added a hint of tangy stone ground mustard for a zesty kick and a drizzle of golden honey (that caramelizes!) for an extra little pizzazz.
The Flat Croissant Ham & Cheese Sandwich is deceptively simple, in the way only the best sandwiches are. It’s quick and easy to make and involves only a few ingredients, meaning you can cook this breakfast before you’ve had your coffee—and while your pot brews. And our cooking technique truly sets the whole dish apart: Instead of slicing the croissant in half, you’ll cut a slit along one side of the pastry and create a pocket, transforming your croissant into a vessel that’s easy to hold (and you don’t have to worry about all of those delicious innards slipping out).
The result is a breakfast sandwich that’s elevated enough to impress even the most discerning palates. Give these Flat Croissant Ham & Cheese Sandwiches a shot—they’ll leave you craving more, but too full for seconds.
Ingredients
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4 croissants
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1/4 cup stone ground mustard, divided
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8 slices thinly sliced deli ham (8 oz), divided
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1 cup gruyere cheese, shredded (4 oz), divided
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1 cup white cheddar cheese, shredded (4 oz), divided
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1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, cut into 1 Tbsp pieces, divided
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1/4 cup honey
Directions
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Cut a slit in the long side of each croissant, leaving the ends connected to create a pocket.
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Spread 1 Tbsp mustard on the inside of the pocket of each croissant.
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Place about 2 slices of ham (2 oz) and 1/4 cup of gruyere (1 oz) and 1/4 cup of cheddar cheese (1 oz) on the inside of the croissant. Repeat with remaining croissants.
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Place filled croissants on a cutting board or surface. Flatten each croissant by pressing down with a rolling pin, or heavy pot, sealing ham & cheese inside of the croissant.
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Melt 2 Tbsp butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Once butter is melted and starting to bubble, add the flattened croissant. Place a heavy pan on top to press down the sandwich. Cook for about 3 to 4 minutes on each side, or until the exterior is starting to brown.
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Drizzle 1 Tbsp honey over the golden croissant to coat both sides. Continue to cook another 2 to 3 minutes, turning halfway through or until honey has caramelized and the croissant is crispy. Transfer sandwich to a piece of parchment on a cutting board. Wipe the pan out with a paper towel between and repeat adding butter to the pan and frying with remaining croissants. Serve warm.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
| 936 | Calories |
| 64g | Fat |
| 59g | Carbs |
| 34g | Protein |
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings Per Recipe 4 | |
| Calories 936.2 | |
| % Daily Value * | |
| Total Fat 64.1g | 82% |
| Saturated Fat 36g | 180% |
| Cholesterol 201.8mg | 67% |
| Sodium 1702.1mg | 74% |
| Total Carbohydrate 58.9g | 21% |
| Dietary Fiber 3g | 11% |
| Total Sugars 27.5g | |
| Protein 33.8g | 68% |
| Vitamin D 0.8mcg | 4% |
| Vitamin C 0.7mg | 1% |
| Calcium 561.3mg | 43% |
| Iron 2.8mg | 15% |
| Potassium 486mg | 10% |
| Fatty acids, total trans 1.2g | |
| Vitamin D 30IU | |
| Alanine 1.4g | |
| Arginine 1.5g | |
| Ash 6.9g | |
| Aspartic acid 2.5g | |
| Caffeine 0mg | |
| Carotene, alpha 0mcg | |
| Choline, total 90.6mg | |
| Copper, Cu 0.2mg | |
| Cystine 0.4g | |
| Energy 3917.7kJ | |
| Fluoride, F 13mcg | |
| Folate, total 96mcg | |
| Glutamic acid 6.9g | |
| Glycine 1.1g | |
| Histidine 1.1g | |
| Isoleucine 1.7g | |
| Leucine 2.9g | |
| Lysine 2.3g | |
| Methionine 0.8g | |
| Magnesium, Mg 65.8mg | |
| Manganese, Mn 0.5mg | |
| Niacin 5.4mg | |
| Phosphorus, P 604.8mg | |
| Pantothenic acid 1.5mg | |
| Phenylalanine 1.7g | |
| Phytosterols 7.3mg | |
| Proline 3.1g | |
| Retinol 536.3mcg | |
| Selenium, Se 63mcg | |
| Serine 1.6g | |
| Theobromine 0mg | |
| Threonine 1.3g | |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) 2.1mg | |
| Tryptophan 0.5g | |
| Tyrosine 1.5g | |
| Valine 2g | |
| Vitamin A, IU 1982.3IU | |
| Vitamin A, RAE 544.4mcg | |
| Vitamin B-12 1.2mcg | |
| Vitamin B-6 0.3mg | |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) 5.3mcg | |
| Water 91.2g | |
| Zinc, Zn 4.2mg | |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
