Trader Joe’s Chocolate Croissants: A Review

Trader Joe’s is really a magical place, isn’t it?! I am always finding fun things there for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. I basically can’t get enough. One thing I kept hearing about over and over was the Trader Joe’s chocolate croissants. Everyone says they’re one of the best things Trader Joe’s has to offer. So, of course, I had to give ’em a shot.

Spoiler alert: you were right.

I’ll be honest – I’m usually pretty picky about frozen pastries. They often don’t come out great, they’re underwhelming, and nowhere near as good as what you can get from the bakery. I was especially skeptical about frozen croissants. Are they really going to be flaky and delicious?

Yes, yes they are.

Are Trader Joe’s Chocolate Croissants Good?

I think I’ve made my opinions clear on the matter. They’re delicious. I’ve never had other frozen chocolate croissants before, so I can’t really compare them, but they’re some of the best frozen pastries I’ve ever had.

The inside is filled with a delicious semisweet chocolate, and there are two little bars of it in each croissant, so there’s chocolate in every bite! The dough is really light and flaky, and it’s one of my new favorite finds from the freezer section of TJ’s. You don’t even need to add butter or anything special to them – they’re so good just as they come.

Nutrition Facts and Ingredients

Listen, I’m not the type to care all that much about calories or carbs. I eat everything in moderation and when I’m making myself a treat for breakfast, I’m just gonna go for it.

But, of course nutrition is an important factor in any breakfast choice so let’s take a second to break it down. One croissant is considered one serving, which is plenty because they’re big!

Here are the rest of the nutrition facts, including the ingredients:

How to Make Trader Joe’s Chocolate Croissants

Trader Joe’s croissants are easy to make, but they do take a little bit of planning and preparation. Before you go to bed, set them out on a greased baking sheet on the counter or in the oven. Allow them to proof overnight.

They may look small when you pull them out (I was not sure if they’d be big enough!), but by the next morning, you’ll be shocked at how much they’ve grown!

When you wake up, brush the top with an egg wash (this gives a shinier finish and adds some extra crunch!) and pop ’em in the preheated oven. They’ll turn a beautiful golden brown color and become flakey and perfect.

Do I have to proof them?

Yes! These shouldn’t be baked right out of the freezer, or you won’t get the proper taste or texture. If you don’t have a lot of time, you can proof them in a 90-degree oven for about two hours, until they’ve doubled in size.

How long do they take to bake?

They take about 15-20 minutes in the oven. I found that about 18 minutes was perfect for ours!

You can also bake them in a toaster oven, or right in the air fryer basket! The timing is about the same (15-20 minutes) no matter what method you use. Just keep an eye on them to make sure they don’t get too dark!

What to Serve With Trader Joe’s Chocolate Croissants

I won’t lie – when we ate our TJ’s chocolate croissants, it was all we had. They’re enough to stand on their own, or paired with a cup of coffee or hot chocolate! But if you want a more well-rounded breakfast, here are a few ideas:

Serve with…

• Strawberries
• Scrambled eggs
• Breakfast sausage
• An omelette
• Bacon
• Literally anything else you’d eat for breakfast!

These also make a delicious dessert, so feel free to eat them any ol’ time of day. If you have them leftover from the morning and they’re room temperature, you might want to warm them up a bit. They’re much better when the chocolate is melty!

The Bottom Line

When I saw the small boxes these things come in, I wasn’t sure how they’d really work. They seemed so measly and plain. Trader Joe’s might have a lot of delicious treats, but I just wasn’t sure this was going to be one of them.

I officially stand corrected! These are the perfect breakfast for a lazy Sunday morning, and I think they’re even good enough to trick people into thinking you picked them up from a local bakery!

What do you think we should try out from Trader Joe’s next?!