Homemade Cronuts Recipe: Easy Puff Pastry Donut Treat 2026

If you have ever wished a croissant and a donut could be one single treat, cronuts are the answer. This homemade version keeps things wonderfully simple by using store-bought puff pastry instead of laminating dough from scratch, so you get flaky, golden layers without the fuss.

You cut the pastry into rings, fry them until crisp, roll them in sugar, and finish with a glossy vanilla glaze. The whole process takes under an hour, and the results look like they came from a fancy bakery.

They are best enjoyed the same day, while the outside is still crisp and the inside stays tender and buttery. Serve them for breakfast, an afternoon coffee break, or as a sweet treat whenever a craving strikes.

Ingredients for Homemade Cronuts

This recipe makes 9 cronuts.

• 2 sheets of butter puff pastry
• Oil for frying
• 100 g white sugar
• 200 g powdered sugar
• 2-4 tablespoons whole milk
• Half a teaspoon vanilla extract

How to Make Homemade Cronuts Step by Step

1. Layer the Puff Pastry

Start by unrolling 2 sheets of butter puff pastry onto parchment paper — you can use the paper that comes with the pastry. Place one sheet of puff pastry on top of the other, making sure they line up perfectly.

2. Cut the Cronut Shapes

Next, shape the cronuts by cutting the stacked puff pastry sheets into donut shapes, as shown in the image below. You can use two round cutters — about 10 cm and 3 cm in diameter — or, if you don't have cutters, use a large bowl or cup for the outer circle and a shot glass or bottle cap for the inner hole.

3. Cut the Parchment Paper

Once shaped, cut the parchment paper so each cronut sits on its own piece. This makes it much easier to transfer them to the fryer.

4. Fry the Cronuts

Heat the frying oil without letting it smoke — around 180°C (350°F) — and fry the cronuts on both sides until golden. To keep them perfectly round, you can slide them into the oil directly on the parchment paper; as they begin to fry, the paper will release on its own and you can carefully remove it with tongs or a fork. Once fried, place the cronuts on paper towels to drain excess oil.

5. Coat in Sugar

While still warm, roll the cronuts in 100 grams of white sugar, which will stick easily all over the surface. Then let them cool completely on a wire rack.

6. Make the Glaze

Once cool, prepare the glaze to coat them. Mix 200 grams of powdered sugar with 2-4 tablespoons of whole milk and half a teaspoon of vanilla extract until you get a texture similar to Greek yogurt — thick enough that it doesn't run too much.

7. Glaze the Cronuts

Glaze the cronuts carefully. Since they are a bit delicate, you can spoon the glaze over them.

8. Let the Glaze Set and Serve

Once the glaze has hardened, you can serve and enjoy these delicious homemade cronuts.

Tips for the Best Homemade Cronuts

Filling Ideas

Once fried and cooled, cronuts can be filled by making small incisions with a knife and piping in a filling of your choice, such as pastry cream, chocolate-hazelnut spread, any type of jam, or lemon curd. This recipe keeps things simple with no filling, though it is covered in a delicious glaze.

Flavor Variations for the Glaze

The top glaze can also be flavored to taste — for example, with vanilla, as we did here, or with lemon, chocolate ganache, and more. The possibilities are endless.

Keep Them Crisp

These cronuts are at their best the day they are made, when the outside is crisp and the inside is tender. If you must store them, keep them in a single layer at room temperature rather than in the refrigerator, which can make the pastry soggy.

30 Go-To Recipes I Keep Coming Back to in My Own Kitchen

Like a lot of home cooks, I like having a rotation that covers cozy classics, dishes from around the world, and sweets that make everyone happy.

Some nights I want something luxuriously rich, and that's when I reach for this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a truly indulgent Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And on days when I'm after something fruity and soothing, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is my reliable pick.

For mornings that call for something easy and for lighter plates, I'll whip up these airy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe, a hearty Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe, or these bright Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And whenever I need a gluten-free staple for the pantry, this straightforward Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe does the job.

When tapas and Mediterranean cooking are calling, I tend to cycle through this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, crispy Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, silky Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a cool Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This crisp Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe is another one I love to serve when the occasion feels a bit more special.

Hearty midday meals and comforting suppers? These are the ones I'm always recommending: this warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, traditional Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, deeply savory Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and velvety Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. When I'm after something more substantial, I'll bake up this Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, rustic Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the deeply comforting French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Street-food cravings and party spreads usually lead me to this juicy Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, crispy Salchipapas recipe, punchy Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crackly Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These effortless Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe are another favorite of mine for a quick appetizer or snack.

And when I'm hosting and putting together drinks alongside a full menu, I'll often serve dinner with this refreshing Original Cuban Mojito recipe, this potent Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To bring the whole table together, I like setting out this zesty French Remoulade Sauce recipe on the side, or finishing things off with this eye-catching Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Even More Tasty Recipes to Cook for Your Family

After years of cooking, testing, and tweaking in my own kitchen, I've come to believe the greatest dishes boil down to three things: straightforward methods, techniques you can trust, and serious flavor.

Every recipe gathered here is one I genuinely cook over and over—whether it's a fast meal just for me or something a little more celebratory for friends and family.

On the sweet side, the rich, silky Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is a go-to when I want something that feels fancy yet comes together without fuss. Another dessert I adore is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, modeled on the well-known Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better dessert texture helps a lot, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

When something light and uncomplicated is what I'm after, I'll usually make the classic Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. For cozier, more filling meals, I frequently point people to the satisfying Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the creamy Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the fast weeknight winner One Pot Pasta Recipe.

I'm also a big fan of sharing dishes with roots in other countries, such as the authentic Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crispy Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and the traditional Spanish Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is another category I turn to often, since it cuts down on time without sacrificing texture. The ones I make most include Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for those steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a classic baked pasta can still be rich, cheesy, and deeply satisfying without any gluten.

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