Golden, flaky and buttery, a good croissant shatters into crisp layers with every bite. National Croissant Day, on January 30, celebrates this iconic pastry. Croissants are often linked with French breakfasts and café culture, but their story begins in Austria. Whether you enjoy one plain with coffee, filled with chocolate or almond cream, or made into a sandwich, it is a delicious way to treat yourself.
History of National Croissant Day
The croissant's ancestor is the Austrian kipferl, a crescent-shaped bread or pastry that dates back centuries. A popular legend says Viennese bakers created the crescent shape to celebrate the defeat of the Ottoman siege of Vienna in 1683, but historians consider this a myth, since crescent-shaped breads existed earlier.
The croissant reached France in the 1830s or 1840s, when an Austrian entrepreneur named August Zang opened a Viennese bakery in Paris that sold kipferl and other Viennese baked goods. Parisian bakers adapted the idea.
The modern croissant, made with laminated yeast dough, developed in France in the early 1900s. Laminated dough is made by folding butter into dough and rolling it out many times, creating dozens of thin layers that puff and separate in the oven. In France, a 'croissant au beurre' made with all butter is often shaped straight, while those made with other fats are curved. Who started National Croissant Day is not documented.
Why National Croissant Day Matters
Croissants show how technique transforms simple ingredients: flour, water, yeast, butter and salt. Mastering them is a point of pride for bakers.
They are also a small everyday luxury and a reason to support local bakeries.
How to Celebrate National Croissant Day
- Visit a bakery: buy a fresh croissant from an independent bakery.
- Try a filled version: pain au chocolat, almond croissant or ham and cheese.
- Bake from scratch: try laminated dough over a weekend, or start with store-bought puff pastry.
- Make a croissant sandwich: fill one with eggs, cheese or turkey.
- Use leftovers: turn day-old croissants into bread pudding or French toast.
Celebrating at Work, School and Home
At work, a box of croissants from a local bakery makes an easy Friday treat, or set up a croissant sandwich lunch. In classrooms, croissants are a fun way to explore how food crosses borders, from Austria to France and around the world, and baking classes can see how lamination creates layers by folding paper or dough. At home, families can make simple crescent rolls with store-bought dough, letting children roll and shape them, or try a weekend project making croissants from scratch. Warm day-old croissants in the oven for a few minutes to bring back their crispness.
Fun Facts About National Croissant Day
- The croissant descends from the Austrian kipferl.
- The legend linking croissants to the 1683 siege of Vienna is considered a myth.
- Laminated dough is folded and rolled to create dozens of thin layers.
National Croissant Day FAQs
When is National Croissant Day?
National Croissant Day is January 30.
Are croissants French?
They developed in France from the Austrian kipferl, brought to Paris by Viennese bakers in the 1800s.
Why are croissants flaky?
Butter is folded into the dough many times, creating thin layers that separate when baked.
What is the difference between a croissant and puff pastry?
Croissant dough contains yeast; puff pastry does not.