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Kunafa-Stuffed Croissant Cups - Crispy croissant with rich kunafa filling

Kunafa-Stuffed Croissant Cups

A warm, flaky croissant cup filled with the sweet, shredded crunch of kunafa and a silky cream-cheese filling — a little Middle Eastern twist on a French classic.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 8 cups
Course: Breakfast, Brunch, Dessert
Cuisine: French, Middle Eastern
Calories: 300
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main ingredients
  • 4 pieces croissants Use bakery-quality or refrigerated croissants.
  • 1 cup kunafa pastry (kataifi) Fresh, refrigerated kataifi is preferred.
  • 1 cup cream cheese, softened Full-fat for the best texture.
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup honey Choose a mild, high-quality honey.
  • 1/4 cup crushed pistachios For topping; adds color and crunch.

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Slice each croissant in half horizontally and press each bottom half into a greased muffin tin to create a cup.
  3. In a mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth.
  4. Add the kunafa pastry to the cream mixture and gently fold until evenly distributed.
  5. Spoon the kunafa mixture into croissant cups, filling to just below the rim.
Cooking
  1. Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown.
  2. Drizzle with honey and sprinkle crushed pistachios on top before serving warm.

Notes

These cups are customizable with different toppings and can be made ahead of time. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the fridge.