People are getting crazy with croissants. Pastry chefs across the world are molding this classic pastry into all sorts of shapes and adding all sorts of flavors with one ultimate goal: going viral.*
I suppose the goal COULD be creating something innovative and delicious. But hey, I’ve never denied my cynicism.
But are these croissants worth the hype or should we just leave the pastry alone?
I’ve set out on a mission to try all these wild croissant concoctions to let you know if they’re worth the hype, the money, and the stomach space. Last time, I reviewed THE viral croissant that kicked off this trend– The Supreme from Lafayette Grand Bakery and Cafe. (Get the full scoop HERE).
The next mutant croissant to take the stand is the Crookie from Janie’s Life-Changing Baked Goods.
The Crookie’s Story
Baking a cookie into a croissant quite frankly sounds like an American thing. So I was shocked to discover that the crookie was actually invented in Paris, France. In 2022, Stéphane Louvard of Maison Louvard was struck with an idea…. What if I baked a cookie into a croissant and rebake it just long enough for the cookie dough to settle?! Locals enjoyed it, but things got bananas when the crookie went totally viral on TikTok in 2023.
Suddenly, hundreds of people (mostly young women with smartphones) were queuing up to get their hands on one. In an interview, Louvard said “I mean, it’s a bit insane… At some point you have to stop. It’s just some cookie in a croissant, it’s not some revolutionary invention.”
He was right. The crookie isn’t an outrageously difficult pastry feat to whip up. Copy cats popped up across the world soon after, including quite a few right here in NYC.
Janie’s Life-Changing Baked Goods Story
Janie’s Life-Changing Baked Goods was founded in 2015, and the story is pretty darn inspiring. Janie Deegan, founder and CEO, grew up on the Upper West Side. She suffered from crippling anxiety, and discovered alcohol as the perfect numbing agent in high school. Addiction slowly took over, and after graduating from college “I was homeless and penniless”, she said in an interview with CNBC.
After landing in a half way house, she decided to quite drinking in 2013. Putting her life back together was a roller coaster, but baking kept her grounded. She started selling some of her cakes and pies. They were good. So good that word got out and demand built up. She was selling her baked goods online, and even won “Chopped Sweets” in 2020. Janie opened up her first brick and mortar store on the Upper West Side in 2022, and now there are three locales across the city.
Not only does Janie make stellar treats including her famous pie crust cookies. But she also gives back to the community by offering second chance employment, donating cookies to homeless shelters, and teaching baking classes to underprivileged youth.
Is the Crookie from Janie’s Life-Changing Baked Goods worth the hype? Let’s dive into the different components
The Pastry
The croissant itself had a rich, buttery flavor, but it was missing a bit of a flake factor. It didn’t have beautiful layers of laminated dough. But hey, Janie’s Life-Changing Baked Goods is a cookie shop, not a patisserie. The flavor was there, and the star of the show was the cookie component….
The Filling
The cookie filling was gooey and chocolatey, and it melted beautifully into the pastry. I appreciated how rich the chocolate was, which kept it from being overly sweet. Texturally, the gooeying of the cookie complemented the butteriness and slight flakiness of the croissant just right.
The Cost
One crookie is $7.50 before tax and tip. I wouldn’t call it frugal. But I also don’t think the price is totally outrageous given the quality.
Final Thoughts on the Crookie from Janie’s Life Changing Baked Goods…
Here’s the thing, a cookie inside a croissant is a genius idea. When you take two such amazingly delicious baked treats and put them together, how could it go wrong?! The textures and flavors work together perfectly, and it’s one of those ideas that I’m sure has bakers across the world thinking “how did I not think of that first?!”
Is the Crookie Worth the Hype?
The crookie isn’t wildly innovative nor does it take too much skill to make. One can simply buy a bunch of croissants, add cookie dough in the middle, then zap it in the air fryer for a few minutes. However, if I’ve learned anything as a foodie, sometimes simple is best. The crookie is absolutely delicious, and I think it’s worth the hype.
Stay tuned for more croissant adventures ahead!
