A new hybrid pastry arrives in NYC.
Our experience
Upon arriving in NYC some five years ago, the “Cronut” was one of the first desserts towards which we made a beeline. Half croissant, half doughnut, it’s one of New York’s most iconic desserts. Fast forward five years, and this summer of 2021 in NYC has seen the arrival of a new hybrid pastry known as the “Croffle.” Originally invented by an Irish chef a year or two ago, the croffle is made when croissant dough batter is placed in a waffle griddle. This hybrid pastry was subsequently adopted with gusto in South Korea, before conquering the rest of Asia as the newest cool kid on the block. It can now be found in NYC’s Queens borough, at a small corner store named the Croffle House.
On the weekday that we visited, Croffle House was populated by groups of old Korean grandmas. We imagine though, that on the weekends, it draws a younger hip crowd. Upon entering, one sees a long glass counter neatly stacked with croffles, a rainbow-coloured army of pastries waiting to be commanded into our tummies. 😛 All priced under $5 each, the fruity options are topped with a small mountain of cream, with strawberries, mango, blueberries and grapes swirled into it. There are also a few savoury croffle options, including one sandwiching red bean paste, and a creamy sweet potato option (which we recommend). The croffle itself is slightly flakey like a croissant, slightly chewy like a waffle. It is not overly sweet, notwithstanding its mound of cream.
Aside from croffles, Croffle House also offers a range of beverages, egg tarts and mochi doughnuts. We didn’t sample the latter, but we hear that they are also a hit item. Don’t forget our round-up review of NYC’s best mochi doughnuts and desserts (see here).
Our verdict.
Like a lot of dessert trends in NYC, it is worth trying the croffle at least once. Whether it will stand the test of time, that is another question altogether. For now, we are excited to witness NYC continuing to embrace dessert trends from Asia and beyond.
Dessert adventure checklist
- ☑ Dessert destination: Croffle House, 40-17 149th Place, Flushing, Queens.
- ☑ Budget: $.
- ☑ Sweet irresistibles: Pastry.
- ☑ Must-eat: The “Croffle”
- ☑ The short and sweet story: A new hybrid pastry arrives in NYC.
Dessert Correspondents 