Almond Croissants Recipes

ALMOND CROISSANTS RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
• Spread the sliced almonds in a single layer on a baking sheet. Toast for about 5 minutes, or until the almonds just begin to turn golden brown.
• In the bowl of a food processor, combine the toasted almonds, flour, brown sugar, and salt. Pulse until the almonds break down to medium crumbs.
• Add the butter to the food processor and continue processing until a smooth paste forms.
• Add the egg and 1 teaspoon almond extract and continue to process until the egg is fully incorporated.
• Transfer the almond mixture to a small bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, up to 1 week.
• Reduce the oven temperature to 350°F (180°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In a small pot over medium heat, combine the water and granulated sugar. Cook, whisking occasionally, until the sugar is completely dissolved, about 5 minutes. Add the remaining teaspoon of almond extract, then remove the pot from the heat.
• Slice each croissant in half horizontally. Set the bottom halves of each croissant on the prepared baking sheet.
• Brush about 1 tablespoon of the almond simple syrup over the cut side of each croissant half.
• Spread about 2 tablespoons of the frangipane across the bottom half of each croissant, then cover with the top half.
• Spread another tablespoon of frangipane over the top of each croissant, then sprinkle with sliced almonds.
• Bake the croissants for 12-15 minutes, or until the frangipane begins to turn golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly, then dust with the powdered sugar.
• Enjoy!

BEST ALMOND CROISSANT RECIPE

Steps:

• Combine the sugar, water, and almond flour in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar.
• Remove from the heat and let steep for 1 hour.
• Strain the syrup into a small bowl or covered container. Add ¼ teaspoon almond extract (if using), and stir to combine. Set aside until ready to assemble croissants.
• Sift the almond flour into a medium bowl. Break up any lumps remaining in the sieve and add to the bowl. Add the all-purpose flour and whisk together.
• Place the butter in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. On medium-low, warming the bowl as needed, until the butter is the consistency of mayonnaise and holds a peak when the paddle is lifted.
• Sift in the powdered sugar and mix on the lowest setting until incorporated, then increase the speed to low and mix until fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl.
• Add the almond mixture in 2 additions, pulsing to combine and then mixing at low speed for 15 to 30 seconds after each one. Scrape the bottom of the bowl to incorporate any dry ingredients that may settle.
• Add the eggs and mix on low speed until combined and smooth, about 30 seconds. Transfer to a covered container. Press a piece of plastic wrap against the surface to prevent skin from forming. Refrigerate until cold, about 2 hours or place in the freezer until chilled but not frozen about 30 minutes. The cream can be refrigerated up to 4 days.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
• Spoon the cooled almond cream into a pastry bag fitted with a ½-inch plain tip or large re-sealable plastic bag with the tip cup off (after filling). Spread the almonds in a shallow bowl.
• Cut the croissants horizontally in half, as if slicing them open to make sandwiches. Brush the cut-side of each one with 1 ½ teaspoon of almond syrup.
• Pipe 2 to 3 tablespoons almond cream onto the bottom half of each croissant, and spread it evenly with a small offset spatula. Place the top halves back on and gently press together.
• Pipe about 2 tablespoons almond cream on top of each croissant and spread evenly. If using larger croissants, feel free to add more almond cream into the filling and on top of the croissant.
• Dip the tops of the croissants into the almonds, coating the cream generously, and press down to compact. Arrange the croissants on the prepared sheet pan.
• Bake for 15 to 20 minutes (depending on the size of croissants), until the nuts are golden brown. Don't worry if some of the almond cream drips on the paper. Set the pan on a rack to cool thoroughly.

ALMOND CROISSANTS

Steps:

• Make the frangipane: Place the almond flour in a medium skillet and set over medium heat. Cook, stirring frequently, until golden brown and toasty smelling, 5 to 8 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
• In a medium bowl, combine the butter and brown sugar, and beat with a silicone spatula or wooden spoon until the mixture is light and creamy, about 2 minutes. Switch to a whisk and whisk in the eggs, one at a time, until incorporated. Whisk in the almond extract, then add the flour, salt and toasted almond flour, and whisk until smooth and satiny. Set the mixture aside.
• Make the syrup: In a small saucepan, combine the sugar, rum and 1/3 cup/80 milliliters water in a small saucepan and heat over medium, stirring just until the sugar dissolves. Remove from the heat and set aside.
• Assemble: Arrange a rack in the upper third of the oven and heat to 350 degrees. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
• Use a pastry brush to soak the cut sides of the croissant halves liberally with the rum syrup. (Use most of it or all, if the croissants are very stale.) Spread the bottom halves with half of the frangipane, dividing evenly and spreading all the way to the edges. Place the top halves over the bottom halves, then spread the remaining frangipane over the tops of the croissants. Sprinkle the sliced almonds over top, dividing evenly.
• Place the croissants on the baking sheet, spacing evenly, and bake until the almonds are toasted and the frangipane is golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

ALMOND CROISSANTS RECIPE (FRENCH BAKERY STYLE)

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup water, 2 Tbsp sugar and 4 Tbsp rum. Bring to a simmer for a minute and stir until the sugar dissolves then remove from heat and let cool to room temp.
• If using whole almonds: combine 1/2 cup sugar, 2/3 cup almonds and 1/8 tsp salt in the bowl of a food processor, and pulse until finely ground. Add the butter, and mix again until well blended. Add in the eggs one by one, and process on high speed until creamy and fluffy.
• If using almond meal or almond flour: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, combine 1/2 cup sugar, 1 cup almond meal and 1/8 tsp salt. Mix until well incorporated, then blend in the butter. Finally add the eggs 1 at a time and mix on med/high speed until the whole mixture is creamy and fluffy with a frosting-like consistency.
• Preheat the oven to 350° F . Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
• After your croissants have been on the counter drying out overnight, and you're ready to use them, slice each croissant horizontally like you would for a sandwich.
• Work with each croissant one by one: dip it into the syrup, coating both sides and the ends well. The croissant should be quite moist, but not soaking wet. Just dip it once on each side.
• Arrange the croissants on a baking dish, cut side up. Spread about 2 Tbsp of almond filling on the bottom half of each croissant.
• Place the top halves on and spread about 1 Tbsp of almond filling over the top. Sprinkle with sliced almonds.
• Bake on the center rack for 15 to 18 minutes,or until the cream is golden. Transfer to a wire rack and cool to room temperature or just warm. Dust with powdered sugar before serving. These are best served the same day they are made.

ALMOND CROISSANTS

Steps:

• Split the croissants in half and lay them out on a baking sheet. Cover loosely with a paper towel and allow them dry out overnight. Alternately, you can use croissants that are already a day or two old and already slightly dry.
• In a small saucepan bring the water to a boil. Add the sugar and stir until dissolved. Remove from the heat and add the almond extract. Cool slightly (or refrigerate for up to 24 hours).
• Using a hand mixer or stand mixer, beat butter, sugar, almond meal, and salt until smooth and combined. Add extract and egg and beat until creamy. Use immediately or cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. If refrigerating, bring to room temp before assembling the croissants.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Get out a rimmed baking sheet (large enough to hold all 6 croissants) and set it aside.
• Brush the outsides, as well as the insides, of each split croissant liberally with the almond syrup. Alternately, you can dip the inside and outside very briefly in the syrup, allowing the excess to drip off.
• Scoop some of the almond filling and spread it onto the inside of each croissant, place the top half back on, and spread more almond filling onto the top of the croissant. Tip: Before starting, I spread the almond filling into an even layer in the bowl and I roughly "score" it equally into sixths. This gives me an idea of how much filling I can use on each croissant (remember, each portion will be split between the inside and top of the croissant).
• Add sliced almonds to the top of each croissant. The creamy almond topping will serve as glue. Place the croissants on a rimmed baking sheet and bake for 14-18 minutes, until the cream on top has set and the croissants are light golden brown. Allow to cool just slightly (they'll firm up a bit), dust with powdered sugar, if desired. Enjoy warm.

RUNNY ALMOND CROISSANTS

Steps:

• In the small saucepan, add 50g of water, 50g of castor sugar. Place it on the heat, keep stirring until the sugar is dissolved completely, take the saucepan off the heat, and leave it cool down. Optional to add 5g of rum at this point, then give it a quick stir. Wait until the syrup is cool, then transfer into the container and keep it in the refrigerator.
• In the mixing bowl with the paddle attached, place 90g butter (soft) and 90g castor sugar. Turn on the machine at a slow speed for 2 minutes, then use a rubber spatula to scrape it down, then mix on high speed for another 7 minutes until all incorporated and pliable. Scrape down the mixing bowl again.
• Then add whole egg and all dry ingredients (almond meal, starch), mix on slow speed for 3 minutes until all incorporated. Transfer the mixture to a container and keep it in the refrigerator.
• Cut a plain old croissant into halves by slicing it with a bread knife, laying the cut half-cut croissant facing up, and brushing the sugar syrup on top of them. Make sure to apply a thin layer of syrup on top. Otherwise, they will become soggy.
• With a piping bag and a flat nozzle attached, scoop the almond filling into the bag, then pipe and spread the almond cream on top of the bottom half croissant only. Please see the picture, I prefer to pipe repeatedly to make 2-3 almond cream layers. They will look delicious and tasty later on. Last, cover it with the top half.
• To assemble the almond flake on top of the croissant, piping 2-3 overlapped long lines across the top. Then slowly take 4-5 almond flakes and stick them on the piped lines and try to stand them up for a better look. Keep going until you finish the line.
• Pre-heat the oven to 180C (356F), and bake them for approx 14-15 minutes or until the almond flakes on the top turn to golden-brown. Once they are out of the oven, as quick as you can to apply a sugar syrup on top, void to brush over the almond flakes. Let them cool down on a wire for at least 30 minutes, then sprinkle powder sugar on top for decoration.

HOMEMADE ALMOND CROISSANTS

Steps:

• Combine flour and yeast in a medium bowl. Pour in water and mix. Cover bowl loosely with plastic wrap and let sit at room temperature for 12-15 hours.
• Cut the butter into cubes and place in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix on high until smooth and solid with no lumps.
• On a piece of parchment, trace a 6 3/4 x 7 1/2 rectangle. Flip it over and dollop the butter into the middle. Use a spatula to smooth it into the lines the best you can. Fold the parchment over the lines to create a even and flat butter rectangle. Tape it closed and pop in the fridge overnight.
• Combine the flour, sugar, yeast, and malt powder* in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook and give it a quick mix on the lowest setting.
• Pour all but 3 tablespoons of the water into the poolish to loosen it and then pour it into the flour mixture. Add the butter and mix on low for 2 minutes to moisten the dry ingredients. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl to make sure all the flour has been incorporated.
• Sprinkle the salt over the top and mix on low for 2 minutes to dissolve the salt. If the mixture feels at all dry, add the reserved water in very small amounts as needed. Continue to mix on low speed for 20 minutes.
• Run a bowl scraper around the sides and bottom of the bowl to release the dough and turn it out onto a work surface. Stretch the left side of the dough outward and fold it over the center, then stretch and fold the right side over to the opposite side, as if you were folding a letter. Repeat the process, working from the bottom and then the top. Turn the dough over, and place it seam side down in a lightly oiled bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a dish towel and let sit at room temperature for 1 hour.
• Line a quarter sheet pan with parchment paper. Uncover the dough, run the bowl scraper around the sides and bottom of the bowl to release the dough, and turn it out onto a lightly floured work surface, disturbing the structure as little as possible. Gently but firmly pat the dough into a rectangle about 10 x 7 ½ inches, pressing any large gas bubbles to the edges and then out of the dough. Transfer to the sheet pan, cover with plastic wrap, and freeze for 20 minutes.
• To encase the butter and roll the dough: Lightly flour the work surface and a heavy rolling pin. Turn the dough out onto the work surface and lightly dust the top with flour. Roll the dough outward from the center, rotating it frequently and flipping and fluffing it from time to time, adding just enough flour to the work surface, dough, and/or pin to prevent sticking, until you have a 16 x 7 ½ x ½ inch thick rectangle.
• Lay the block of butter across the center of the dough. Stretch and fold over the two longer sides so they meet in the center and pinch together to seal. There should be no exposed butter at the top of the block, but you will see the butter on the sides.
• Using the rolling pin, press down firmly on the dough across the seam from one side to the other to expand the dough. Turn the dough so a short end faces you. Roll to expand the length of the dough, flipping, fluffing, and turning the dough over and adding flour only as needed, until you have a rectangle about 22 x 9 inches and 3/8 inch thick.
• Fold the bottom third of the dough up as if you were folding a letter. Fold the top third down to cover the bottom third. Turn the block 90 degrees so the dough resembles a book, with the opening on the right. You will continue this pattern with each roll, and keeping the opening on the right will help you remember how to position the dough. You have completed your first turn; gently press a finger into a corner to mark it. Return to the sheet pan, cover with plastic wrap, and freeze for 20 minutes or until the dough has stiffened but is not hard.
• Lightly dust the work surface with flour. Place the dough on the work surface with the opening on the right. It is important to work with the dough as quickly as possible, but not at the risk of exposing the butter. Pressing on the dough will warm the butter; if it is too cold, it will shatter rather than spread as you roll it. Expand the dough by pressing down firmly with the rolling pin, working up the length of the dough. If the dough cracks at all along the edges, stop and let it warm slightly at room temperature. Then roll out the dough as you did before to a 22 x 9 x 3/8 inch thick rectangle and repeat the folding. Turn the block 90 degrees, so the opening is on the right. Gently press 2 fingers into a corner to mark the dough. Return to the sheet pan, cover with plastic wrap, and freeze for 20 minutes or until the dough has stiffened but is not hard.
• Repeat all of the steps for turn 2 and mark the dough with 3 fingerprints.
• Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and lightly dust the work surface with flour. Place the dough on the work surface with the opening on the right.
• It is especially critical at this stage that the dough remain cold; freeze as needed. Lightly dust the top of the dough and roll it outward from the center, flipping, fluffing, and rotating the dough and turning it over, adding only enough flour to the work surface, dough, and/or pin as necessary to prevent sticking. Roll the dough out to 24 x 9 inches.
• Cut the dough into 2 12x9 pieces and lay on the sheet pan with a piece of parchment in between each. Wrap with plastic wrap and either freeze until ready to use, or for 20 minutes if you're planning to shape the croissants right away
• Spray two sheet pans with nonstick spray and line with parchment paper (or just use 1 sheet pan if only using half the batch of dough).
• Lightly flour the work surface. Remove one piece of dough from the freezer and position it on the work surface with the short end towards you; transfer the second piece of dough (if using at this time) to the refrigerator. Roll the dough out to a rectangle 19 x 9 inches.
• Turn the dough so that a long side is facing you and trim it to 18 inches long. Trim the remaining sides only as needed for straight edges.
• Cut the dough in half, crosswise, so that you have two squares, about 9 x 9 inches wide. Then cut each squash in half so that you end up with four rectangles. Cut each rectangle diagonally so that you end up with 8 right triangles.
• Hold one triangle up by the base with one hand and, using your fingertips, gently pull the dough until it is stretched to about 12 inches.
• Put the dough on the work surface, with the base of the triangle close to you. If using the almond filling (directions below,) spread a small amount on the widest part of the dough.
• Fold over the corners to the center of the base and roll the dough up from the wide end to the tip. Put on a prepared sheet with the tail tucked under. Press down slightly, flattening the croissant just enough so that it will not roll on the pan. Repeat with the remaining 7 triangles of dough, spacing them evenly on the sheet pan.
• Remove the second piece of dough from the refrigerator, and, if necessary, let sit at room temperature until warmed enough to roll, then repeat to make 8 more croissants.
• Cover pans loosely with plastic wrap and allow to proof for 2 hours. When a finger gently pressed into the edge holds the indent, they are done proofing.
• Combine all syrup ingredients in a small saucepan and simmer until sugar is dissolved. Turn heat off and steep for an hour.
• Strain solids out then syrup is ready to use.
• Using an electric mixer cream together the almond paste, butter, and egg whites. Add in the powdered sugar and mix until smooth.
• Preheat oven to 350F. When done proofing, brush croissants with egg white wash. If making almond croissants, also brush generously with the almond syrup and press slivered almonds into the top.
• Bake for 35-40 minutes, rotating the pans once halfway through baking and separating the croissants if they are touching, until the tops are a rich golden brown and no portions, particularly between the layers, look undercooked. Set the pans on a rack and cool completely.

ALMOND CROISSANTS

Steps:

• In a bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar and salt. Cut in butter until crumbly. Add milk and egg yolks to yeast mixture; mix well. Stir into crumb mixture; mix well. Do not knead. Cover and refrigerate overnight. , Punch dough down. Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface; divide in half. Roll each piece into a 12-in. circle; cut each circle into eight wedges. In a small bowl, beat filling ingredients until smooth. Spread filling over wedges; roll up from wide end. Place with point side down 3 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Curve ends to form a crescent shape. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour (dough will not double). , Beat egg white and water; brush over croissants. Sprinkle with almonds. Bake at 350° for 15-20 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.

HOMEMADE ALMOND CROISSANTS

Steps:

• First, the dough part needs at least 8 hours or up to overnight to rise and ferment properly. Heat the milk in a microwave safe bowl for about 90 seconds to get it to the perfect temperature for the yeast. Crumble the fresh yeast into it and let it bloom in the milk for 5 minutes. While the yeast works, measure out with a kitchen scale and whisk together the two flours, sugar and salt in a large mixing bowl. Then whisk the yeast into the milk to make sure it is dissolved. Pour the yeasty milk into the dry ingredients and stir it all together thoroughly with a big, sturdy spoon until it comes together into a gorgeous ball of dough. Cover it with plastic wrap and set it in the refrigerator to ferment and rise for at least 8 hours. I find it's best to make it the night before.
• Once you make the dough, you can also form the butter slab. Lay out a big piece of plastic wrap and lightly flour it. Lay out the butter on one half of it and flour the top of the butter as well. Bring the other half of plastic over the top and lightly press the butter out with your hands into a thin rectangle in between the plastic. Put it in the refrigerator to become solid again and it will be ready when the dough is! When the dough is ready it is time for the elbow grease. Punch it down and turn it out onto a well floured, clean surface. Roll it out into a big rectangle at least double the size of your butter slab. Place the butter slab in the middle of it on an angle and then fold the sides of the dough over the butter so that the slab is completely enveloped in the dough.
• Roll the dough out a little thinner to work the butter into the dough, then fold it into thirds like a letter. Flatten it out and roll it out again into a large rectangle, then fold it into thirds again. Flatten it out again and wrap the dough in plastic. Let it rest in the refrigerator for 2 hours. This counts as two turns, which is the most important part of laminating the dough into those flaky layers. When the 2 hours is up, repeat the process again of doing two turns with rolling out the dough, folding it, rolling it out again and folding it again. Refrigerate it and let it rest again for 2 hours. This will start to take some real elbow grease and lots of bench flour since you are starting to form some serious layers.
• When that final 2 hours is up, punch down the dough and cut it in half. Set one half back in the refrigerator while you work with the first half and get out two sheet trays. Line the sheet trays with silicone mats or parchment. Take that first half and roll it out into a rectangle that measures about 10 x 18 inches. Cut that rectangle into 6 big triangles by making diagonal cuts along the length of the rectangle to form the triangles. Place a tablespoon of almond paste at the wide base of each triangle. Then roll each one up tightly from the base to the pointy end, pulling gently on it as you roll it so that it is tightly rolled. Place them staggered on one of the baking sheets. Repeat this whole process with the other half of dough and fill the other baking sheet. Let them sit and rise at room temperature for an hour.
• When the hour is up, pre-heat the oven to 350. Whisk the egg, almond extract and water together in a bowl and brush it really generously on each formed croissant. Sprinkle each croissant with lots of sliced almonds and lightly press them in so that they stick to the egg wash. Bake the croissants for 30-40 minutes, until they are completely golden and crisp. Let them cool a bit and then sprinkle each of them with powdered sugar. Serve warm with great coffee and enjoy!

ALMOND CROISSANT

Steps:

• In a bowl or medium measuring cup, combine the water and yeast. Let it sit in a warm place for 10-15 minutes or until the yeast dissolves.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the flour, sugar, and salt. Then pour in the warm yeast water.
• Using the hook attachment, mix the dough on medium speed until it begins to take shape. Toss in 1/2 cup of softened butter and continue mixing on medium high speed until the dough is smooth and well rounded.
• Transfer the dough into a bowl greased with oil. Lightly grease the dough with oil as well. Cover with plastic wrap and let it rise for 2 hours or until it triples in size.
• Meanwhile prepare the butter slab. Start by cutting out 2 large sheets of parchment paper. Trace an 8x12 inch rectangle on each sheet. Place 1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) sliced butter in the middle of one sheet. Have the traced side down (you don't want to get any pencil marks on the butter).
• Place the second sheet on top (traced side up). Using a rolling pin, roll out the butter to the edges of the traced rectangle. Then place on a flat surface in the refrigerator.
• Once the dough is done rising, deflate it onto a floured surface and roll it out to a 28x14 inch rectangle. Fold over 2/3 of the left corner then bring in the right corner so it covers the other edge but doesn't quite reach the other side.
• Starting from the shorter edge fold the dough into thirds. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 6-8 hours (or overnight).
• In a bowl, combine 1 egg, 3/4 cup butter, and 1/2 tsp almond extract. Then blend in the 2 1/2 cups almond flour, 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, and 1 tsp corn starch. This will be the almond paste.
• Gently deflate the dough onto a floured surface and roll it out to a 25 x 9 inch rectangle. Place the chilled butter slab on the right half of the dough leaving at least 1 inch margin around the edges.
• Fold over the left (unbuttered) half and roll the dough out to a 30x12 inch rectangle. It helps to spread the butter by pressing down with the rolling pin along with rolling it out.
• Fold over 2/3 of the left corner then bring in the right corner so both edges touch.
• Roll the dough out to a 30x12 inch rectangle. Fold it in half like a book. Once its folded in half the dimensions should be 15 x 12 inches. Roll it out to 30 x 12 again.
• Then fold it into thirds. If the butter begins to melt, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes. The size of the dough should be 12 x 8 inches before wrapping it in plastic wrap.
• Cut the chilled dough in half. Rewrap 1 halve and place it back in the refrigerator for later use. Roll the unwrapped dough into a 30x10 inch rectangle and cut out 9 triangles. Each triangle should be about 5 inches at the wide end, and about 1 inch at the narrow end.
• I like to make small slit in the middle of the wider ends so the croissant folds nicer, but thats totally optional. Fill the wider end of the triangles with 1 heaping tablespoon of the almond paste. Then roll the triangles toward the narrow end as you slightly pull the pointed end away.
• Place the croissants onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and let them rise in room temperature for 1-2 hours or until they double in size. Do not put them in a warm place to speed up the rising process. You don't want the butter to melt.
• Brush each croissant with egg wash and bake at 390 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes, then 370 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes. Baking time may vary depending on your oven.
• Mix the left over almond paste with a splash of milk and spread it over each croissant. Sprinkle sliced almonds over each croissant and bake for another 5 minutes at 370 degrees Fahrenheit. Once their cooled, dust powdered sugar over the top of each croissant.
• Remove the second half of the dough from the refrigerator and roll it out to a 30x10 inch rectangle. Cut out 9 triangles and repeat steps 14-17.

TWICE-BAKED ALMOND CROISSANTS

Steps:

• Make syrup:
• Combine sugar and water in a small saucepan. Split vanilla bean with a sharp small knife and scrape seeds into sugar mixture. Add pod and bring to a boil, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Simmer 1 minute, then remove from heat and stir in orange juice.
• Make almond cream:
• Pulse almonds with 2 tablespoons sugar in a food processor until finely ground. Add almond paste and pulse until finely chopped.
• Beat together butter, remaining 2 tablespoons sugar, almond mixture, and a pinch of salt with an electric mixer at medium speed until fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Whisk together egg, rum, and extract in a small bowl and gradually add to almond cream, beating until combined well. Chill, covered, until set, about 1 hour.
• Assemble croissants:
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Cut croissants in half horizontally. Brush insides of croissants (both top and bottom halves) with some orange syrup. Spread 2 tablespoons almond cream on each bottom half, mounding in centers, and cover with tops. Spread 1 tablespoon almond cream on each top. Transfer croissants to a parchment-lined baking sheet and sprinkle about 2 tablespoons toasted almonds on each.
• Bake croissants in middle of oven until golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool slightly, then dust with confectioners sugar.