Crispy Crungji – Korean Flat Croissant

Today, I’m sharing the Crungji recipe, one of the most popular desserts in Korean cafés.
All you need is a croissant! You’ll be amazed at how easy it is to make a café-quality Korean dessert at home!

Viral Crungji 크룽지

The viral Korean dessert Crungji(크룽지) is a combination of a croissant and Nurungji. Nurungji is crispy, scorched rice made by pressing and toasting rice at the bottom of a hot stone pot or pan. This croissant dessert is flattened and toasted until crispy, just like nurungji, which is why it’s called Crungji.

The Birth of the Original

The original Crungji was created by Hyundai Green Food, the food affiliate of Hyundai Department Store. It was first launched by Vezzly, Hyundai’s bakery brand, offering flavors like original, macadamia, and truffle. Later, a popular Korean café chain called Paik’s Coffee (빽다방) began selling Crungji for just 2,800 KRW, making it go viral and even more mainstream.

Why Special

It’s crispy, sweet, and rich with a buttery flavor — the perfect balance for a dessert. It’s also a great way to transform leftover or soggy croissants into a crispy, delicious treat. There are so many ways to enjoy it, depending on the toppings you add. Check below for my favorites!

Disappearing?

The flat croissant is slowly fading from Korean cafés, as Croffles (croissant + waffle) have become more popular. But don’t be sad — today, you can easily recreate that same amazing taste of the Korean dessert right at home!

Ingredients

You only need 3 main ingredients. Super simple!

• Croissant: You can use raw dough or a pre-baked croissant. A leftover croissant from the day before (even if it’s gone soft) works perfectly!

• Honey: Adds sweetness to the croissant.

• Sugar: Melts on top and gives that crispy caramelized finish.

• Optional: Ice cream, syrup, or any toppings you like.

Want a healthier or lower-sugar version? Scroll down for alternative ingredients and tips!

Ingredient Substitutes

• Honey: You can replace it with maple syrup, oligosaccharide syrup, or corn syrup.

• Chocolate syrup: Feel free to swap it with maple syrup or skip it entirely.

Low-Sugar Version

Want a healthier, low-sugar or zero-sugar version?

• Sugar substitutes: Use allulose or stevia instead of regular sugar and honey.
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• Greek yogurt: Swap the ice cream with a dollop of Greek yogurt — it’s still delicious!

How to Enjoy Even More

The flat croissant tastes amazing on its own, but adding toppings takes it to the next level. Here are some delicious topping ideas.

• Ice Cream: In today’s recipe, we used one scoop on top. But try 2–3 scoops and sandwich it with another Crungji for a dreamy ice cream sandwich!

• Whipped Cream: A spoonful of sweet whipped cream adds a soft, creamy touch — perfect for dessert lovers.

• Chocolate Dip: Melt some chocolate and dip your flat croissant — let it harden or enjoy it warm and gooey.

• Cream Cheese: Not a fan of super sweet? A spread of cream cheese adds a rich, savory balance that’s seriously good.

• Greek Yogurt: Want something lighter? Swap the ice cream with Greek yogurt for a healthier, guilt-free option.

Other Desserts Made with Croissants

• Croffle: A croffle is made by pressing a croissant in a waffle maker. It first appeared in European and American bakeries in the early 2010s, but it didn’t gain real popularity until around 2020 — when it became a trendy Korean dessert In Korea, croffles evolved into their own style with various toppings like whipped cream, fruits, and more.

• Croissant Ice Cream: This dessert features croissants filled with ice cream. It’s a popular item in cafés across Asia, especially in Japan and Korea.

• Cruffin: A cruffin is made by baking croissant dough in a muffin tin. Unlike traditional muffins that are dense and cake-like, cruffins are flaky and crispy. They’re often filled with sweet cream for a soft, rich bite.

Perfect Drink Pairings

• Iced Americano: In Korea, people love to pair sweet desserts like Crungji with an Americano. In summer, especially, nothing beats an iced Americano with a crispy, buttery treat. Italians might not approve, but this is one of Korea’s most popular coffee drinks!
• Strawberry Latte: Want to avoid caffeine? Try a Korean-style strawberry latte made with homemade strawberry syrup, called strawberry cheong.

Many cafés across Korea use this syrup recipe, often featuring it as a seasonal menu item. It’s sweet, creamy, and super refreshing!