Recreating the Classic Donut Shop Ham and Cheese Croissant at Home

The ham and cheese croissant is a beloved breakfast staple found at donut shops across Southern California. With its soft, flaky croissant dough wrapping melty cheese and thin slices of ham, it’s the perfect on-the-go morning meal. While donut shop versions have an irresistible freshness, it is possible to recreate this iconic SoCal favorite at home. With the right ingredients and techniques, you can make donut shop quality ham and cheese croissants in your own kitchen.

The Quest for the Perfect Donut Shop Croissant

Diehard fans have long tried cracking the code on replicating the distinct donut shop ham and cheese croissant. It’s more than just a croissant – the specific dough, cheese, and ham create nostalgia for anyone who grew up eating these breakfast sandwiches. Donut shop owners keep their recipes under lock and key. But home cooks have experimented to figure out how to get that tender, flaky croissant and gooey melted cheese that makes these sandwiches so craveable.

The keys are using the right dough, finding melty deli cheeses that mimic the distinctive donut shop cheese and layering on thin slices of quality ham. With practice and passion you can recreate this SoCal specialty in your own kitchen. Keep reading to learn how to make ham and cheese croissants worthy of any donut shop.

Croissant Dough Secrets

The foundation of a great ham and cheese croissant is tender, flaky croissant dough. Donut shop versions have a distinctive texture and flavor. Here are some tips for achieving authentic croissant dough at home:

• Use a high-butter recipe with European style butter. The butter provides rich flavor and flaky layers.

• Give the dough time to chill and rest between folds when laminating. This helps create defined layers.

• Shape and roll croissants tightly. This spiral shape contributes to the signature flaky texture.

• Egg wash before baking gives the croissants sheen and color.

• Bake until deeply golden brown Underbaking leads to doughy texture

With careful lamination and shaping, you can get professional quality, flaky croissant dough for your ham and cheese sandwiches.

Find the Right Melty Cheese

The cheese plays a starring role, becoming molten and gooey when baked inside the croissant. But what cheese gives that nostalgic donut shop flavor? After much trial and error, most chefs agree on using:

• White American cheese – This processed cheese melts smoothly without oil separation.

• Swiss cheese – For nutty flavor and excellent melting abilities.

• Provolone – Mild yet flavorful, it melts into stretchy goodness.

• Cheddar – For a sharper flavor profile that still melts nicely.

Stick to a bend of these melty cheeses to achieve the right texture and flavor. Stay away from hard cheeses like parmesan that won’t melt properly.

Select the Perfect Ham

Donut shop ham and cheese croissants use paper-thin ham slices. Look for:

• Deli ham – Wafer thin slices allow folding several into the croissant.

• Kirkland ham – Pre-sliced bulk pack ham keeps costs down for shops.

• Danola ham – This brand offers ideal thin, foldable slices.

• Avoid thick ham with heavy smoked flavor.

The ham should add subtle salty flavor but not overwhelm. Super thin slices mean you can add several for just a hint of ham in each bite.

Assembly Tips and Tricks

With your dough, cheese, and ham ready, it’s time for assembly. Follow these tips:

• Lightly roll out croissant dough to flatten slightly before adding filling.

• Place cheese slices on the center of the flattened dough.

• Cover cheese with overlapping thin ham slices.

• Add any other fillings like tomato or jalapeño if desired.

• Fold the sides of dough over filling and roll up into a tight log.

• Shape into a crescent before baking for the classic look.

• Egg wash the shaped croissants before baking for sheen and color.

With practice, you’ll perfect your assembly method for picture-perfect ham and cheese croissants.

Recreate the Iconic Flavor at Home

The beauty of making donut shop style ham and cheese croissants at home is that you can enjoy fresh baked flavors any time. Follow these tips when baking your croissants:

• Preheat oven to 400°F to properly bake the laminated dough.

• Bake 15-20 minutes until deep golden brown, rotating halfway.

• Allow to cool 5 minutes before eating so filling sets up.

• Enjoy straight from the oven for the perfect warm, melty flavor.

• Reheat leftovers in microwave 10 seconds for a quick on-the-go breakfast.

Your homemade ham and cheese croissants will impress any donut shop connoisseur.

Variations to Try

Once you master the classic donut shop version, get creative with these ham and cheese croissant twists:

• Add sun-dried tomato and pesto for a savory Italian twist.

• Mix Mexican flavors with jalapeño, cilantro and salsa.

• Make it a BLT with crispy bacon and fresh lettuce.

• Use Gruyere or fontina for more complex cheese flavor.

• Swap out ham for roasted turkey or chicken.

The possibilities are endless when you make these sandwiches from scratch.

Frequently Asked Home Croissant Questions

If you’re new to homemade croissants, here are some common questions:

What is the best dough to use?

Look for recipes using European style butter for flavor and flakes. Chilling and resting the laminated dough well is also key.

How do you get flaky layers?

Proper lamination by folding the dough over chilled butter creates thin layers that get flaky when baked.

What causes croissants to be dense or doughy?

Underproofing and underbaking are the main culprits. Make sure to proof until puffy and bake until deep golden brown.

How long do croissants take to make?

From start to finish, homemade croissants take 2-3 days with long chill times. But the hands-on time is only 1-2 hours.

Enjoy a Taste of SoCal Wherever You Are

There’s no need to book a flight to LA to enjoy the flavors of a classic California donut shop ham and cheese croissant. With high quality ingredients and careful technique, you can recreate this iconic sandwich at home no matter where you live. So fire up the oven, layer the cheeses, and treat yourself to this beloved anytime breakfast.