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    Home » Recipes » Breakfast

    Taro & Pitaya Mochi Croissants

    Published: Jan 14, 2021 by Michelle · 13 Comments

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    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    These Taro & Pitaya Mochi Croissants are a delicious and unique way to enjoy croissants. Sweetened taro and almond frangipane marry together with chewy mochi in this creative dessert/breakfast/snack! Best served fresh out of the oven.

    Cut open taro pitaya mochi croissants on round black plate with knife.
    My kids love croissants. 

    I think if they could eat one type of pastry for weeks on end, croissants would be it.

    They love savoury Breakfast Turkey & Egg Croissants and classic bakery favorite Double-Baked Almond. 

    But, they wanted me to change it up a bit.

    I came up with these Taro & Pitaya Mochi Croissants on a whim when I needed to use up some fresh taro I had on hand.

    These Taro & Pitaya Mochi Croissants are a unique way to "fancify" regular store-bought croissants.

    Why you'll like this recipe

    For ease and convenience, I'm using store-bought croissants.

    You can certainly make your own croissants if you feel like it. 

    This is a great recipe for those day-old croissants that are just hanging around.

    The filling is a sweetened taro, pitaya (dragonfruit) and almond frangipane with chewy homemade mochi.

    What is taro?

    Taro is a starchy root which is commonly confused with purple yam or purple sweet potato.

    The interior is usually pale beige or lavender in colour with purple speckles.

    You can find taro root in Asian supermarkets. 

    Recipes that use taro include:

    Bubur Cha Cha

    Real Taro Milk Bubble Tea

    Cut mochi croissants on a black round plate.
    How to cook taro

    Peel and cut the taro in small chunks, and place it into a small bowl with a little splash of water.

    Cover with a lid and microwave for 1-2 minutes, until fork tender.

    What is pitaya?

    Pitaya is also known as dragon fruit, which is a fruit common in Southeast Asia.

    There are a few varieties of pitaya: yellow, red, and white.

    Here, I am using red/pink pitaya powder just to add a pop of colour to the taro almond frangipane.

    You can find pitaya powder online. Don't worry if you don't have pitaya powder on hand -- it's purely optional. 

    What is mochi?

    Mochi is a sticky and chewy treat that is made from glutinous rice flour.

    It is traditionally eaten around New Year's, but nowadays, you can find mochi anytime.

    I love mochi so much that I've got a few various recipes with it:

    Korean Matcha Mochi Bread

    Strawberry Red Bean Mochi

    Matcha Brownie Mochi (Brochi)

    Cut mochi croissants on round black plate.
    How to make it

    Make the simple syrup:

    In a small saucepan, combine ¼ C water with ¼ C granulated sugar.

    Bring to a simmer over low heat until the sugar is dissolved.

    Make the taro filling:

    Cook the taro and mash it. Set aside and let it cool.

    In a bowl, combine the softened butter, sugar, vanilla extract, and egg.

    Add in the mashed taro, almond flour and pitaya/dragonfruit powder. 

    Make the mochi:

    Combine the mochiko, sugar, and water in a shallow bowl. Give it a mix.

    Cover with a lid and microwave for about 1 minute, 30 seconds, until translucent. Stir the mixture.

    Divide the mochi mixture in half.

    Assemble:

    Preheat oven to 350F.

    Slice a croissant in half.

    Brush simple syrup on the insides of the croissants.

    Spread the taro filling on the bottom half.

    Add the ½ of the mochi on top of the taro filling.

    Place the croissant "top" on. 

    Repeat with the remaining croissant.

    Bake the croissants at 350F for 25-30 minutes, until golden in colour. (If the tops are browning too quickly, place a piece of aluminum foil over top).

    Let the croissants cool and dust with powdered sugar before serving. 

    Close up of taro pitaya mochi croissants on black plate.

    How to serve & store

    The Taro & Pitaya Mochi Croissants are best enjoyed freshly made.

    Because there is mochi in these croissants, they should be eaten on the same day.

    Mochi hardens when it is it cool, so it's not advisable to store them in the fridge. 

    However, if you cannot finish the croissants on the same day, you can store them in an airtight container.

    Reheat the croissants by baking them in the oven at 350F for 8-10 minutes, until the mochi is warm.

    FAQ's

    Can I make the croissants ahead of time?

    They will taste much better when they're freshly made.

    Can I make them without mochi?

    Sure, you can refer to my Easy Double-Baked Almond Croissants for more straightforward almond frangipane filling.

    Do I need to use day-old croissants?

    You can use fresh, but day-old works best for this application.

    Do I need to add pitaya powder?

    No, it's purely for the pop of pink colour in the filling. 

    What does pitaya taste like?

    It has a neutral, slightly sweet taste.

    Other recipes you may like

    Be sure to check out these other recipes:

    Matcha Almond Bostock

    Easy Double-Baked Almond Croissants

    Hojicha Brochi (Brownie Mochi)

    Real Taro Milk Bubble Tea

    Let me know if you try out my recipe for Taro & Pitaya Mochi Croissants! Tag me on Instagram @siftandsimmer or leave me a comment/rating below.

    Mochi croissants on black plate, with text overlay.

     

    Cut open taro pitaya mochi croissants on round black plate with knife.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 6 votes

    Taro & Pitaya Mochi Croissants

    Taro and pitaya (dragon fruit) almond frangipane with a chewy mochi takes these croissants to a new level of deliciousness.
    Prep Time15 mins
    Cook Time30 mins
    Total Time40 mins
    Course: Breakfast, Brunch, Dessert
    Cuisine: Asian
    Servings: 2
    Calories: 688kcal
    Author: Michelle

    For accuracy and precision in baking recipes, use weight (metric) measurements when available.

    Ingredients

    • 2 croissants preferably day-old

    Simple syrup:

    • ¼ C granulated sugar
    • ¼ C water

    Taro filling:

    • 30 g cooked taro mashed
    • 18 g salted butter softened
    • 60 g granulated sugar
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1 large egg
    • 50 g almond flour
    • 1 teaspoon pitaya/dragonfruit powder optional

    Mochi:

    • 70 g mochiko (glutinous rice flour)
    • 15 g granulated sugar
    • 100 g water

    Garnish:

    • 2 tablespoon flaked almonds
    • 1 teaspoon powdered sugar
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    Make the simple syrup:

    • In a small saucepan, combine ¼ C water with ¼ C granulated sugar.
    • Bring to a simmer over low heat until the sugar is dissolved.

    Make the taro filling:

    • Cook the taro and mash it. Set aside and let it cool.
    • In a bowl, combine the softened butter, sugar, vanilla extract, and egg.
    • Add in the mashed taro, almond flour and pitaya/dragonfruit powder.

    Make the mochi:

    • Combine the mochiko, sugar, and water in a shallow bowl. Give it a mix.
    • Cover with a lid and microwave for about 1 minute, 30 seconds, until translucent. Stir the mixture.
    • Divide the mochi mixture in half.

    Assemble:

    • Preheat oven to 350°F.
    • Slice a croissant in half.
    • Brush simple syrup on the inside of the croissant.
    • Spread the taro filling on the bottom half, reserving 2 teaspoon for the tops.
    • Add the ½ of the mochi on top of the taro filling.
    • Place the croissant "top" on.
    • Spread the remaining taro filling on top and sprinkle with flaked almonds.
    • Repeat with the remaining croissant.
    • Bake the croissants at 350°F for 25-30 minutes, until golden in colour. (If the tops are browning too quickly, place a piece of aluminum foil over top).
    • Remove from oven and let cool.
    • Add a dusting of powdered sugar and serve freshly made.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 688kcal | Carbohydrates: 103g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 101mg | Sodium: 102mg | Potassium: 221mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 65g | Vitamin A: 355IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 106mg | Iron: 2mg

    The nutritional information provided should be considered as approximate and is not guaranteed. Please use your best judgment to ensure food is safely prepared and/or a good fit for your diet.

    Did you try this recipe?Mention @siftandsimmer or tag #siftandsimmer!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. David @ Spiced

      January 15, 2021 at 4:56 am

      5 stars
      I absolutely love croissants, too - just like your kids! No matter how you serve 'em, I'm all in. I do really enjoy croissants filled with vanilla pastry cream, and this recipe is reminiscent of that - but totally different flavors. The taro + mochi combination intrigues me. It sounds tasty! I'm pretty sure these croissants would disappear magically in our house! 🙂

      Reply
      • Michelle

        January 15, 2021 at 7:35 am

        Thanks David -- how funny, I don't think I've had croissants with vanilla pastry cream before! Donuts, yes, but not croissants... I'll have to try that soon!

    2. Katherine | Love In My Oven

      January 15, 2021 at 12:45 pm

      5 stars
      These are so stunning, Michelle! I've never made a croissant but it's on my to-do list. Now I might need to make this fancier version! 🙂

      Reply
      • Michelle

        January 15, 2021 at 6:25 pm

        Thank you Katherine! 🙂

    3. 2pots2cook

      January 18, 2021 at 2:04 am

      5 stars
      Your beautiful photos make me do every single dish you publish. I am used to make croissants at home and must try this interesting twist ! Thank you !

      Reply
      • Michelle

        January 18, 2021 at 10:39 am

        Hope you give them a try, Davorka! 🙂

    4. Christie

      January 18, 2021 at 12:37 pm

      5 stars
      Oh my goodness that looks so good Michelle! I love anything with mochi.

      Reply
      • Michelle

        January 20, 2021 at 9:14 am

        Thanks Christie!

    5. Heidi | The Frugal Girls

      January 19, 2021 at 11:55 am

      Your beautiful croissants are simply irresistible with that totally scrumptious filling!

      Reply
    6. Raymund

      January 19, 2021 at 2:13 pm

      5 stars
      Wow, that is one heck of a creation, totally unique. Never thought of combining taro, pitaya, mochi and croissants in one dish. I totally love this

      Reply
      • Michelle

        January 20, 2021 at 9:15 am

        Thanks Raymund! The flavours are definitely unique 🙂

    7. Linsey

      March 22, 2021 at 2:37 pm

      5 stars
      Beautiful creation!

      Reply
      • Michelle

        March 22, 2021 at 7:32 pm

        Thank you kindly, Linsey! 🙂

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