I was doom-scrolling through Insta, as one does, and I saw a reel that stopped me immediately: adorably mini scallion pancake croissants.
I’m not one to turn my nose up at food hacks, and went to my freezer (which always has frozen green onion pancakes) immediately to make a quick batch. They turned out so cute! Super crispy, full of green onion pancake flavor and easy to make, these lil croissant bites are the perfect thing to make for a quick snack, party appetizer, or game day.
What are scallion pancake croissants?
As far as I can tell, these little croissant bites were invented by @eatingwithkirby. Essentially, she takes premade, scallion pancakes aka green onion pancakes, cuts them into triangles, and rolls them up into little croissant shapes. Brush with an egg wash, sprinkle on some toasted sesame seeds, and then either bake or air-fry.
It’s pretty genius: scallion pancakes have the same flaky structure as croissants, thanks to the layers of fat. Scallion pancakes are basically an unleavened croissant dough, but with oil and scallions, rolled and flattened. Rolling up scallion pancake dough into a croissant shape gives them an adorable shape while showing off all the flaky layers.
Ingredients for scallion pancake croissants
- premade frozen scallion pancakes – this is the key ingredient. You can make your own scallion pancakes of course but the name of the game here is ease, so go with store-bought. You can find frozen scallion pancakes at any Asian grocery store in the frozen foods aisle. There will be a huge selection. Heck, they even have pancakes without scallions/green onions if that’s what you want. They even sell green onion pancakes at Trader Joe’s. Be sure to get the Taiwanese green onion pancakes, not the Korean scallion pancakes.
- egg wash – an egg whisked with 1 tbsp water brushed onto the tops of the croissant bites help them end up with shiny, golden brown tops.
- toasted sesame seeds – technically you can skip this, but black or white toasted sesame seeds add a touch of whimsy and makes these croissant bites seem more like a real appetizer. Garnish makes everything pretty!
How to make green onion croissants
- Cut – Let the green onion pancake defrost a bit so it’s easy to cut, then cut it into long triangular strips, as shown in the photo.
- Roll – roll up the triangles, from the base to the tip. Keep the tip of the croissant tucked underneath.
- Brush – brush the tops lightly with a bit of egg wash.
- Sprinkle – sprinkle each mini croissant with toasted black and white sesame seeds.
- Bake – place the green onion croissants into the basket of an air fryer and air-fry until the tops are golden and crispy and the insides are cooked through, about 10 minutes at 400°F. To bake, place the croissants bites on a parchment paper-lined tray and bake for 15-20 minutes in the 400°F, or until golden and crispy.
- Enjoy – remove, let cool slightly, and enjoy!
Dip
You can devour these as is, by the handful, but who doesn’t love dip? Mike and I love mixing black vinegar with a touch of soy sauce for a super simple dip. It adds just a bit of acidity and makes these guys even more poppable.
Which green onion pancakes to buy?
If you’re already a fan of green onion pancakes and have a favorite brand, go with that one. Otherwise, for this particular recipe, it’s best to go with a large, thin green onion pancake as it’ll be easier to roll up. Look for one that’s about eight to ten inches wide. If you can’t find ones that are thin, just let your pancake defrost a bit and roll it out slightly with a rolling pin before cutting it into triangles.
That’s it! Truthfully green onion pancakes are one of my all-time go-to’s when I’m starving and I need a quick snack so this elevated version elates me.
Happy snacking!
xoxo steph
PS – In the mood to have a snack party?
- crispy, creamy, crabby heaven
- cheater’s homemade Chinese bbq pork buns
- Taiwanese popcorn chicken over all other popcorn chickens
- I love deep fried food and these ebi-fry (giant crispy breaded shrimp) are to die for
Mini Scallion Pancake Croissants
Ingredients
- 1 frozen green onion pancake or as many as desired
- 1 egg lightly beaten with 1 tbsp water
- 1/2 tsp toasted sesame seeds
Instructions
- Let the green onion pancake defrost slightly on a large cutting board. Once softened enough to cut, use a sharp knife to cut the pancake into long, triangular strips.
- Roll the triangles up from the base to the tip, tucking the tip underneath the croissant bites.
- Brush lightly with egg wash and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds.
- Air fry at 400°F for about 10 minutes or until shiny and golden. To bake, heat the oven to 400°F, place the prepared croissant bites on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden and cooked through. Let cool slightly and enjoy!
