9 Genius Ways to Give Your Stale Croissants a Second Life

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Ham and Cheese Croissant Panini

Turn your leftover croissants into a delicious hot lunch or quick dinner! This recipe calls for a classic ham and cheese filling, but you can simply substitute the ingredients for the meat, veggies, or sauces you already have in your fridge. If you don’t have a panini press, you can use a metal spatula to flatten your sandwich in a pan. The butter will take care of the rest!

Ingredients (for 2 sandwiches):

• 2 large croissants, preferably day-old
• 4 slices of ham
• 4 slices of cheese (such as Swiss, cheddar, or Gruyère)
• 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 2 tbsp mayonnaise
• 2 tbsp butter, softened

Instructions:

1. Preheat your panini press or grill pan over medium heat.
2. Slice the croissants in half horizontally to create a top and bottom half.
3. Spread Dijon mustard on the bottom half of each croissant and mayonnaise on the top half.
4. Layer 2 slices of ham and 2 slices of cheese on the bottom half of each croissant.
5. Close the croissants to form sandwiches.
6. Spread softened butter on the outside of each croissant sandwich.
7. Place the croissant sandwiches on the preheated panini press or grill pan.
8. If using a panini press, close the lid and cook for 3-5 min. or until the croissants are golden brown and crispy, and the cheese is melted.
9. If using a grill pan, use a metal spatula to press down on the sandwiches firmly. Cook for 2-3 min. on each side, or until the croissants are golden brown and crispy, and the cheese is melted.
10. Once cooked, remove the croissant paninis from the panini press or grill pan and let them cool for a minute. Slice the paninis in half diagonally, serve immediately, and enjoy!

Hungry for more? Check out A Quick Guide to Crispy, Flakey, Homemade Croissants.