8 of the best croissants in Charlotte
Sorry kids, you’ve been sold a lie — France is not responsible for creating the croissant. It turns out we have been thanking the wrong country for these buttery, moon-shaped baked goods. Vienna, Austria, actually deserves the credit.
It’s been written about in many places, including ”Smithsonian Magazine.” Legend goes, in 1683 a Viennese baker who was up early to make bread heard the Turks tunneling under the city, preparing to attack. He sounded the alarm, allowing the military to collapse the tunnel and ultimately save the city.
To celebrate the victory, Austrian bakers created a treat called the kipfel — the German word for crescent. It was said to represent the crescent moon on the Ottoman flag and became symbolic of the Austrians “eating their enemy.” Centuries later, the French would refine the treat by using puff pastry.
Wherever they started, we’re just glad croissants exist. Here are eight spots around the Queen City where you can enjoy some of the best:
(1) Amelie’s Bakery
Multiple locations
Flavors: Almond twice-baked, chocolate, chocolate twice-baked and classic; seasonal flavor through March 1, tiramisu twice-baked (chocolate croissant, filled with cream cheese and tiramisu almond cream, topped with powdered sugar and coco powder)
Sneak peak: Get your taste buds ready: Starting March 2, Amelie’s will introduce its spring flavor, the Hummingbird Twice Baked Croissant — a plain croissant filled and topped with shredded coconut, roasted pineapple, pecans, banana and cinnamon almond cream.
Price: $2.19- $3.99
(2) Burney’s Sweets and More
1200 N. Davidson St.; 318 E. South Main St., Waxhaw
Flavors: Glazed or filled with up to 12 flavors. including apple, buttercream, chocolate, cream cheese, lemon, nutella and raspberry
Price: $0.79-$1.69
(3) Coco & the Director
100 W. Trade St.
Flavors: Almond, butter and chocolate hazelnut
Price: $3-$4
(4) Copain
Online ordering to be delivered to Rooster’s SouthPark with 24 hours notice.
6601 Morrison Blvd.
Flavors: Traditional and petite butter croissants, twice-baked ham and cheese croissant with gouda bechamel, speck and sliced gouda
Price: $4-$13
(5) Nova’s Bakery
1511 Central Ave
Flavors: Almond, chocolate, plain and strawberry
Price: $1.60-$2.25
(6) Renaissance Patisserie
6401 Morrison Blvd., #4A
Flavors: Almond, almond and chocolate, butter and chocolate
Price: $2.65-$5
(7) Sunflour Baking Company
Multiple locations
Flavors: Almond, berry, chocolate, hazelnut orange, vanilla sugar and rotating seasonal flavors of savory croissants, currently featuring gouda and honey baked ham, and spinach and feta cheese
Price: $3.75-$3.95
(8) Villani’s Bakery
901 Pecan Ave.
Flavors: Almond, chocolate and traditional
Price: $4-$4.50
This story was originally published February 21, 2020 at 5:30 AM.
