Goodbye Cronut. Hello Croffle!
Another food craze has taken Korea by storm. Goodbye cronut, hello croffle!
A classic croffle with cinnamon and vanilla ice cream.
What Is a Croffle?
The croffle was originally created in 2017 by Irish pastry chef Louise Lennox. Normal croissant dough is rolled and placed into a waffle maker to create an even crispier puff pastry than you would get in a traditional oven. That’s kind of an underwhelming description for something with such hype. However the hype surrounding them is well deserved.
What creates the magic of a croffle are the toppings and fillings. They can be both savory or sweet, the simplicity of the pastry is what makes them so popular.
Variations in Korea
While in other countries the croffle has maintained itself as more of a sit-down dish, in Korea it has taken many forms. With its Instagramable image, it was sure to become a staple food whether dined on in a cafe or picked up at a street food stall.
The first cafe to bring the croffle to Korea was cafe Aufglet. This cafe now has three locations in Geumho, Hannam, and Yeonnam, all in Seoul. This cafe was started by four friends who sought to show off their individuality in everything, from the decor to the music. These little details have made it a must-visit spot to enjoy this buttery, crunchy delight.
From @Aufglet on Instagram. An example of the classic sit-down croffle.
Another place to visit for a good croffle is atelier-turned-cafe, Saddler Haus. They opened a cafe alongside their successful leather workshop in March of 2020. While the classic “french croffle” is standard on their menu, their real source of popularity is their savory cheese and corn croffle. Also on their menu is a basil waffle. Saddler Haus has a hard and steadfast rule of only allowing 60 cheese and corn waffles to be made each day, and only one of these can be sold per person. Saddler House often has a line wrapped around the building and will consistently sell out, making the cafe close early due to lack of stock.
From the Saddler Haus instagram. Corn and cheese waffles, served with a delicious chive cream cheese.
It is easy to spot a cafe that serves these tasty treats, but the best place to get a croffle on the go is a local street food cart. To see how they are made, take a look at this video that gives a closer look.
Final Thoughts
Will the croffle finally be the one that sticks, or will it go the way of other trendy foods? Have you had the chance to try a croffle? Let us know at @KrazeMagazine on Instagram and Twitter and share your favorite croffle photos!