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July 27, 2026Sources cited
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Cruffin

A cruffin is a hybrid pastry made from laminated dough, combining features of a croissant and a muffin.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

A cruffin is a hybrid pastry made from laminated dough, combining features of a croissant and a muffin. It is typically baked in a muffin tin and often filled with sweet fillings such as cream, custard, jam, or curd. The term is a portmanteau of “croissant” and “muffin.”

Description

Cruffins are sweet pastries made from croissant-style laminated dough shaped and baked in a muffin tin. They are typically finished with fillings or toppings after baking.

Preparation

The dough is layered to create a flaky texture, then proofed and baked in a muffin mould. Many recipes also add a spiral shape and fillings such as jam, cream, or chocolate.

Origin

Sources commonly associate the cruffin with Melbourne, Australia, and with bakery experimentation in the 2010s. Some accounts describe it as later popularized internationally by other bakeries, though the exact origin story is not fully consistent across sources.

Cultural popularity

Cruffins became part of the broader trend of hybrid pastries combining familiar baked goods. They are now widely described in baking media and dictionaries as a recognizable pastry category.

Key facts

  • A cruffin combines characteristics of a croissant and a muffin.
  • It is made from laminated dough and baked in a muffin mould or tin.
  • Cruffins are commonly filled after baking with creams, jams, custards, or curds.
  • The pastry is known for a flaky exterior and layered interior.
  • The term is a portmanteau of “croissant” and “muffin.”
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Canadian context

Cruffins are part of the international bakery trend of croissant-based hybrid pastries and are sold in cafés and bakeries in Canada, especially in larger urban food markets.

Frequently asked questions

What is a cruffin?
A cruffin is a pastry that combines croissant-style laminated dough with muffin-style shaping and baking.
What does “cruffin” mean?
The name is a blend of “croissant” and “muffin.”
How is a cruffin made?
It is made from laminated dough, shaped in a muffin tin, baked, and often filled after baking.
What fillings are used in cruffins?
Common fillings include cream, custard, jam, crème pâtissière, curd, and similar sweet fillings.
Where did cruffins come from?
Many sources link the pastry to Melbourne, Australia, but accounts differ on the exact creator and timeline.

References

  1. Cambridge Dictionary — https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/cruffin
    Supports: Definition of cruffin as a small sweet cake shaped like a muffin but made of thin layers of pastry like a croissant, often filled with cream, custard, or jam.
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cruffin
    Supports: General description of cruffin as a croissant-muffin hybrid and preparation in a muffin mould.
  3. Wiktionary — https://www.wvtionary.org/wiki/cruffin
    Supports: Definition of cruffin as a pastry combining characteristics of a croissant and a muffin.
  4. Kiddle — https://kids.kiddle.co/Cruffin
    Supports: Claim that the first cruffin was created in Melbourne, Australia in 2013.
  5. Sally's Baking Addiction — https://www.sallysbakingaddiction.com/homemade-cruffins/
    Supports: Statement that cruffins were first created in Melbourne by Lune Croissanterie and later popularized in the U.S.
  6. Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/p/C6BN0Mvi6SA/
    Supports: Description of cruffins as laminated dough baked in a muffin mould and then filled with creams, jams, crème pâtissières, or curds.