In case you’re not familiar, rice paper is a thin, translucent wrap that’s used in many traditional Asian dishes, such as spring rolls and dumplings. It’s typically made of tapioca flour, rice starch, salt, and water.
Here, we break down exactly how to make a rice paper croissant and ask a dietitian to weigh in on whether they’re any different from regular croissants.
How to make rice paper croissants
Although there are many variations of rice paper croissants on TikTok, the general recipe calls for whisking two to five eggs in a bowl with some whole milk, sugar, vanilla extract, butter, cinnamon, and baking powder. Then, soak three to five rice papers into the egg mixture and cut them into three sections before rolling them into a croissant, sprinkling some sugar on top, and popping them in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 30 minutes. The result is a soft, mochi-like texture on the inside and a crispy, flaky outer crust.
@twaydabae Rice paper is soooo versitile !!! #croissant #ricepapercroissant
How do rice paper croissants compare to regular croissants?
Because rice paper is made of tapioca flour and rice, these croissants are naturally gluten-free. But they’re otherwise not that different from a regular croissant, considering they’re made with eggs, butter, sugar, and salt.
“My advice is that if you have celiac disease or a gluten sensitivity, this may be a good alternative,” says Bonnie Taub-Dix, RDN, host of the Media Savvy Podcast, creator of BetterThanDieting.com, and author of Read It Before You Eat It — Taking You from Label to Table.
Keep in mind that rice paper is relatively low in protein and contains no fiber—two nutrients that make food more satisfying. “So in my opinion, I wouldn’t be adding rice paper croissants into your diet every day, thinking it’s healthier and better for you,” Taub-Dix says.
If you want to make a heartier gluten-free croissant at home, Taub-Dix recommends using almond, sorghum, and oat flours instead or rice paper. These flours are more nutrient-dense and contain more fiber and protein, making them more filling.
That said, there’s also no harm in having a rice paper croissant every now and then. All types of croissants can fit into a healthy eating plan.
Try these rice paper croissant recipes on TikTok
Ham and cheese
Are savory bites more of your thing? Try this croque monsieur-esque rice paper croissant recipe, which layers the rice paper with slices of ham and cheese.
@tiffoodss The Viral Rice Paper Croissant but making it savory with ham and cheese! 🍖🧀🥐 What can’t rice paper do? I’m so impressed! Ingredients: 50g melted butter 4 eggs 30g water Dash of salt 10 rice paper (5 each) Ham and cheese #ricepaper #ricepaperhack #ricepapercroissant #croissant
Red bean paste
For an Asian-inspired dessert, consider stuffing your rice paper with sweet red bean paste, which you can find at any Asian food market. Red bean paste is usually made with azuki beans, sugar, and some salt.
@eileenis Replying to @Esty they just keep getting better and better! Ill be posting the rice paper croissant recipe tomorrow!! 🥐#ricepaper #ricepapercroissant #glutenfree #ricepaperrecipes #croissant #redbean #hamandcheese
Matcha and white chocolate
Give your rice paper croissant an antioxidant-rich boost by adding some matcha powder to your egg batter and sprinkling some match on top. This creator adds some mango white chocolate filling for a sweet surprise.
@vancouverfoodie Tried out @mindtmatcha’s recipe using matcha and filled it with mango white chocolate 🙂 @Nancy and i used 4 rice paper sheets and added extra matcha powder on top 🍵 Its chewy, crispy and dense. Not as buttery as the classic of course, but yummy nonetheless 🙂 #ricepaperrolls #ricepapercroissant #ricepaperhack #ricepaperchallenge #matcha #matchalover
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