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A decadent homemade take on a frozen‑meal style breakfast sandwich. A buttery croissant is fried in honey for extra crispness, layered with a perfectly seasoned catfish fillet, a juicy smash‑burger patty, melted cheese, and fluffy powdered‑egg scramble. Inspired by a viral TikTok hack and the YouTube channel Louis Gantus.
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Everything you need to know about this recipe
The croissant breakfast sandwich blends French pastry technique with classic American breakfast proteins, reflecting the U.S. love for hybrid comfort foods. It became popular in the 2000s as cafés offered buttery croissants filled with eggs, cheese, and meats, turning a simple pastry into a hearty morning meal.
In the Southern U.S., catfish is often served fried with hush‑puppy or biscuit bases. While a croissant isn’t traditional, the concept of pairing fried catfish with a bread vehicle mirrors Southern fish‑sandwich traditions, especially in coastal Louisiana and Mississippi where catfish is a staple.
Traditional French patisseries rarely fry croissants in honey; they serve them plain or lightly toasted. The honey‑fried method is a modern, viral twist rather than an authentic French technique, created to add extra caramelized sweetness and crunch.
Hearty breakfast sandwiches are popular for weekend brunches, holiday breakfasts (e.g., Thanksgiving morning), and as a post‑workout fuel. They’re also a favorite for sports‑game mornings and casual gatherings where comfort food is prized.
It combines three indulgent elements—honey‑caramelized croissant, crispy catfish, and a smash‑burger patty—into one handheld dish, delivering sweet, salty, and umami flavors together. The use of powdered eggs adds a viral‑TikTok twist that sets it apart from typical breakfast sandwiches.
Common errors include using too high heat, which burns the honey; over‑flouring the catfish, leading to a gummy crust; and smashing the burger patty too early, which prevents a proper crust. Follow the critical steps and keep heat moderate for the honey caramelization.
Smashing creates a thin, crispy edge that adds texture contrast to the soft croissant and flaky catfish. The high‑heat sear also locks in juices quickly, making the patty juicy despite its thinness—ideal for a sandwich where space is limited.
Yes, you can pre‑cook the catfish and smash patties and keep them refrigerated for up to 2 days. Store the honey‑fried croissant halves in a paper bag to retain crispness, then assemble and re‑heat the sandwich in a skillet just before serving.
The croissant should develop a deep golden‑brown crust with a glossy honey glaze, while the interior remains flaky and buttery. It should smell sweet and slightly caramelized, and the honey should not be bubbling aggressively, which indicates burning.
The YouTube channel Louis Gantus focuses on recreating popular frozen‑meal and fast‑food items at home, often adding creative twists and viral‑internet hacks to make them more indulgent and homemade.
Louis Gantus blends humor with step‑by‑step breakdowns of viral trends, emphasizing bold flavor hacks—like frying croissants in honey—while other channels may stick to classic, recipe‑only presentations. His style is fast‑paced, experimental, and geared toward snack‑centric comfort foods.
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