21

The creator of the world-famous cronut celebrates spring with a delicious sakura-topped cherry blossom edition.

Cronuts have become well-known around the world but the craze first started in New York City back in 2013, when chef Dominique Ansel invented the sweet croissant-doughnut hybrid and made it a registered trademark of Dominique Ansel Bakery internationally. Lovers of sweets and pastries know that the ultimate cronut experience can only be had at the bakery in which it was born, and since the Tokyo branch opened in June last year, locals and tourists alike have been lining up outside its doors to try one for themselves.

▼ On opening day, hundreds of people lined up to get a taste of Ansel’s beautiful range of sweets.

22

Using a laminated dough fried in grapeseed oil, the cronuts take up to three days to make and with batches made fresh daily, they’re often sold out by early afternoon. What makes them so sought-after is not just their unique flaky-yet-chewy textures, but the fact that only one of 12 flavours are available each month, meaning if you miss a special release, you’ll have to wait another year for the chance to try it again.

▼ With that in mind, we’re definitely making a stop there this month for the beautiful pink cherry blossom cronuts.

21

During the month of March, Dominique Ansel will be serving up the “Sakura Almond Ganache, Sakura Honey with Salt Sugar” cronut. The flavour has been inspired by the nation’s traditional springtime sweet sakura mochi, with the pink-hued ganache filling and salty sugar dusting bringing out the traditional salty-sweet cherry blossom flavours usually found in the sakura leaf-wrapped rice cakes.

▼Sakura mochi, Tokyo-style (left) and Kansai style (right).

25

Adding to the beauty of the sweet, each cronut comes served with a real sakura blossom on top!

The cherry blossom cronuts are available only until the end of March and retail for 594 yen (US$5.23) each. Be sure to stop by for a taste if you’re around Omotesando!

Shop Information
Dominique Ansel Bakery Tokyo/ドミニクアンセルベーカリートウキョウ
Address: Tokyo-to, Shibuya-ku, Jingumae 5-7-14
東京都渋谷区神宮前 5−7−14
Hours: 1F (eat-in and takeaway) 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.  2F (eat-in) 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Source: Entabe
Top Image: Dominique Ansel Japan (edited by RocketNews24)
Insert Images: RocketNews24Wikimedia/katorisi, Wikimedia/Masgatotkaca (edited by RocketNews24)