480gready-made croissant dough - I use 2 tins of Danerolles
80gdark chocolate (optional)
1egg, beaten – for brushing
Mascarpone cream
200gmascarpone
250mlwhipping cream (38% fat)
75gicing sugar
2tspvanilla sugar
1/2lemon, juice and finely grated zest
To serve
Fresh berries
Mint (optional)
Instructions
Croissant base
Unroll the dough and cut it along the pre-marked lines into the individual pieces.
Break the chocolate into pieces and divide it between the wide ends of the dough triangles. Roll the pieces up into croissants, gently pinch the ends together - and make sure the seam faces down.
Line the base of a springform tin (about 22-23 cm) with baking parchment and lightly grease the sides.
Arrange the croissants in the tin so they fill it completely. Start with a ring around the outside, then fill in towards the middle.
Brush with the beaten egg and bake the croissant base for about 15-18 minutes at 200°C.Leave the base to cool.
Mascarpone cream
Put all the ingredients in a bowl and whisk them together until the cream thickens. It needs to hold its shape on the cake, but take care not to overwhip it, or it will turn grainy.Keep it in the fridge until you are ready to assemble the cake.
Croissant cake with mascarpone cream and fresh berries
Spread the mascarpone cream over the top of the cooled croissant base and finish with plenty of fresh berries and a little mint, if you like.