Croissants

Today, croissants are one of the most popular yeast-leavened breakfast pastries anywhere in the world south of Scandinavia (there, the Wienerbröd or Danish pastry still reigns). In addition to the classic plain croissant, the French also bake them filled with chocolate, soft almond paste, or pastry cream. Instead of curving these pastries into the crescent shape, they are often left straight to signify that they are filled. In Austria, Germany, and Switzerland, bakers make a pastry called <