Dunkin' Donuts To Debut 'Croissant Donut'
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MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) - The delicious croissant-donut hybrid – known as the Cronut – will be available nationwide thanks to a donut chain.
Donut devotees and croissant connoisseurs can enjoy the delectable "Croissant Donut" for a limited time starting November 3rd at Dunkin' Donuts around the U.S.
The move by Dunkin' comes a year after the Dominique Ansel Bakery in New York City introduced its now trademarked Cronut, which became a viral sensation and spawned numerous knockoffs.
Dunkin' already gave its hybrid pastry a try in South Korea, where it was dubbed a "New York Pie Donut."
Dunkin's President of Global Marketing and Innovation John Costello claims bakers around the country have been mixing doughnuts and croissants for at least 20 years.
According to Costello, Dunkin' is constantly tracking consumer and bakery trends and has been looking at pastry "combinations" for several years now.
"Are we copying a specific bakery in New York? The answer is no," Costello said in a phone interview.
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The Croissant Donut will be covered with the same glaze used for its Glazed Donut, giving it a familiar taste, but won't have any cream filling like the Cronut. Costello said Dunkin' is looking at fillings and glazes for future versions.
When asked to explain how the Croissant Donut and Cronut differ, Dunkin's Executive Chef Jeff Miller said: "I've tried the product that you mention. As the executive chef of Dunkin', I like ours better."
Dunkin' is hoping that Miller's opinion is spot on, as the company reported disappointing quarterly sales last week and warning it might struggle to make its long-term growth targets this year. The new $2.49 offering is a $1.49 more than the average donut at Dunkin', so the product can be very profitable for the company if it's a success.
Rob Branca, a franchisee who's on Dunkin's committee that develops new products, said his friends and acquaintances have been asking when the company would roll out a version of the Cronut. He said he thinks the Croissant Donut will be a hit because the popularity of Cronuts hasn't faded. But he noted it took some time for Dunkin' to come out with its croissant-doughnut hybrid.
"We're going to be selling a lot more of them than a single shop bakery, so it was important to do it right," Branca said.
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