Flaky croissants, savory ham, toasty cheese, sharp pickles and
mustard
make these cubanish croissants perfect for late-night cravings.
inspiration
Recently, after an unintentional nap from 6:30 to 9 pm, I woke up groggy, irritable, and with my mind split into two brawling wolves: one that desperately wanted a Cubano sandwich, and one that desperately did not want to leave the house. I started scrounging around the kitchen like a crazed raccoon. I didn’t have the right kind of bread or any pork, but I did have rosemary ham, swiss cheese, and a pile of croissants. That would have to do.
I slapped the meat and cheese onto a croissant, topped it with some pickle slices and finished it off with a slathering of yellow mustard and a little bit of mayonnaise. The resulting sandwich isn’t a Cubano, but it’s just as tasty and has some similar vibes.
why i love this recipe
Late-night cubanish croissants are an excellent low-effort dinner. You can make a whole batch at once, whether for other people or your lunch prep. The buttery croissants, savory ham, nutty cheese, and sharp pickles and mustard come together to make something magical. They’re filling enough to be a whole meal if you toss some fruit or chips on the side, but not so heavy they’ll disrupt your sleep if you, like me, sometimes find yourself eating dinner at ungodly hours. Eat them standing over the pan if you’re in a hurry, or curl up on the couch with the newest Grey’s Anatomy episode while the rest of the world is asleep.
details
Late-night cubanish croissants are crazy low-effort. There’s zero chopping involved—the only thing you even need a knife for is to split the croissants. Other than that, it’s just piling stuff on the bread. I recommend using ham that you like. I used deli ham, but some leftover bone-in ham from your Sunday dinner would be great, too. There’s no need to grate your own cheese for these—just use precut slices.
If you’re not a fan of mayonnaise, feel free to skip it! I just use a little bit to mellow out the mustard’s sharpness.
notes
- Don’t get little squished croissants. You want big, fluffy ones for this.
- Don’t skimp on the meat—it’s important here, adding heft and salt and umami.
- I used rosemary ham from Costco, which I cannot recommend enough. It is SO good. Hands-down my favorite deli meat.
- These are best fresh, but still good reheated. They’ll go a bit soft, but even more buttery, so is that really a loss?
Looking for other easy meals for late nights? Try this grilled pb & j with cinnamon honey butter, roasted tomatoes, boursin & baguettes, or this ultimate grilled cheese.
late night cubanish croissants
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 375F. Assemble the sandwiches. Slice the croissants in half lengthwise. Slather both sides with yellow mustard and a little bit of mayonnaise, if using. On the bottom half of each croissant, add 3 slices of ham, 1 slice of swiss cheese, and pickles, also to taste. Close the sandwiches and transfer to a baking sheet.
- Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the sandwiches are warmed all the way through. Serve immediately.
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