How I Got A Cronut Without Waiting In Line


I finally tried a cronut yay! And I didn't even have to wait in line for it! In case you didn't know, the cronut, a croissant/donut hybrid created by chef Dominique Ansel has been abit of pastry phenomenon ever since it's debut in 2013. A limited number are made daily and since the demand exceeds the supply there has been a complete frenzy with people lining up at the crack of dawn outside his New York City bakery since last summer just to try to get a taste of this sweet treat.

So how did I get mine without queuing up? I used the online pre-order system. The Dominique Ansel Bakery launched this on their site back in November. It was apparently quite glitchy initially but they seemed to have the kinks worked out when I used it in mid-December. Due to high site traffic, I did have to keep refreshing the page but it did eventually load after about 20 minutes and I was presented with a list of available dates and quantities left. I selected a date, quantity and a pickup time which is in hourly slots. I was then directed to Paypal to make a payment and my order was confirmed.


When pickup day came around, all I had to do was go the bakery at the time I selected and give my name and a copy of my confirmation email to the cashier in the front and she returned with my order. It was that easy. The pre-order site and phone system (212.219.2773) goes live at 11am EST sharp every single Monday and orders are accepted for 2 weeks out from that particular date. You can can pre-order up to 6 cronuts in a session subject to availability. Like I said, there is a high volume of traffic so you will have to keep refreshing the page. I didn't do it continuously... probably every few minutes. You will need to have a Paypal account set up to pay expeditiously as the cronuts are only held in your cart for 10 minutes. One drawback is that once you place the order, it cannot be changed or cancelled. But if you find you're not available to pick it up yourself, you can send someone in your place as long as they have your name and confirmation info. Also if you're placing a pre-order for the following month, it means you may not know what flavor you will be getting since a new one is introduced monthly but that's probably an acceptable risk for most. Obviously this will work best if you live in New York but it's also good if you know you'll be visiting the city. To learn more, you can visit the bakery's Cronut 101 page


Onto my review of the actual cronut. The flavor for January is Peanut Butter Rum Caramel. It really has the nice crispy exterior of a donut and inside are chewy flaky layers just like a croissant. The taste was pleasant and hubster and I both enjoyed it despite not being big fans of peanut butter or caramel. I will say that the peanut butter which is made at the bakery is quite good and has a lovely creaminess. I personally thought it was a tad sweet and could've used a little less sugar coating on the outside because the rum caramel cream inside was already quite sweet but then I rarely eat sugar so I tend to be a little sensitive to it. Hubster felt the sweetness level was fine. While there is lightness to the pastry layers, there is a richness to the layers of peanut butter and rum caramel cream which ooze out when you bite into it. It's definitely an experience and I liked it enough that I would try it again. I'd probably use this same pre-order method again as I find it preferable to waiting on a physical line for hours. 

I was just reading about what could be the next hybrid sensation, the cragel, a croissant/bagel offered by the The Bagel Store in Brooklyn, NY. It's $2.95 which makes it $2.05 less than the cronut and significant lines haven't formed for this one yet. It's also available for order online. Since I prefer savory treats, I may have to try this. Have your tried a cronut? Would you wait on line for a pastry or any type of food? How long would you be willing to wait?


Dominique Ansel Bakery on Urbanspoon

61 comments

The Dainty Dolls House said...

Have never in my life had one of these, but they look amazing!! Will have to try one day!! Have a gorgeous weekend doll xx

j said...

I've heard of these but I don't know if I would go out of my way for a peanut butter rum caramel one. Maybe a peanut butter and chocolate one but I'd probably only be patient for 10 minutes ;) I'm glad you were able to try one and you liked it though!!

Lilli said...

Morning Rowena! I've read about it recently and I am super curious to try it too since I already know I could simply love it! You did well to order and buy yours online, in this way you havent had to wait..I dont know if I would like to wait much on line but if the taste is worth probably I will say yes, I am a big foodie first!:P And this Jan flavor makes my jaws dropped!:) Have a beautiful weekend my dear, kisses! xo

My Garden Diaries said...

Oh my oh my!!! I have never heard of these! What a brilliant idea to have combined the two! I can only imagine how delicious they are....looking at your photo I think I would have no problem finishing a couple! Wishing you a lovely weekend!!! Nicole

Jackie Harrison said...

They are addicting I love them and cannot believe how this concept came about mixing both of my favorites things to eat but they did and I love it. Glad you try it and love it to. Have an awesome weekend doll.
http://tifi11.blogspot.com

Emmylou said...

That's a great system they have in place. And OMG! It looks sooooo good in the pic. We had this during the summer in our summer exhibition, but some people got sick coz of how the cronuts were made. I'm willing to eat this one though:D

MaysaAndSunshine said...

Sounds like the best of both world - croissant and donut, Rowena. I heard about it but haven't seen what it looks like. It looks delish. Up to this date, I still haven't tried macaron either. Have a good weekend.

Beautetude said...

Looks delicious.
Beautetude

ALLIE NYC said...

Oh wow I had no idea you could do this! Very cool, maybe one of these days I will have one. I need to email you about your husband experienced with his problematic RC. I have to see an oral surgeon that specializes in nerve damage and possibly a neurologist. This doctor was recommended by a lawyer I spoke with.

Allie of ALLIE NYC
allienyc.com

Love and Ace said...

A pre order system? So smart! I've only had cronuts once and that was because a friend offered to wait in line :) So delicious! xx kat


Love and Ace

Jessica (Coco/Mingo) said...

OMG - what?!? Mind blown!! I need to try this! I also need to tell all my co-workers - we're gonna have a cronut party! And there's a cragel?! Whoa.

Oh to Be a Muse said...

The pre-order system is very clever. Can you believe I've never eaten a cronut? Is that weird? I want one now though.

Come enter my $50 Amazon gift card, jewelry & makeup giveaway! http://www.ohtobeamuse.com/2014/01/what-im-loving-in-january2014-giveaway.html

Shopaholic said...

yummy :)

Effortlesslady said...

Looks so yummy!
Effortlesslady.blogspot.ca

miss b said...

I have read so much about these and I really can't wait to try one but I just haven't come across one yet.
It looks absolutely divine and perfect for my sweet tooth!

WengYee said...

Oh my goodness, I've just had one cronut in my life and that one looks like nothing compared to the one you had. And seriously, pre-orders for cronuts? Such a clever concept, though it does show how crazy we are for sweet pastries. Gosh, craving one right now...

9outoften.com

Minion said...

So, I was in line 2 hours plus before the store open, 6:30am, I think but it was summer and landed at 5am JFK, it's not like I really have to get up early for it. It was really good but since I don't have sweet sweet tooth and neither croissant & donuts are my pastry of choice, I would eat this if offer again but won't go through troubles just to have it (: It look gorgeous yummy in the photo and probably is not a good idea looking at it at 2am in the morning!!

MILEX said...

Oh darling!

mandy said...

Oo finally! Maybe I'll be able to get a taste of the cronut & cragel soon then :D

Kurisu said...

Oh my...that looks absolutely delectable. That crispy, sugared, golden-brown exterior...the fluffy, flaky interior...Yes, please! Never heard of the cragel, though, and I'm not a fan of bagels in the first place. They're just too dense. But I can see why people are lining up for cronuts.

Sincerely, Christine from Invisible Blush

Paola Lauretano said...

Great idea Rowena..... I have never heard of these!
Have a fab end of the week darling!

Danny said...

om nom nom, that must me delicious!

Unknown said...

Lovely and so yummy!

Ciao ciao

Lena L said...

This is a very good information! I've been wanting to try it but couldn't fathom lining up like that!
Thanks! :)

María Pilar Bernal Maya said...

uuhhmm it looks so yummy!
should we follow each other? let me know and I'll follow you back
=)
new post: http://tupersonalshopperviajero.blogspot.com.es/2014/01/we-love-flamenco-by-pol-nunez.html

Jaguar Zinnias said...

I saw the post of this title and thought you must have either bribed someone or made it yourself. How did I not know about this pre-ordering system!?

BKCsquared said...

I have been dying to try a cronut, but I'm all the way in LA & I refuse to try a knock-off. I want one straight from the bakery in NYC!

xo, B
www.BKCsquared.com

nycstylelittlecannoli said...

thank you so much for stopping by my blog! the famous cronut, I don't think I would stand in line for one but they look pretty good! Looking forward to following your blog! Have a FAB weekend!!

debra mejia said...

Oh, this is not fair. I'm on the West Coast! I love trying new bakery items. I've never heard of a cronut. I think I would try your online method. I don't know about waiting in line for hours:)

Happyeverafterbride said...

What a treat to not have to line up for Cronuts! I haven't had many crazy queues lining up for the Australian version. A Cragel however, now this I've got to try.

A Very Sweet Blog said...

rowena, thank you for explaining what a cronut is! i did not know. i've been hearing about them, but never saw one. thanks for the pictures too. it is absolutely amazing that you have to pre-order these! their popularity must be through the roof. so glad you like them and want more. that says a lot! i would do the exact same thing. so they have flavors of the month! that is interesting. excellent review doll!
http://www.averysweetblog.com/

Anonymous said...

I've heard about these! Haven't had one myself yet though, but it sounds and looks absolutely deliciousssss!

Matthew Spade said...

They're mighty expensive aren't they, $5 sheesh! Always worth a go though, it's not like you'd buy them regularly. Well it looks like you couldn't anyway. A Cragel, ace, let's see this next!


Buckets & Spades

Unknown said...

I'm so glad that they have that online ordering system! I've been wanting to try it, but couldn't justify waiting in line for two hours, haha. Now that I can preorder, I'm pretty excited that there's a chance I can eat one now!

Stella said...

I've never heard of this, it looks really delicious!
x
Stella from a A Shiny Place

Ivana said...

This is so fun and such a great idea, sweetie! They don't make cronuts around here, and I'd really love to try them! I guess I'll have to hunt down a recipe and try to make them at home :)

Have a lovely weekend, sweetie!

xx Ivana

Macarons and Pearls

Cynthia said...

Hey thanks for the lovely tip. I'm definitely going to try this out one day. I hate to stand on any line.

Unknown said...

Looks like pure heaven, that does! I wish I lived in NYC, what a great idea though, to order online! I bet people were jealous! haha!
xoxo,

berrybloomxo.blogspot.co.uk

Min Tarpy said...

Looks so tasty! Yummy!!!
www.minsbeautyequipment.com

Midnight Cowgirl said...

Oh, yummy!

christy. said...

This looks delicious! The photography and site layout is beautiful (:

christycee.blogspot.ca

Chidiogo Maxwell said...

Amazing!
Love it :)

Unknown said...

This must be so delicious. Need to try one too very soon. Never had one yet

www.thefashionfraction.com
www.thefashionfraction.com

get carried away said...

that looks so delicious!!!
wish you a wonderful sunday!

<3
http://www.getcarriedaway.net/

Unknown said...

It looks so yummy never tried one before, but they even sell them in Munich now haha cronuts are all over the world now!

Much love xxx
http://christinanista.blogspot.de/

Ileana said...

Looks yummy! But I would not wait in line... :D
xoxo

Novelstyle

Only Yesterday Blog said...

Looks so yum <3 Wanna try this if i have spare time

sarahrizaga.blogspot.com

Ann said...

I've tried a cronut too
and they are so yummy
but not from Chef Ansel
which I think would be so awesome.

http://roomsofinspiration.blogspot.com

Coco said...

Rowena this is the first time I hear about this delicacy! By the photo it looks super yummy. However, I would never stand in a queue to get a sweet treat :-) have a fabulous week darling
Love,
Coco
Coco et La vie en rose
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RaeAbigael said...

looks so delish! :)

xoxo,
rae
http://raellarina.blogspot.com/

FASHION TALES said...

Wow, I hear so much about these things. Now, that is really special indeed! :) x

Imogen said...

This is so interesting, never knew about that before.

Stacey said...

Don't think I've seen cronuts around here in Australia, but we really need to jump onto these because they look delish!! I'm drooling! I once waited 2 hours in line for some amazing sushi in Japan, don't know how I made it, think I'm too old for it now haha

Sam said...

I have only heard of the cronut before but this is the first time I am actually seeing one. I would be really interesting to taste it and see what type of texture it is. Lucky you for not having to wait in line! I am always grateful for your kind comments...Have a great week ahead!

Unknown said...

That is funny- never heard of it. It looks really yummy but I find it a bit expensive for just a "cronut" haha! XOXO, sissi http://www.beauty4free2u.com

BIKBIK AND RORO said...

Those certainly look good, though I'm not much of a croissant person. I think it's the donut aspect that's drawing me in lol

Jane said...

oh my goodness. i was just looking at the online form before leaving for my trip to jamaica. i'm in new york in february and i so want to try the cronut so i was looking at the online form! :)

Unknown said...

OMG these look amazing! My mission will be to try and locate one in Melbourne!

(Anna) la mode said...

AHHH!! You got a cronut!!! I'm seriously so jealous! My coworkers and I were talking about these months ago and how we really wanted to try one. I love peanut butter and caramel, so that sounds perfect to me. It looks absolutely amazing. And oh my gosh, a cragel! haha, that is too funny. Sounds pretty amazing to me though!

xox,
anna-lamode.blogspot.com

M.E said...

I've heard a lot about the famous Cronut!! It looks so delicious that I'm sure the wait is worth it ;)
Curious about the Cragel!! x

trishie said...

That looks amazing!!! I had Stu bring me a cronut to the hospital the day after Alex was born!! It was sinfuly delicious!!