In case you don’t know, rice paper is a thin, translucent wrapper used in many traditional Asian dishes, such as spring rolls and dumplings. It is usually made from tapioca flour, rice starch, salt, and water.

Here we explain exactly how to make a rice paper croissant and ask a dietitian to judge how they differ from regular croissants.

How to make rice paper croissants

While there are many variations of rice paper croissants on TikTok, the general recipe calls for whisking two to five eggs in a bowl with some whole milk, sugar, vanilla extract, butter, cinnamon, and baking soda. Then, soak three to five rice papers in the egg mixture and cut them into three pieces before rolling them into a croissant, sprinkling some sugar on top, and baking them in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 30 minutes. The result is a soft, mochi-like texture on the inside and a crispy, flaky exterior.

@twaydabae

Rice paper is so versatile!!! #croissant #ricepapercroissant

♬ original sound – twaydabae

How do rice paper croissants compare to regular croissants?

Because rice paper is made from tapioca flour and rice, these croissants are naturally gluten-free. But they are not all that different from a regular croissant, since they are made with eggs, butter, sugar, and salt.

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“My advice is that if you have celiac disease or a gluten allergy, this can be a good alternative,” says Bonnie Taub-Dix, RDN, host of the Media Savvy Podcast, creator of BetterThanDieting.com, and author of Read Before You Eat It – From Label to Table.

Keep in mind that rice paper contains relatively little protein and no fiber, two nutrients that make food more satisfying. “So I wouldn’t add rice paper croissants to your diet every day thinking it’s healthier and better for you,” Taub-Dix says.

If you want to make a more substantial gluten-free croissant at home, Taub-Dix recommends using almond, sorghum, and oat flour instead of rice paper. These flours are more nutritious and higher in fiber and protein, making them more filling.

That said, there is no harm in having a rice paper croissant every now and then. All types of croissants fit into a healthy diet.

Try these rice paper croissant recipes on TikTok

Ham and cheese

Are savoury snacks more your thing? Try this croque monsieur-style recipe for rice paper croissants, where the rice paper is covered with slices of ham and cheese.

@tifoodss

The Viral Rice Paper Croissant, but savory with ham and cheese! 🍖🧀🥐 What can’t rice paper do? I’m so impressed! Ingredients: 50g melted butter 4 eggs 30g water Pinch of salt 10 rice sheets (5 of each) Ham and cheese #ricepaper #ricepaperhack #ricepapercroissant #croissant

♬ original sound – speedz!

Red bean paste

For an Asian-inspired dessert, consider filling your rice paper with sweet red bean paste, which you can find at any Asian grocery store. Red bean paste is usually made with azuki beans, sugar, and a little salt.

@eileenis

Responding to @Esty they keep getting better and better! I’ll post the rice paper croissant recipe tomorrow!! 🥐#ricepaper #ricepapercroissant #glutenfree #ricepaperrecipes #croissant #redbean #hamandcheese

♬ original sound – Eileen Huynh

Matcha and white chocolate

Give your rice paper croissant an antioxidant boost by adding some matcha powder to your egg batter and sprinkling some matchsticks on top. This maker adds some mango white chocolate filling for a sweet treat.

@vancouverfoodie

Tried @mindtmatcha’s recipe with matcha and filled it with mango white chocolate 🙂 @Nancy and I used 4 rice paper sheets and added extra matcha powder on top 🍵 It’s chewy, crispy and compact. Not as buttery as the classic of course, but still tasty 🙂 #ricepaperrolls #ricepapercroissant #ricepaperhack #ricepaperchallenge #matcha #matchalover

♬ today i felt like having a croissant – Laura Gouillon