Make Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen Honey Butter Croissants at Home for Less

Cheddar‘s Scratch Kitchen is known for warm, buttery, slightly sweet croissants that arrive at the table glistening with honey butter. They are soft, pull-apart rolls shaped like crescents rather than flaky, laminated French pastry, which is what makes them realistic to bake at home.

This homemade copycat approximation uses an enriched yeast dough, a quick shaping step and a generous brush of whipped honey butter straight out of the oven. It captures the tender crumb and sweet, buttery finish the dish is known for, and it costs a fraction of ordering them by the basket.

About Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen’s Honey Butter Croissants

What defines this style of croissant is the dough. It is enriched with milk, egg, sugar and melted butter, so it bakes up soft and pillowy with a faint sweetness, closer to a dinner roll than to a Parisian croissant. There are no layers of folded butter to manage, which keeps the process approachable.

The technique is simple: knead until smooth, let the dough rise, roll it into a circle, cut it into wedges and roll each wedge from the wide end to the point to form a crescent. A second short rise gives the rolls their loft. The signature finish is the honey butter, whipped until fluffy and brushed on while the croissants are still hot so it melts into the surface.

How Much Does It Cost to Make Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen’s Honey Butter Croissants at Home?

A full batch makes 12 croissants for an estimated $4.47 in ingredients, roughly $0.37 per serving. Ordering the equivalent at Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen runs around $4.99 (approximate menu price), so making it yourself saves an estimated $3.50 (70%). The grocery figures are estimates based on US average grocery prices (US BLS Average Price Data, May 2026) and typical store prices for the rest; the per-ingredient breakdown is in the table above. Your local store and restaurant prices will differ, but the gap stays large because you buy staple ingredients instead of a prepared, served dish, and one batch stretches across several servings.

Why Make It at Home?

Making these at home means a whole pan of warm croissants for a small fraction of what a few restaurant baskets would run, and you control the butter and honey. The kitchen smells wonderful, the leftovers freeze well, and you can serve them hot the moment they leave the oven, which is when they taste best.

Ingredients for Copycat Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen Honey Butter Croissants

Here’s the full ingredients list you’ll need to make Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen Honey Butter Croissants at home:

• 4 cup all-purpose flour
• 0.25 cup granulated sugar
• 1.25 cup warm whole milk
• 1 stick unsalted butter, melted, for the dough
• 2 each large eggs, divided (one in the dough, one for egg wash)
• 1 tbsp active dry yeast (about 1 packet plus 1 tsp) and 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1.5 stick butter, softened, for the honey butter and brushing
• 0.33 cup honey

A few ingredient notes:

• Use whole milk warmed to roughly 110 degrees F. Too hot kills the yeast and too cool slows the rise, so a thermometer helps.
• All-purpose flour gives a tender crumb. Bread flour works too but makes a slightly chewier roll.
• Use real butter for the honey butter and let it soften fully so it whips smooth. A mild clover or wildflower honey keeps the flavor close to the original.

How to Make Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen Honey Butter Croissants at Home

Prep: 45 min · Cook: 18 min · Makes: 12 croissants

1. Stir the warm milk, yeast and a pinch of the sugar together in a large bowl and let it sit about 5 minutes until foamy.
2. Add the remaining sugar, one egg, the melted butter, salt and half of the flour. Mix until smooth, then add the remaining flour until a soft dough forms.
3. Knead by hand or with a dough hook for 6 to 8 minutes until smooth and elastic. The dough should be soft and slightly tacky, not sticky.
4. Place in a greased bowl, cover and let rise in a warm spot for about 1 hour, until doubled in size.
5. Punch down the dough and divide it in half. Roll each half into a 12-inch circle about 1/4 inch thick and cut into 6 wedges.
6. Starting at the wide end, roll each wedge toward the point and curve the ends into a crescent. Place point side down on parchment-lined baking sheets, cover and let rise 30 minutes.
7. Heat the oven to 375 degrees F. Beat the second egg with a splash of water, brush it on the croissants and bake 12 to 15 minutes until deep golden.
8. Whip the softened butter with the honey until light and fluffy. Brush generously over the hot croissants and serve warm, with extra honey butter on the side.

Tips for the Best Results

• Whip the honey butter for a full minute or two so it turns pale and spreadable instead of greasy.
• Roll the dough evenly so every wedge is the same thickness and bakes at the same rate.
• Brush the honey butter on while the croissants are still hot so it soaks in and gives that glossy finish.
• Cover the dough loosely during both rises so it does not form a dry skin.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Using milk that is too hot, which kills the yeast and leaves dense rolls.
• Adding too much flour while kneading, which makes the croissants dry instead of soft.
• Skipping the second rise, which gives flat, heavy crescents.
• Overbaking until dark, which dries out the tender crumb.

Variations to Try

• Brush with cinnamon honey butter by whipping a teaspoon of cinnamon into the spread.
• Sprinkle flaky sea salt over the honey butter for a sweet and salty finish.
• Shape the dough into round pull-apart rolls instead of crescents for a simpler bake.

Storage & Reheating

Store cooled croissants in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days, or freeze them for up to two months. Keep extra honey butter in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to a week. Reheat croissants wrapped in foil in a 300 degree F oven for about 8 minutes, then brush with fresh honey butter.

What to Serve It With

Serve the croissants warm in a basket as a starter, alongside soups, salads and hearty entrees such as chicken tenders, pot roast or meatloaf. They also work well at brunch with scrambled eggs and bacon, or on their own as a snack with extra honey butter.

The Bottom Line

Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen’s Honey Butter Croissants is one of those dishes that feels like it should be hard to make and expensive to buy, but at home it’s neither. For an estimated $4.47 in everyday ingredients you get 12 croissants, fresh and warm, for roughly 70% less than ordering out. Make it once and it’ll join the short list of recipes you reach for without thinking. Bookmark this one, grab the ingredients, and keep an eye on CopyKitchen for more copycat favorites with an estimated cost to make them at home.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Cheddar’s croissants real laminated croissants?

No. The restaurant version is a soft, buttery yeast roll shaped like a crescent, and this homemade copycat approximation follows that style. That is why the dough is enriched with milk, egg and butter rather than folded with layers of butter.

Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yes. After kneading, cover the dough and refrigerate it overnight. Let it come back toward room temperature, then roll, shape, give it the second rise and bake as directed.

Can I freeze the croissants?

Yes. Freeze the baked, cooled croissants without the honey butter in a sealed bag for up to two months. Thaw and warm them in the oven, then brush with fresh honey butter just before serving.

Why did my croissants turn out dense?

Dense rolls usually come from dead yeast, too much flour or a rise that was cut short. Check that the milk was only warm, measure flour carefully and let the dough fully double before shaping.

Can I use salted butter?

You can, but reduce the added salt in the dough slightly. Unsalted butter gives more control over the final flavor, especially in the honey butter where the salt is more noticeable.

How do I get the shiny finish?

Brush the croissants with egg wash before baking for a golden color. Then brush on the honey butter the moment they come out so it melts into the surface and creates the glossy look.

Cost figures are estimates for comparison, based on US BLS Average Price Data (US city average) and an approximate menu price; your local grocery prices and Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen’s current menu price will vary. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. CopyKitchen is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen or any brand mentioned; this is an independent, homemade copycat recipe, and all trademarks are the property of their respective owners.