Red Currant Bakery

0 Preheat the oven to 350º F and place a rack in the center of the oven. Line a baking sheet with a sheet of parchment paper.
Orange Simple Syrup
2 In a heat safe bowl add in 120 grams of orange juice and 120 grams of sugar. Microwave in 15 second intervals, stirring in between until the sugar has dissolved.
3 Set aside.
Almond Frangipane Filling
5 Add the soft butter, sugar, salt, vanilla, almond extract, almond flour, and egg to a bowl.
6 Whisk or beat to combine until well mixed and even a little fluffy.
Assemble
8 Use a serrated knife to cut the croissants in half as if you were opening them like a clam shell. I usually leave the back point in tact but you can cut all the way through.
9 Lay the cut croissants open face up on the baking sheet. It's ok if they touch while the two halves are open.
10 Brush or spoon the orange simple syrup over the cut sides of the croissants (both the top and bottom halves).
11 Spread 2-3 heaping tablespoons of the almond paste onto the cut side of the bottom half of all of the croissants.
12 Then, if using, spread 2 heaping tablespoons of cranberry sauce on top of the frangipane.
13 Flip the top half of the croissant back over to sandwich the croissants down.
14 Brush the top of the croissants with more simple syrup (it's ok if you have some left over).
15 Spread another tablespoon or two into a thinner layer over the tops of the croissants.
16 Pour the sliced almonds into a shallow bowl wide enough for the croissants. One at a time, flip the croissants over into the almonds so that the slices stick to the frangipane.
17 To decorate with fresh cranberries, take each cranberry and dip the bottom in a little bit of the frangipane let in the side of bowl and then stick them to the tops of the croissants.
Bake
19 Bake for 15 minutes, then rotate the pan 180 degrees. Bake for another 10-15 minutes until the almonds and any exposed frangipane start to brown.
20 Once baked, remove the pan from the oven and place on a wire rack to cool for at least 10 minutes.
21 Dust the croissants with powdered sugar.
22 Serve immediately or throughout the day. Store leftovers in an airtight container and refresh in the oven at 350 F for 5-10 minutes.