
The creator of the world-famous cronut celebrates spring with a delicious sakura-topped cherry blossom edition.
Cronuts have become well-known around the world but the craze first started in New York City back in 2013, when chef Dominique Ansel invented the sweet croissant-doughnut hybrid and made it a registered trademark of Dominique Ansel Bakery internationally. Lovers of sweets and pastries know that the ultimate cronut experience can only be had at the bakery in which it was born, and since the Tokyo branch opened in June last year, locals and tourists alike have been lining up outside its doors to try one for themselves.
▼ On opening day, hundreds of people lined up to get a taste of Ansel’s beautiful range of sweets.
Using a laminated dough fried in grapeseed oil, the cronuts take up to three days to make and with batches made fresh daily, they’re often sold out by early afternoon. What makes them so sought-after is not just their unique flaky-yet-chewy textures, but the fact that only one of 12 flavours are available each month, meaning if you miss a special release, you’ll have to wait another year for the chance to try it again.
▼ With that in mind, we’re definitely making a stop there this month for the beautiful pink cherry blossom cronuts.
During the month of March, Dominique Ansel will be serving up the “Sakura Almond Ganache, Sakura Honey with Salt Sugar” cronut. The flavour has been inspired by the nation’s traditional springtime sweet sakura mochi, with the pink-hued ganache filling and salty sugar dusting bringing out the traditional salty-sweet cherry blossom flavours usually found in the sakura leaf-wrapped rice cakes.
▼Sakura mochi, Tokyo-style (left) and Kansai style (right).
Adding to the beauty of the sweet, each cronut comes served with a real sakura blossom on top!
ドミニクアンセルベーカリーからおはようございます!本日のクロナッツ続々仕上がってます!今月は桜餅をイメージしたフレーバーです♫ pic.twitter.com/tN2CzxVaG4
— DominiqueAnselBakery (@DABJapan) March 2, 2016
The cherry blossom cronuts are available only until the end of March and retail for 594 yen (US$5.23) each. Be sure to stop by for a taste if you’re around Omotesando!
Shop Information
Dominique Ansel Bakery Tokyo/ドミニクアンセルベーカリートウキョウ
Address: Tokyo-to, Shibuya-ku, Jingumae 5-7-14
東京都渋谷区神宮前 5−7−14
Hours: 1F (eat-in and takeaway) 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. 2F (eat-in) 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Source: Entabe
Top Image: Dominique Ansel Japan (edited by RocketNews24)
Insert Images: RocketNews24, Wikimedia/katorisi, Wikimedia/Masgatotkaca (edited by RocketNews24)



Hello cronuts! Tokyo welcomes arrival of Dominique Ansel Bakery in Japan
Finding the intersection of Japanese food and western baking with Cronut® creator Dominique Ansel
Beautiful marshmallow flowers are in bloom at Tokyo’s Dominque Ansel Bakery!
2017 World’s Best Pastry Chef Dominique Ansel offers floating cakes and more at new Ginza store
Sweet soft serve corn ice cream on grilled corn? We try Dominique Ansel’s new Crème de la Corn
Kyoto receives more foreign tourists than ever before, but fewer visitors say they’ll return
Starbucks Japan unveils exclusive new Frappuccinos limited to three regional areas
Japanese Shinkansen welcomes overnight guests for one night during summer festival
Pokémon Card Stores requiring facial recognition scans for entry in Japan in latest anti-scalper move
McDonald’s Japan goes viral for Samurai Mac burger hack
Tokyo Pokémon Center announces reopening after months-long closure following stabbing death
A roadside hair salon stall in China made us Norway’s Haaland for US$1, and warmed out hearts too
Japan’s expensive “phantom” melon is so exquisite it sells out in just 12 hours
Pachinko industry rebounds on convenience and innovation, but smaller parlors struggle to keep up
Japan has a maid hotel you can stay in, and it’s now taking reservation applications
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
New Shinkansen luggage drop-off system begins in Japan, making train travel even easier
Japanese Shinkansen becomes an overnight hotel for three nights this summer
99-year-old woman rescued while attempting to climb Mt. Fuji
Which country’s foreign tourists spend the most money per-person in Japan? Hint: Not the U..S. or China
Starbucks Japan releases a miniature display rack so you can create your very own store at home
Giant Evangelion Spear of Longinus to be installed at Japanese train station with Eva art trains
Face lettuce appears in Japan, with the face of Death Note’s Light Yagami, but why?
Kodama Shinkansen trains on popular Japan route get a whole new look this winter
Brand new Shinkansen bullet train unveiled in Japan… but it won’t carry passengers
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Japan now has human refrigerators inspired by Japanese vending machines
Hatsune Miku collaborates with Hokusai’s art in new Vocaloid ukiyo-e illustration series [Pics]
Japan triples departure tax, foreign tourists and locals now must pay more to leave country
Studio Ghibli releases anime T-shirts that pay homage to one of Hayao Miyazaki’s most personal films
Family Mart opens new “Famima” flagship store in Tokyo that’s like a tourist attraction
Sanrio Character Poll announces winners, Hello Kitty absent from top 10 in many countries
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
Mister Donut unveils new sakura doughnuts for cherry blossom season 2026
New sakura doughnuts resemble different stages of the cherry blossoms in Japan
Lindt blends sakura with pistachios for cherry blossom season in Japan
Mister Donut blooms with sakura doughnuts for cherry blossom season 2025
Cute cats and sakura cherry blossoms meet for a deliciously sweet collaboration
Lola’s Cupcakes and Magnolia Bakery bring out sakura cupcakes in Japan for a limited time
Sakura doughnuts depict life cycle of cherry blossoms at Mister Donut in Japan
We try the sakura macaron and cherry blossom iced drink from Lindt Japan
Sakura yoghurt from Danone Japan is filled with real cherry blossom leaves
Lindt Japan keeps the sakura sweets coming with new cherry blossom dessert drink, macarons
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom drinks and food at Reserve Roastery Tokyo
Coca-Cola Japan releases milk tea with cherry and sakura blossom flavours for spring
Starbucks Japan’s final sakura Frappuccino for 2022 gives us a new cherry blossom flavour
8 sakura sweets to enjoy under the cherry blossoms at your next hanami picnic in Japan
Sakura jellies containing whole cherry blossoms take the market by storm in Japan
Starbucks Japan unveils new Sakura Frappuccino for cherry blossom-viewing season 2024