Candied Croissant Croque Madame

@alexawhatsfordinner says if your croissants are stale or otherwise not very good, this is a great way to salvage them! ? The viral candied croissant hack makes a perfect sweet and crunchy base for a rich & creamy croque madame ? Croque madame is a traditional French sandwich featuring ham, Gruyère, béchamel sauce, and a fried egg. Recipe below‼️ Ingredients (for 2 servings) -2 croissants -1½ Tbsp unsalted butter, divided -1 Tbsp honey -4 slices deli ham -4 oz Gruyère cheese, shaved -½ Tbsp all-purpose flour -½ cup whole milk -2 large eggs, fried sunny-side up -Kosher salt, to taste -Freshly ground black pepper, to taste -Thinly sliced chives, for garnish Preparation -Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. -Using a rolling pin, roll the croissants out until flattened and thin. Evenly spread ¼ tablespoon of butter on each side of both croissants. -Heat a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the croissants to the pan and cook for about 5 minutes, or until golden on one side. Flip the croissants and drizzle the honey evenly over the tops. Once the other side is golden brown, about 5 minutes, flip again so the side with the honey is face-down. Cook until deep golden brown and caramelized, about 3 minutes. -Place the candied croissants on the prepared baking sheet, honey-side up. Top each croissant with 2 slices of ham and 2 ounces of Gruyère. -Bake the croissants for about 10 minutes, until the cheese is melted and gooey. -Meanwhile, make the béchamel: Melt the remaining ½ tablespoon of butter in a small pan over medium-low heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for about 1 minute, until fully combined and fragrant. Slowly whisk in the milk and cook, stirring frequently, for about 8 minutes, until the sauce is thick and creamy. -Spoon the béchamel over each croissant, then top with the sunny-side up eggs. Season with salt and pepper and garnish with chives. -Enjoy!