Lune Is Kickstarting Winter with Pumpkin Pie Cruffins and Bechamel-Filled Lasagne Pastries

Lasagne is a bit like lamingtons, even though the two delicious dishes taste and look absolutely nothing alike. Their one big commonality: if there's an inventive way to twist either in any way, whatever that new bite happens to be is definitely worth trying. Actually, the two foods share something else in common, because Australia's world-famous Lune Croissanterie has also given them both a whirl. It's served up lamington cruffins and lasagne pastries before, but they're both always welcome — and, to start winter 2023, the latter is back.

Lasagne, but a pastry? Yes, that's now a real thing that exists — but only for this month, until Friday, June 30, at all Lune stores around the country. That spans Fitzroy, the CBD and Armadale in Melbourne, plus South Brisbane and Burnett Lane in Brisbane. From Armadale, South Brisbane and Burnett Lane only, you can also order its June specials online.

So, what are these instantly tastebud-tempting lasagne pastries? Prepare to meet, devour and love the lasagne escargot. It's the second time that Lune has whipped up this particular Frankenstein's monster of a bakery creation — and, as it did in 2022, it's bound to set your stomach alive with deliciousness.

Yes, it comes stuffed with bolognese and béchamel. There's also shredded mozzarella cheese, because of course there is. And, that pastry is then topped with parmesan before it goes in the oven.

Also on the month-long specials menu: pumpkin pie cruffins. Using a recipe from Lune co-founder Kate Reid's cookbook Lune: Croissants All Day, All Night, this snack fills a cruffin with pumpkin pie custard and maple syrup, then tops it with cinnamon cream and cinnamon sugar. Clearly, there's winter comfort foods, and then there's Lune's winter comfort foods.

Ginger molasses croissants and chocolate banana rum pains au chocolat should also get stomachs grumbling. The former stuffs a twice-baked croissant with ginger molasses frangipane, with ginger molasses cookie and cream cheese icing on top. The latter is also baked twice, and benefits from chocolate frangipane, banana jam and rum caramel inside, plus rum-spiked whipped cream and toasted cocoa nibs to cap it off.

Still hungry? The pear and chocolate danish pairs chocolate custard and slices of poached pear, while the Coconut Kouign Amann takes its cues from Filipino treat pane de coco, baking in a brown sugar syrup until its caramelised, and being piped with coconut cream caramel.

Lune's lasagne escargot are available from all stores — Fitzroy, the CBD and Armadale in Melbourne, and South Brisbane and Burnett Lane in Brisbane — until Friday, June 30. From Armadale, South Brisbane and Burnett Lane only, you can also order them online.

Images: Peter Dillon.