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!