We Tried the Ballerina Farm Box So You Don't Have To

Unless you’ve been living under a haystack, you’ve probably heard of Ballerina Farm. Founded by former Julliard-trained ballerina Hannah Neeleman and her husband Daniel, the farm is nestled in Kamas, Utah, where they live, work, and raise their brood of children. For years, I’ve been captivated by Ballerina Farm, specifically by Hannah and the content she shares on Instagram. One moment, she’s drinking raw cow’s milk directly from the source; the next, she’s making rocky road ice cream from scratch with a newborn strapped to her chest or harvesting pumpkins to bake into homemade bagels.

As someone who’s far from being a homesteader—after all, I order my groceries through an app and can barely assemble a chair from CB2, much less build something with my own two hands—Hannah’s content has always piqued my interest. And clearly, I’m not the only one; she’s amassed a staggering 10 million followers on Instagram alone. She paints a picture of idyllic farm life that’s hard to resist, and while I’m a city girl in Los Angeles with only a few stubbornly sour pomelos growing in my backyard, there is one way I can get a taste of her lifestyle.‍

From Farm to Oven: Unboxing the Ballerina Farm Box

Ballerina Farm sells a range of products directly from its site, including farm-raised beef and pork, sourdough starter, flour, spices, and a selection of home goods, including charming beeswax candles and colorful enamelware. Among their most popular items are the boxes of perishable goods—ranging from a Roast Box packed with premium cuts of meat to a Weekly Special Box that might include anything from raw honey to bratwurst. As a lifelong pastry lover, however, I couldn’t wait to dive into the Baked Goods Box, an assortment of croissants and cookies that arrive frozen. These goodies are handmade in Utah by Ballerina Farm chefs, then carefully packed with dry ice and shipped straight to your door.

As I waited for my package, I binge-watched Hannah’s past videos—where she often showcases her own enviable baking prowess, as well as mouthwatering clips of Ballerina Farm’s croissants and cookies, demonstrating how easy it is to bake them at home. By the time my box arrived just 48 hours after shipping, I was practically drooling in anticipation. Each Baked Goods Box features 24 croissants (12 plain and 12 chocolate) and 12 sourdough chocolate chip cookies, all neatly bundled in six packages adorned with the Ballerina Farm logo. At $149, plus tax and shipping, this box is a splurge, so I couldn’t wait to see if these indulgent treats lived up to the hype.

Is This the World’s Best Frozen Croissant?‍

Before I could sink my teeth into a croissant, however, there was a bit of prep work to be done.  The instructions advise placing up to six croissants on a sheet pan, covering them loosely with plastic wrap, and allowing them to proof at room temperature for eight hours. I left mine out overnight, and by morning, they’d risen beautifully—now larger, puffier, and ready for the oven. The final step before baking was to brush them with a beaten egg.

Soon, my kitchen filled with the heavenly scent of butter as the croissants baked to a lovely amber brown. After 25 minutes, I pulled them out of the oven, their flaky layers still perfectly crisp, and bit into a plain croissant while it was still warm. The exterior had a satisfying, shattering crunch that gave way to a soft, airy center with a rich, buttery flavor. It was everything a croissant should be—making the proofing time well worth the effort.

The Score: 8/10

While the croissants were undeniably delicious and tender, I deducted a couple of points because during baking, an excess of butter bubbled out, pooling at the bottom of the pan. The croissants absorbed some of this, leaving the bottoms a bit less crisp than the perfectly flaky tops.

Next, I turned my attention to the chocolate croissant—technically, a pain au chocolat. As I took my first few bites, the golden layers gave way to a rich ribbon of chocolate, perfectly soft and melted from the oven. The chocolate was velvety, decadent, and slightly bittersweet, balancing beautifully with the buttery dough. Most importantly, the chocolate-to-pastry ratio was ideal. In my lifetime, I’ve had many a pain au chocolat where the chocolate felt almost like an afterthought. But this one was different—generously portioned without overwhelming the delicate pastry. 

The Score: 9/10

These croissants leaked less butter than their plain counterparts, earning them a slightly higher score. The buttery pastry and luscious chocolate hooked me instantly, and I found myself craving another almost immediately. 

Warning: These Chocolate Chip Cookies Will Spoil You Forever‍

Even though I was already feeling full from the croissants, I couldn’t resist moving on to the chocolate chip cookies made with Hannah’s sourdough starter, affectionately named Willa. The preparation for these cookies is a little more straightforward—simply place the frozen dough balls on a baking sheet, add a pinch of your favorite flaky sea salt, and pop them in the oven. 

Fourteen minutes later, the cookies were ready, emerging from the oven with a gorgeous golden-brown tint. They weren’t too thin or too thick—just the perfect in-between size. As for the taste? Sublime. They quickly became my favorite treat from the Ballerina Farm box, offering a tantalizing balance of sweet and salty, with a delightful contrast between crisp edges and a gooey center. Plus, the sourdough added a unique depth of flavor that set these cookies apart from any other I’ve tasted. 

Score: 10/10

No notes—these cookies were nothing short of spectacular. That fresh-baked taste? Check. Melting pockets of chocolate? Check. A touch of flaky salt to elevate the sweetness to another level? Check and check. I fear for the chocolate chip cookies I’ll encounter in my future, as these just might spoil me for any other cookie ever again.

Final Thoughts‍

Sure, I could pick up frozen croissants from my local Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods. Yes, I could make my own chocolate chip cookies. However, Ballerina Farm’s baked goods offer a level of convenience and flavor that’s tough to match. Their pastries come remarkably close to the taste of fresh-baked treats and offer a delicious glimpse into the homesteading lifestyle that Hannah shares with the world. 

Try them for yourself here.