A device for the formation of croissants made of puff pastry or the like, said croissants being initially shaped into pastry rolls (12) starting from flat puff pastry, wherein there are at least two gripping or clasping and folding elements (13, 14, 15), connected by an articulated joint (16, 17) and suitable for being transferred, aligned with each other, onto portions of a puff pastry roll (12), withholding the roll (12) and being moved to a folded position thus causing the firmly held pastry roll to take on the form of a U- or crescent shape, there also being driving systems (25, 26) for the reciprocal movement between the at least two gripping or clasping and folding elements (13, 14, 15). The invention also relates to a process for the formation of croissants made of puff pastry or the like, wherein each croissant, in the form of a cylindrical pastry roll, is gripped by at least two jointed gripping and folding elements (13, 14, 15), maintained in a firm position and folded to form a U- or crescent shape by moving the two gripping or clasping and folding elements, before being released in a folded position.