Description
Indulge in the art of French baking with this delightful croissant recipe, designed to create perfectly flaky, buttery pastries right in your own kitchen. These homemade croissants boast a crispy exterior that gives way to soft, airy layers inside—an irresistible combination that elevates your breakfast experience. Whether you’re serving them at brunch or enjoying a quiet afternoon snack, these croissants will impress with their authentic taste and impressive appearance. With easy-to-follow steps and customizable filling options like chocolate or fruit preserves, you’ll find joy in every bite. Prepare to awaken your inner baker and treat yourself to the sumptuous flavors of freshly baked croissants.
Ingredients
- 18 oz all-purpose flour (just over 4 cups)
- ¼ cup + 1 Tbsp granulated sugar
- 2½ tsp fine sea salt
- 1 Tbsp + 1/2 tsp instant yeast
- ½ cup + 2 Tbsp cold water
- ½ cup + 2 Tbsp cold whole milk
- 3 Tbsp unsalted butter (softened)
- 1¼ cups cold unsalted butter (European-style)
- 1 large egg
- 1 egg yolk
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, salt, and yeast. Mix well.
- Add cold water and milk; mix until a dough forms. Knead on a floured surface for about 5 minutes until smooth. Cover with plastic wrap and rest for at least an hour.
- Flatten the cold unsalted butter into a rectangle between parchment paper. Roll out the rested dough into a larger rectangle and enclose the butter by folding the dough around it.
- Roll out the dough-butter package into a long rectangle, then fold it into thirds like a letter. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Repeat this rolling and folding two more times.
- Roll out the dough again into a larger rectangle; cut into triangles with bases about 5 inches wide. Roll each triangle tightly from base to tip to shape the croissants.
- Place shaped croissants on a parchment-lined baking sheet; cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rise until doubled in size (about an hour).
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Brush each croissant with an egg wash made from one egg and one yolk plus a pinch of salt.
- Bake for about 20 minutes or until golden brown.
- Prep Time: 60 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Bakery
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 croissant (70g)
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
Keywords: For best results, keep ingredients cold throughout the process to maintain flakiness. Experiment with fillings like chocolate chips or almond paste for a personalized touch.