Description
Indulge in the art of baking with these delightful homemade croissants, perfect for breakfast or brunch gatherings. These flaky pastries are a labor of love, resulting in layers of buttery goodness that will impress everyone at your table. With customizable fillings from chocolate to almond paste, you can tailor these croissants to suit every palate. Follow this step-by-step guide to master the techniques needed for creating these classic French pastries in your own kitchen.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 tablespoon active dry or instant yeast
- 1 1/2 cups cold whole milk
- 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter (for layering)
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (for finishing)
- 1 large egg (for egg wash)
- 2 tablespoons whole milk (for egg wash)
Instructions
- In a stand mixer bowl, combine flour, sugar, salt, and yeast. Gradually mix in cold milk and softened butter until a soft dough forms. Knead on a floured surface until smooth.
- Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- Roll softened butter between sheets of parchment into a rectangle and chill.
- Roll out the chilled dough into a rectangle; place the butter layer in the center and fold over edges to encase it.
- Roll out again into a long rectangle, fold into thirds like a letter, and repeat three times with chilling between folds.
- Cut triangles from the final rolled-out dough and shape croissants by rolling from the wide end to the point.
- Let shaped croissants rise on lined baking sheets until doubled in size before brushing with an egg wash.
- Bake at 400°F (200°C) for about 18 minutes until golden brown.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 23g
- Fiber: <1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
Keywords: Keep ingredients cold for optimal flakiness. Experiment with fillings such as fruit preserves or savory cheeses for variety.