Description
Indulge in the delicate layers of this homemade French croissant, where each bite reveals a buttery, flaky texture that melts in your mouth. The rich aroma of freshly baked pastry fills the air, inviting you to savor the perfect balance of crispness and softness.
Ingredients
Scale
- For the Dough:
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 tablespoon instant yeast
- 1 1/4 cups whole milk, warm (110°F)
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- For the Butter Layer:
- 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, cold
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, salt, and yeast.
- Mix in warm milk and melted butter until a dough forms.
- Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 5 minutes until smooth.
- Shape the dough into a ball, place it in a greased bowl, cover, and let it rise for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
- While the dough rises, prepare the butter layer by placing the cold butter between two sheets of parchment paper and pounding it into a 1/2-inch thick rectangle.
- Once the dough has risen, roll it out into a rectangle, place the butter layer in the center, and fold the dough over the butter.
- Roll out the dough into a long rectangle, then fold it into thirds (like a letter). Repeat this process two more times, chilling the dough for 30 minutes between each fold.
- After the final fold, roll the dough out to about 1/4 inch thick and cut into triangles.
- Roll each triangle from the base to the tip and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Cover and let the croissants rise for 1 hour, then preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown and flaky.
Notes
- Make-ahead: The dough can be prepared a day in advance and stored in the refrigerator after the first rise.
- Storage: Store baked croissants in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 1 month.
- Substitutions: For a dairy-free version, use plant-based butter and milk alternatives.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 croissant
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 2 grams
- Sodium: 150 milligrams
- Fat: 15 grams
- Saturated Fat: 10 grams
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 grams
- Trans Fat: 0 grams
- Carbohydrates: 25 grams
- Fiber: 1 gram
- Protein: 4 grams
- Cholesterol: 30 milligrams
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