Croissants - Flaky, Buttery and Delicious
Have you ever yearned to know how to make those buttery, rich and flaky croissants from the best bakeries?
Well this croissant recipe will show you how to make them light and perfect each time.
Ingredients
Sweet Yeast Croissant Dough:
- 2 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon bread machine yeast, or instant yeast
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 cup milk, whole or 2%
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1/4 cup orange juice, freshly squeezed
Buerrage (Butter Layer)
- 1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter, cold, cut into 16 pieces
Making Croissants From the Dough:
- Unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1 egg, lightly beaten with 1 tablespoon water
- 2 cups hot water
Instructions
To Make The Sweet Dough:
- Measure. Spoon the flour into a measuring cup, level with a knife or your finger, then dump the flour into the mixing bowl.
- Mix. Add the sugar, yeast and salt to the flour. Stir together with a wooden spoon or Danish dough whisk. Pour in the milk. Whisk the eggs with the juice, then stir into the flour mixture just until moistened. Beat 40 strokes, scraping the bottom and the sides of the bowl, until the dough forms a lumpy, sticky mass.
- Rise. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature (72°F/22°C) in a draft-free place for 2 hours or until the dough has risen nearly to the top of the bowl and has a sponge-like appearance.
- Refrigerate. Place the dough, covered with plastic wrap, in the refrigerator for up to 3 days before baking. (For the best flavor, refrigerate for at least 8 hours or overnight.)
- Prepare the buerrage. Place the flour in a bowl. Using the pastry blender, cut in butter until the butter is the size of small peas or smaller. (Or place the flour and butter in the food processor and pulse until the butter is the size of small peas or smaller.) Do not overwork; you want the butter to stay cold and solid.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or for up to 1 day.
- Laminate the dough. Place the dough on a floured surface and dust very lightly with flour. Flour your hands and the rolling pin. Working the dough as little as possible and adding flour as necessary, roll out the dough into an 18- by 12-inch (45 by 30 cm) rectangle, using a dough scraper and your hands to lift and help form the dough into an even rectangle with the long sides on your right and left.
- Sprinkle half the buerrage on the top two-thirds of the dough, leaving a 11/2-inch (4 cm) border on the right and left sides. With your hands, lightly press the buerrage into the dough so it will stick.
- Fold the bottom third of the dough up and over some of the filling, like you’re folding a business letter. Fold the top third of the dough down so the filling is completely covered and you have a 12- by 6-inch (30 by 15 cm) rectangle. Use your hands to scoop up stray buerrage and tuck it back under the dough, and to help form the dough into an even rectangle.
- Turn the dough a quarter turn, lightly flouring under and on top of the dough as necessary, and roll out into an 18- by 12-inch (45 by 30 cm) rectangle with the long sides on your right and left. Repeat the process with the remaining buerrage.
- Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Roll out the dough into a rectangle and fold like a business letter two more times. Use your hands to help form the dough into an even 12- by 6-inch (30 by 15 cm) rectangle of laminated dough. Lightly flour any sticky places on the dough. The dough should feel firm all over, with flattened pieces of butter visible within the dough, but not at all sticky.
- Rest and chill. Wrap the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or for up to 24 hours before using for croissants or.
- Makes enough dough for pastries, braids and galettes to serve 16 to 24. Follow the directions below for croissants.
Making Croissants From the Dough:
- Form. Remove the dough rectangle from the refrigerator and cut in half. Rewrap one half and return to the refrigerator. Transfer the other half to a generously floured surface and dust very lightly with flour. Flour your hands and the rolling pin.
- Roll out the dough to a 15- by 6-inch (38 by 15 cm) rectangle with the long sides horizontal. The dough should feel cold, firm and smooth all over, but not at all sticky. With a paring knife or pizza wheel, starting at a short side, mark the top and bottom of the dough at 3-inch (7.5 cm) intervals.
- From the left-hand edge of the bottom, make a diagonal cut up to the first 3-inch (7.5 cm) mark to form a long triangle with a 3-inch (7.5 cm) base at the top. Make another diagonal cut down to reach the next 3-inch (7.5 cm) mark at the bottom, creating another triangle. Repeat the process until you have 10 triangles.
- Lift each triangle and gently press and pull the top and down along the length of the triangle to stretch the base to 4 to 5 inches (10 to 12.5 cm) wide. Starting at the base, tightly roll each triangle into a crescent, stretching and pulling it as you go.
- Repeat the process with the remaining dough.
- Chill or rise. Place croissants 2 inches (5 cm) apart on the prepared baking sheets, arranging them so that the pointed tip is visible. Cover the baking sheets with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 24 hours, or let rise in a warm (72°F/22°C) place for 2 hours or until about doubled in size. (If chilling first, let the croissants come to room temperature, then let rise.)
- Prepare oven for artisan baking. About 30 minutes before baking, place a broiler pan on the lower shelf and a baking stone on the middle shelf of the oven.
- Preheat to 400°F (200°C).
- Brush the croissants with egg wash.
- Place a baking sheet on the baking stone and add water to the broiler pan. Using an oven mitt, carefully pull the middle rack of the oven out several inches. Place one of the baking sheets on the hot stone. Push the middle rack back in place. Pull the lower rack out, pour the hot water into the broiler pan and push the lower rack back in place. Close the oven door immediately so the steam will envelop the oven.
- Bake. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack to cool on pan. Repeat the baking process with the remaining croissants.
Nutrition
Calories: 199kcalCarbohydrates: 22gProtein: 4gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 51mgSodium: 132mgPotassium: 54mgFiber: 1gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 353IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 18mgIron: 1mg
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