Making croissants at home may seem challenging, but with this simple guide, you can enjoy delicious, flaky pastries fresh from your oven. Follow these steps for perfect croissants!
Ingredients:
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Dough:
4 cups flour, 1/4 cup sugar, 2 tsp salt, 1 tbsp instant yeast, 1 1/4 cups warm milk, 1/4 cup softened butter. -
Butter Block:
1 1/4 cups cold butter. -
Egg Wash:
1 egg, 1 tbsp water.
Instructions:
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Make the dough:
Mix flour, sugar, salt, and yeast. Add warm milk and knead in softened butter until smooth. Cover and let rise until doubled (1-2 hours) or refrigerate overnight. -
Butter block:
Flatten cold butter between parchment paper into an 8-inch square. Chill until firm. -
Laminate the dough:
Roll the dough into a 12-inch square, place the butter block in the center, and fold the dough over it like an envelope. Roll into a 10x20-inch rectangle, fold into thirds, and chill for 30 minutes. Repeat twice more, chilling between turns. -
Shape the croissants:
Roll dough into a 10x20-inch rectangle. Cut into triangles and roll tightly from the base to the tip. Place on a baking sheet, leaving space to rise. -
Proof:
Let croissants rise at room temperature for 1-2 hours until puffy. -
Bake:
Preheat oven to 400°F. Brush croissants with egg wash and bake for 15-20 minutes, until golden.
Tips:
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Keep butter cold for flaky layers.
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Chill the dough between folds for best results.
Enjoy your homemade croissants, plain or filled with your favourite ingredients!