Easy Croissants

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Servings: 24 Difficulty: Advanced
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Flaky, buttery pastry with a golden crust and tender, airy interior.
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Easy Croissants

Author: chefs-mate Cooking Method: Cuisine: Courses:
Difficulty: Advanced
Servings: 24 Calories: 307.4

Description

These homemade croissants offer a delightful compromise between traditional French technique and home kitchen simplicity. While authentic croissants require extensive lamination with cold butter, this method uses a dough enriched with melted butter and a cold butter cut-in step to achieve impressive flakiness with less fuss. The result is a tender, slightly sweet pastry that is perfect for weekend brunches or a luxurious breakfast treat. The warm, yeasted aroma filling your kitchen is worth the wait, and the final product boasts a beautiful golden-brown exterior with distinct layers. Serve them warm with jam, honey, or simply on their own to enjoy the rich, buttery flavor. This recipe is forgiving enough for beginners yet satisfying enough for seasoned bakers looking for a quicker pastry option.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. In a small bowl, combine warm milk and 1 teaspoon of sugar.
  2. Sprinkle yeast over the milk mixture and let stand for 10 minutes until foamy.
  3. In a large bowl, stir the yeast mixture with 1 cup of flour, room temperature milk, remaining sugar, salt, beaten egg, and melted butter.
  4. Beat the mixture until smooth and well combined.
  5. In a separate large bowl, place 4 cups of flour and cold butter.
  6. Cut the cold butter into the flour using a pastry cutter or fork until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with pea-sized pieces.
  7. Pour the liquid batter into the flour-butter mixture and stir until just moistened and a soft dough forms.
  8. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight to firm up the butter.
  9. Remove the dough from the refrigerator and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface.
  10. Press the dough into a compact ball and divide it into 4 equal parts.
  11. On a floured surface, roll each part into a circle approximately 12 to 16 inches in diameter.
  12. Cut each circle into 6 or 8 pie-shaped wedges.
  13. Starting from the wide end of each wedge, roll the dough tightly toward the point to form a log.
  14. Gently curve the log into a crescent shape and place on an ungreased baking sheet.
  15. Cover the shaped croissants loosely and let them rise at room temperature until doubled in size, which may take 2 hours or more.
  16. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
  17. Brush the risen croissants with the egg beaten with cold water.
  18. Bake in the preheated oven, then immediately lower the temperature to 350°F (175°C).
  19. Continue baking for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the croissants are golden brown and cooked through.
  20. Remove from the oven and let cool on a wire rack for a few minutes before serving.

Nutrition Facts

Servings 24

Amount Per Serving
Calories 307.4kcal
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 12.8g20%
Saturated Fat 7.9g40%
Cholesterol 32.6mg11%
Sodium 1323.2mg56%
Total Carbohydrate 41.6g14%
Dietary Fiber 1.4g6%
Sugars 3.7g
Protein 5.7g12%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Keywords: croissant, pastry, french, breakfast, brunch, baked, yeast, butter, flaky, homemade, bread, sweet, dough, golden, tender, layers, morning, treat, simple, easy, classic
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