French Butter Croissant Recipe

Instructions

1. 1

   Prepare the Dough

   In a small bowl, combine warm water and yeast. Allow it to sit for about 5-10 minutes until frothy. In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, and salt. Make a well in the center, add milk and the yeast mixture. Mix until a dough forms.

2. 2

   Knead the Dough

   Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface, knead for about 10 minutes until smooth. Place in a greased bowl, cover, and let it rise in a warm place for 1-2 hours until doubled in size.

3. 3

   Prepare Butter Block

   While the dough is rising, prepare the butter block. Place 1/2 cup of butter between two sheets of parchment paper and pound it with a rolling pin until it forms a flat rectangle about 1/2 inch thick.

4. 4

   Laminate the Dough

   Once the dough has risen, roll it out into a large rectangle. Place the butter block in the center and fold the dough over the butter, sealing the edges. Roll out and fold the dough into thirds, then wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Repeat this process two more times.

5. 5

   Shape the Croissants

   After the final fold, roll the dough out into a large rectangle. Cut into triangles and roll each triangle from the base to the tip to form a croissant shape. Place on lined baking sheets.

6. 6

   Final Rise

   Cover the shaped croissants with a kitchen towel and let them rise for another 1-2 hours until puffy.

7. 7

   Bake the Croissants

   Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Bake the croissants for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool before serving.