Croissant Recipe

SIDES

1. 1

   In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, and salt to ensure even distribution.

2. 2

   In a separate small bowl, whisk warm water with the instant dry yeast until it foams, about 5 minutes.

3. 3

   Pour the foamy yeast mixture and the milk into the dry ingredients. Add the melted butter for dough and stir with a wooden spoon or dough scraper until a shaggy dough forms.

4. 4

   Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Shape into a disk, cover, and rest for 20 minutes.

5. 5

   Meanwhile, prepare a laminated butter block: place the butter for laminating between two sheets of parchment. Pound and roll with a rolling pin to form a flat square about 20×20 cm. Chill if very soft.

6. 6

   Roll the rested dough into a large rectangle. Place the butter block in the center, fold the dough over to fully enclose the butter, forming a sealed package.

7. 7

   Roll the dough into a long rectangle and perform the first turn by folding the dough into thirds (like a letter). Wrap and chill for 30 minutes.

8. 8

   Roll the dough again into a long rectangle and perform the second turn (again fold into thirds). Wrap and chill for another 30 minutes.

9. 9

   Roll the laminated dough to about 0.4 cm thickness. Cut into long triangles suitable for croissants.

10. 10

    Stretch the base of each triangle slightly, then roll from base to tip to form a crescent shape. Place the shaped croissants on parchment-lined baking sheets with space between them.

11. 11

    Proof the croissants in a warm, draft-free place until they have nearly doubled in size, about 60–90 minutes.

12. 12

    Preheat your oven to 220°C (425°F). Just before baking, brush the croissants with the egg wash.

13. 13

    Bake the croissants for 15–20 minutes, rotating the sheets halfway through, until they are deeply golden and crisp on the outside. If oven browns too quickly, loosely tent with foil.

14. 14

    Transfer to a rack and cool for 10–15 minutes before serving to allow the interior to finish setting.