Homemade Croissant Recipe – Flaky, Buttery, and Delicious!

Impress your guests with these delicious homemade croissants. Follow our step-by-step instructions to make the perfect French pastry from scratch.

Croissants are a classic French pastry that are flaky, buttery, and delicious. Making croissants from scratch may seem intimidating, but with our easy-to-follow recipe, you’ll be able to create perfect croissants in no time. Whether you’re looking to impress your guests or want to indulge in a tasty treat, our recipe has got you covered.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 tsp salt
• 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
• 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small pieces
• 1 1/2 cups cold water
• 1 egg, beaten

Preparation:

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, salt, and yeast.
2. Add the chilled butter pieces to the dry ingredients and mix until the butter is coated with flour.
3. Slowly add the cold water to the mixture and mix until a dough forms.
4. Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 10 minutes, until it becomes smooth and elastic.
5. Place the dough in a bowl, cover it with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight.
6. Roll out the dough on a floured surface to create a large rectangle.
7. Fold the rectangle in thirds, like a letter, and then fold it in thirds again. Wrap it in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
8. Repeat step 7 two more times.
9. Roll out the dough into a large rectangle and cut it into triangles.
10. Roll each triangle from the wide end to the narrow end, tucking in the edges to create the classic croissant shape.
11. Place the croissants on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, cover with a towel, and let them rise for about an hour.
12. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Brush the croissants with the beaten egg and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown.

Tips and Tricks:

• Make sure the butter is cold when mixing it into the dough to achieve the flaky layers.
• Refrigerating the dough overnight will help develop the flavor and texture of the croissants.
• If the dough becomes too warm at any point in the process, refrigerate it for 10-15 minutes before continuing.
• Brushing the croissants with egg will give them a golden brown and shiny appearance.

Variants:

Croissants can be customized to your taste by adding different fillings, such as chocolate, ham and cheese, or almond paste. To make chocolate croissants, place a piece of chocolate in the wide end of the croissant triangle before rolling it up. To make ham and cheese croissants, place a piece of ham and a slice of cheese in the triangle before rolling it up. For almond croissants, spread a layer of almond paste over the triangle before rolling it up.

Making croissants from scratch may take some time and effort, but the end result is worth it. These flaky and buttery pastries are perfect for a special breakfast or brunch, and can be customized to your liking with different fillings. Follow our easy-to-follow recipe and impress your friends and family with your baking skills!