Making croissants from scratch can be a bit time-consuming, but it’s a rewarding process. Here’s a simplified recipe for homemade croissants:
Ingredients:
- 1 1/4 cups warm milk (about 110°F or 45°C)
- 2 tablespoons active dry yeast
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cold
Instructions:
- In a bowl, combine warm milk, active dry yeast, and sugar. Let it sit for about 5-10 minutes until it becomes frothy.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour and salt. Add the yeast mixture and mix until a dough forms.
- Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead for about 5 minutes until it becomes smooth. Shape it into a rectangle, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight.
- Roll out the cold dough into a larger rectangle on a floured surface.
- Flatten the cold butter between two sheets of parchment paper into a rectangle that’s about half the size of your dough.
- Place the flattened butter in the center of the dough rectangle. Fold the dough over the butter, sealing the edges.
- Roll out the dough-butter combination into a larger rectangle again. Fold the dough into thirds, like a letter. This is one fold.
- Chill the dough for about 30 minutes. Repeat the rolling and folding process two more times for a total of three folds. Chill the dough between each fold.
- After the final fold, let the dough rest in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour or overnight.
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Roll out the chilled dough into a large rectangle. Cut it into triangles.
- Roll each triangle from the wider end to the tip, forming a crescent shape.
- Place the shaped croissants on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Let the croissants rise at room temperature for about 1-2 hours, or until they double in size.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.
Enjoy your homemade croissants! Keep in mind that making croissants requires some patience, but the results are well worth it.
