Bonjour! 🇫🇷 Are you ready to learn how to make the perfect croissant? 🤩 Croissants are a popular French pastry made of buttery, flakey layers that pair perfectly with your morning coffee ☕. But don’t be intimidated by their seemingly difficult nature! Follow these simple steps and you’ll be enjoying homemade croissants in no time.

Ingredients 🧾

The ingredients for croissants are simple, but quality matters! Be sure to use high-quality butter and flour to achieve the best results. You’ll need:

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tbsp active dry yeast
  • 1 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 cup cold water
  • 2 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, cold

A photo of all of the ingredients you need for croissants

Directions 📝

  1. In a bowl, combine the flour, sugar, yeast, and salt.
  2. Add the cold water and mix until a dough forms.
  3. Knead the dough for 5-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
  4. Flatten the dough into a rectangle, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 1 hour.

A photo of the dough flattened into a rectangle and wrapped in plastic wrap

  1. Place the cold butter between two sheets of plastic wrap and pound with a rolling pin until it forms a rectangle.
  2. Place the butter on top of the dough and fold the dough over the butter, sealing the edges.
  3. Roll the dough out into a large rectangle and fold it into thirds like a letter.
  4. Wrap the dough in plastic and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

A photo of the dough with butter layered on top being folded like a letter

  1. Repeat steps 7-8 two more times, refrigerating the dough for 30 minutes between each fold.
  2. Roll the dough into a long rectangle and cut into triangles.
  3. Roll each triangle from the wide end to the pointed end, tucking the point underneath.
  4. Place the croissants on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and let rise in a warm spot for 1-2 hours.
  5. Preheat the oven to 375°F and bake the croissants for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown and fully cooked.

A photo of the finished croissants fresh out the oven and golden brown

Tips and Tricks 🌟

  • Keep the dough cold at all times to ensure flakiness.
  • Use a pastry cutter or ruler to make sure your cuts are even.
  • Don’t rush the proofing process - make sure your croissants are fully risen before baking.
  • Experiment with different types of fillings, such as chocolate or almond paste, for a twist on the classic croissant.

Now that you’ve mastered the art of croissant-making, enjoy your freshly baked pastries and pat yourself on the back for a job well done! 🎉👏

A photo of a freshly baked croissant paired with a cup of coffee

That’s a wrap for our Croissants 101 guide. We hope you found this informative and helpful in your baking journey. Bon appétit!

A photo of a table filled with freshly baked croissants, coffee, and other breakfast items