Delicious Homemade Croissants

Learn how to make classic croissants with this easy-to-follow recipe. These homemade croissants are buttery, flaky, and delicious. With a little patience and a few simple ingredients, you can enjoy fresh croissants right out of your own oven.

Ingredients

• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, cold
• 3/4 cup whole milk, cold
• 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)

Directions

1. In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, yeast, and salt.
2. Cut the cold butter into small cubes, then add it to the bowl with the dry ingredients. Use your fingertips to rub the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
3. Make a well in the center of the mixture and pour in the cold milk. Stir until a dough forms.
4. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead for about 5 minutes, until it becomes smooth and elastic.
5. Shape the dough into a ball, then place it in a lightly oiled bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or overnight.
6. Remove the dough from the refrigerator and place it on a lightly floured surface. Roll it out into a rectangle, about 1/4 inch thick.
7. Fold the rectangle into thirds, like a business letter. Turn the dough 90 degrees, then roll it out again into a rectangle and fold it into thirds. Repeat this process two more times. This is called the lamination process and it creates the flaky layers in the croissants.
8. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for another 1 hour.
9. After the dough has chilled, remove it from the refrigerator and roll it out into a large rectangle, about 1/4 inch thick.
10. Cut the rectangle into smaller triangles, then gently stretch each triangle to elongate it.
11. Starting from the wide end, roll each triangle towards the pointed end, shaping it into a croissant.
12. Place the croissants on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, leaving some space between them. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and let them rise for about 1-2 hours, until they double in size.
13. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
14. Brush the risen croissants with the beaten egg wash.
15. Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, until golden brown and flaky.
16. Remove from the oven and let them cool on a wire rack before serving.

Interesting Facts