Making homemade croissants can feel intimidating, but with patience and guidance, this baking bucket list recipe is achievable.

Dear Lykkers, these golden-brown, extra-flaky pastries, crisp on the outside and soft on the inside, transport anyone to a quaint French bakery with just one bite.

What Makes Croissants Special?

Croissants are a labor of love, requiring time, precision, and repeated rolling. The process might seem advanced, but it’s manageable even for less-experienced bakers. The recipe involves no fancy equipment or exotic ingredients, making it an ideal weekend project for those craving a fresh homemade treat.

The Process

1. Preparing the Dough:

Mix butter, flour, sugar, salt, yeast, and cold milk to form the dough. Unlike traditional yeasted doughs, this uses cold milk, allowing the yeast to work its magic later.

2. Resting and Rolling:

Rest the dough in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before rolling it into a 14×10-inch rectangle. Precision is key, so using a ruler and a silicone baking mat is recommended.

3. Creating the Butter Layer:

Softened butter is mixed with a bit of flour for stability, shaped into a 7×10-inch rectangle, and chilled. This ensures the butter and dough reach the same temperature, making lamination smoother.

4. Laminating the Dough:

The butter is enclosed in the dough, which is rolled and folded three times. Between the second and third laminations, the dough rests for 30 minutes to maintain the ideal temperature.

5. Shaping the Croissants:

The laminated dough is rolled out again, cut into rectangles, and then into triangles. These are gently stretched, rolled into crescent shapes, and allowed to rest for an hour at room temperature before chilling for another hour.

Croissant: The History, Origins, Facts You Never Knew

Video by Everything Facts

What is Laminated Dough?

Laminating dough involves folding butter into it multiple times, creating alternating layers of butter and dough. During baking, the butter melts, producing steam that lifts the layers apart. This process results in the signature flaky texture of croissants.

Baking the Perfect Croissants

The croissants are brushed with egg wash and baked to perfection. The result? Flaky, buttery layers that make every effort worthwhile. Enjoy them plain, with jam, honey butter, or even as chocolate croissants.

A Recipe to Savor

Homemade croissants are more than a treat; they’re an experience. Leftovers, if any, can transform into delightful breakfast casseroles. Once mastered, this recipe becomes a cherished addition to anyone’s baking repertoire.