Homemade Croissants Recipe

Ingredients:

• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
• 1 1/4 cups warm milk
• 1 cup unsalted butter, cold
• 1 large egg (for egg wash)
• 1 tablespoon water (for egg wash)

Instructions:

Prepare the Dough:

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, and salt.
2. In a separate bowl, dissolve the yeast in the warm milk and let it sit for about 5 minutes until it becomes frothy.
3. Add the yeast mixture to the dry ingredients and mix until a dough forms. Knead the dough for about 5-7 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic.

Chill the Dough:

1. Shape the dough into a ball and place it in a lightly greased bowl. Cover it with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Prepare the Butter:

1. While the dough is chilling, prepare the butter block. Cut the cold butter into small pieces and place it between two sheets of parchment paper.
2. Use a rolling pin to flatten the butter into a rectangular shape, about 1/2 inch thick. Chill the butter block in the refrigerator until firm.

Laminate the Dough:

1. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled dough into a large rectangle.
2. Place the cold butter block in the center of the dough and fold the dough over the butter, enclosing it completely.
3. Roll out the dough into a large rectangle again, then fold it into thirds, like a letter. This is the first fold.
4. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Repeat the Folding Process:

1. Repeat the rolling and folding process two more times, chilling the dough for 30 minutes between each fold.

Shape the Croissants:

1. After the final fold, roll out the dough into a large rectangle, about 1/4 inch thick.
2. Cut the dough into triangles (about 4 inches wide at the base and 8 inches tall).
3. Starting from the base of each triangle, roll the dough towards the tip to form a croissant shape. Place the croissants on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Proof the Croissants:

1. Cover the croissants with a clean kitchen towel and let them rise in a warm place for about 1-2 hours, or until they have doubled in size.

Bake the Croissants:

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and water to make the egg wash.
3. Brush the risen croissants with the egg wash.
4. Bake the croissants in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until they are golden brown and flaky.

Cool and Serve:

1. Remove the croissants from the oven and let them cool on a wire rack.
2. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Enjoy your homemade croissants, which are buttery, flaky, and perfect for breakfast or a special treat!