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Butter Croissants

gothicgirl's picture
gothicgirl

Butter Croissants

Posted on www.evilshenanigans.com on 11/25/2009 here

Ready for something a tad more advanced?  It takes time to make, but it is SO worth it.

Butter Croissants

I fell in love with croissant making a few semesters ago in my Laminated Dough class.  Bread making is among my favorite things to do in the kitchen, but making laminated doughs (doughs with butter sandwiched between the layers) tops that.  It takes time to make laminated dough and the process has taught me a lot about being patient in the kitchen.  Some things can't be rushed.

Butter Croissants

Making croissants at home is not a hard thing to do.  Yes, it will seem intimidating the first time when you see all the steps all at once, but  it is really just three stages, which makes the whole process less intimidating for me.

Stage 1 - Mixing the dough and making the butter block

Stage 2 - Marrying the butter with the dough and doing your three turns (folding the dough into thirds, like a letter, and turning 90 degrees)

Stage 3 - Make-up and baking

Butter Croissants

A few things to note:

I proof these croissants in the refrigerator overnight then allow them to set, at room temperature, for an hour before baking. The long, cold proof gives the dough more flavor and allows the butter to chill completely before the final proof at room temperature.

The oven gets a spritz of water from a spray bottle before the croissants go in, and another when I put them in the oven.  The steam helps the croissants get nice and big.  You want that.

Give yourself two or three days to make these.  If I do not have a full day to make the dough and do the turns, about 6 hours for stage one and two,  I make the dough and make the butter block the first day, do the turns and make up the croissants the second and bake the third.

Cook the croissants until they are well past golden brown. The edges should be quite dark and the tops a robust brown color.  This does two things, it gives the croissants more flavor and it ensures they are done all the way through.

Once made up into croissants you can freeze the dough and store it for as long as two months.  Just put the frozen croissants in the refrigerator overnight to defrost and let stand for an hour and a half before baking.

This dough can also be used for some pretty awesome danish!

Butter Croissants

Roll your sleeves up, get out your butter and remember, no fear!  You CAN do this!!

Butter Croissants   Yield 5 pounds of dough (about 48 croissants)
Adapted from Professional Baking, 4th Edition by Wayne Glisslen

For the pre-ferment:
7 ounces water, warmed to 110F
1/2 ounce dry active yeast
5 ounces bread flour

For the dough:
2.5 ounces sugar
1 teaspoon salt
12 ounces whole milk
1 1/2 ounces water
2 pounds bread flour

For the butter block:
1 pound 4 ounces butter (I use salted for croissants, but unsalted is also good)

Egg wash:
1 egg
1 tablespoon cream
2 teaspoons water

 

Butter Croissants Butter Croissants

Begin by preparing the pre-ferment.  In the bowl of a mixer, or in a large bowl, mix the water, yeast, and bread flour.  Mix until it forms a very wet dough.  Cover and let stand for 15 minutes.

While the pre-ferment sits prepare the butter block.

Butter Croissants Butter Croissants

Between two sheets of parchment paper arrange 5 sticks of cold butter into a rough square.  Using a rolling pin press and pound the butter until it forms a rectangle about 1/4″ thick.  Place this in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Butter Croissants Butter Croissants

Once the pre-ferment is rested add the ingredients for the dough and mix on low speed for three minutes.  Increase the speed to medium for two minutes.  You do not want to form gluten, you are just trying to form a rough ball of dough.  Turn the dough out on a lightly floured surface and knead lightly until it forms a relatively smooth ball.

Butter Croissants Butter CroissantsButter Croissants

Place the dough in an oiled bowl and cover until it is double in bulk, about 50 minutes.  Turn the dough out of the bowl onto a lightly floured surface and, using the palm of your hand, press out the air bubbles.  Form another ball and return to the bowl.  Refrigerate for an hour.

Butter Croissants Butter Croissants

Once the dough has rested for an hour remove it and the butter block from the refrigerator.  Turn the dough out on a a lightly floured surface and press out the air.  Using a rolling pin form a large rectangle roughly  12″ x 24″.

Butter Croissants

Take the butter block still wrapped in parchment and see if it covers 2/3 of the rolled out dough.  If it is too small roll it out until it fits, leaving a 1/2″ border around the edges.  You can use your fingers to spread the butter if needed, just make sure that the butter does not develop any holes.

Butter Croissants Butter Croissants

Fold the dough with out butter over the center of the dough.  Fold the buttered side in.   At this point check to see of the butter is getting soft.  You want the butter cool and firm, but if it is starting to melt let the dough chill, covered, for twenty minutes before you make the first turn. ( If you work quickly you can incorporate the butter and do your first turn before you have to chill.  Your first time you may not be able to.  That is completely ok.)

Butter CroissantsButter Croissants Butter Croissants Butter Croissants

Turn the dough 90 degrees, or with the long seam facing horizontal to you.  Dust the board and the dough well with flour and roll out the dough into a rectangle that is about 12″ by 20″.  Dust all the flour from the dough and fold one third of the dough in.  Dust the top of the dough again to remove any flour and then fold the other third over the top.  Wrap the dough in plastic and chill in the refrigerator for an hour.

Repeat this process two more times.

Once you have completed three turns, and the dough has rested for an hour, you are ready to roll out and make up your croissants.

Divide the dough in half.  Wrap the half you are not using and return to the refrigerator.

Butter Croissants Butter Croissants

On a well floured surface roll out the dough until it is about 1/8″ thick.  You may need to let the dough rest during this process if it starts to spring back.  If so, cover with plastic and return to the refrigerator for ten minutes.  Once rolled out cut the dough in half lengthwise with a pizza cutter.  Now, holding your cutter at an angle cut triangles from the strips of dough that are about 4″ wide at the base.  Cut one strip at a time.

Butter Croissants Butter Croissants Butter Croissants

Working with a few triangles at a time, chilling the rest, stretch the dough gently at the base until it is about 5″ to 6″ wide, then stretch the dough lengthwise so it forms a long triangle.  Working from the base, roll the dough onto itself, stopping to stretch the unrolled dough half way through.  Place the dough with the point on the bottom and tuck the edges in to form a crescent shape.  Place on a parchment lined sheet pan.

Cover with plastic and chill for at least 4 hours, but overnight is best.

Heat the oven to 400 F, prepare the egg wash, and fill a spray bottle with water.  Set the dough out to proof for an hour at room temperature while the oven heats.

When you are ready to bake spritz the inside of the oven with water.  Close the door and wait thirty seconds.  Brush the croissants with egg wash, then put the pan in the oven and spritz again and quickly close the door.

Butter Croissants

Bake for 18 to 22 minutes for medium sized croissants, or until the tops are very brown and they sound hollow when tapped on the side.  Rest on the pan for five minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool slightly.

Butter Croissants

Serve warm.

Butter Croissants

 

Comments

xaipete's picture
xaipete

Making croissants at home is not a very hard thing to do! Very nice write up and product, Gothicgirl.

I've been making these since the early 1980s. I tried a number of recipes--Jacques Pepin's, Julia Child's, etc., but finally settle on one published in a now defunct magazine called "Cuisine" until recently when I tried PR's as a tester for his new book. His recipe has some nice simplifications that sped up the process without compromising the final result.

Great posting.

--Pamela

SylviaH's picture
SylviaH

Very nice write-up and photos.  Beautiful croissants!

Sylvia

Marni's picture
Marni

Your explanations and photos are wonderful.  The croissants look delectable!

Marni

Salome's picture
Salome

Wow!

I don't really like croissants, but I'd definitely enjoy yours! Such a beautiful write-up as well. I'd recommend Floydm to make this "sticky" (add to the recipe collection).

If I find a group of people hungry for croissants and worth the work I'll maybe try it one day.

Salome

dstroy's picture
dstroy

oh dear. I dont think I wanted to know how many sticks of butter are in my favorite treat! Those look delicious!

Fabulous post - thank you for sharing it here!

rossnroller's picture
rossnroller

Gothicgirl, that is the best write-up I've come across for quite some time - and that's saying something, because there are some beauties here and on the other forums I inhabit. Thanks a lot.

gothicgirl's picture
gothicgirl

The butter block should be firm and cool, but not cold.  Conversly, you do not want it room temperature, otherwise it will run out of the dough when you try to do the initial folds to enclose the butter.  It should feel decidedly cool, but still have some firmness. 

I let my butter block sit out while I roll out the dough.  That seems to work well for me.

gothicgirl's picture
gothicgirl

Thank you all for your kind comments!  I am so glad you find the post helpful.  :)

ques2008's picture
ques2008

gothicgirl, it's been awhile since your last post.  always wondered what you were up to.  those are gorgeous croissants.  one day, i too, will make them.  oh my, so much butter, i better wait until they go on sale. :)

i still remember your steamed buns - would you believe your recipe is a keeper in my book?  it never fails!

thanks for sharing these.  they seem like a challenge but you've explained it with a lot of hand holding and...great pictures as usual!

MommaT's picture
MommaT

Just the first picture had my mouth watering.

Great job with these!!

MommaT

Bixmeister's picture
Bixmeister

Very nice writeup and pictures.  I have wanted to try to make croissants for a long time.  I think I will try making them this year-my New Year resolution early.

 

Bix

Boboshempy's picture
Boboshempy

Pamela - Which PR book are you referring to?

gothicgirl - These look great!!

Thanks,

Nick

FaithHope's picture
FaithHope

Wow!  Thanks so much for all the work you put into this post!  The pictures, the directions!!!!  Can't wait to give it a try!  Just got your Flour Tortillas too! :)

Thanks again!

drdobg's picture
drdobg

I followed the recipe exactly but found the dough to be quite stiff.  Is this what I should expect?  It is rising right now and my butter block is made and in the frig.

glacial's picture
glacial

I've tried this recipe and a few others and I get the same problem all over again:

the croissants are not fluffy & flaky inside but more bread like and heavy. Can anyone help me? Any ideas what goes wrong?

 

I've always followed the recipes with precision, in no hurry with enough resting/cooling time. I don't have any problems during the turns, no butter comes out during proofing and backing. I work in a cold environment. What is it that goes wrong every single time? I've tried about 6 times with various recipes.

Any help is much appreciated.

drdobg's picture
drdobg

I also tried this recipe, following it to a "T" and my croissants also turned out dense without being flaky.  I prepared these in two batches, the second I gave an extended rise to, since both times, they didn't seem to rise appreciably after taking out of retard. I was extremely disappointed with the final result of this recipe. 

I have read by others that the recipe in Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking Vol. II is foolproof.  I hope to try that one soon; I'd also like to know other's experience with this recipe, and Julia's recipe.

drdobg's picture
drdobg

I did the calculation and believe the hydration is at 55%.  This seems quite low for a dough expected to be soft and slack.

glacial's picture
glacial

After a few experiments I've worked out that in my case the reason for getting dense croissants rather than flaky ones was the flour. You really need a flour with a high gluten content. The all purpose flour won't do (unless you add gluten to it, about 1% would be enough). I've managed to get hold of original French flour used in France for croissants and it worked wonders.

Drdobg, what type of flour did you use?

 

 

drdobg's picture
drdobg

I used Harvest King unbleached bread flour made by General Mills; protein in the 13-14% range.

LuckyOven's picture
LuckyOven

Thank you so much! Your recipe works very well. I used it to made my first bread and I realy like it. Your recipe has so many details, I follow it step by step, and the outcoming suprised me. Here is my croissants. I am so excited. Thanks again!