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Croissants
by WeekendBakery on February 3, 2007 Table of Contents License: Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike (by-nc-sa) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Intro: Croissants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . step 1: The Ingredients . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . step 2: Preparing the Yeast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . step 3: Starting the Dough . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . step 4: Add the Egg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . step 5: Add the Yeast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . step 6: Get the Right Consistency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . step 7: 30 Minutes Later . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . step 8: Dividing the Dough . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . step 9: Layering the Butter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . step 10: Rolling and Folding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . step 11: Rolling and Cutting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . step 12: Roll-Up, Roll-Up! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . step 13: Baking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 2 3 3 4 4 4 5 5 6 6 7 9 9

Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Advertisements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

http://www.instructables.com/id/Croissants/

License: Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike (by-nc-sa) Intro: Croissants

Yummy all butter Croissants, Ideal for breakfast, served warm from the oven with a cup of fresh Coffee.

step 1: The Ingredients

To make 12 Croissants you will need... 8 oz (225 g) Plain Flour 8 oz (225 g) Strong Bread Flour 7 oz (200 g) Butter 1 Medium size Egg 1 Sachet of Quick Activating Dried Yeast 1 Teaspoon of Granulated Sugar 1 Teaspoon of Salt 7 floz (30 ml) Warm Water You will also need a mixing bowl, a rolling pin, and a large clean flat surface to roll the dough out on.

Image Notes 1. Plain Flour 2. Genuine French Sugar 3. Yeast 4. Salt 5. Strong Bread Flour 6. Butter 7. Egg

http://www.instructables.com/id/Croissants/

step 2: Preparing the Yeast

To activate the yeast, the water needs to be around 95 Fahrenheit (35 Celsius), you can get this temperature by microwaving tap water for about 40 seconds, or by mixing one third boiled water with two thirds tap water. Mix the Teaspoon of sugar with a little of the warm water so that is has dissolved, then add and stir in the yeast before leaving it to bubble away in a warm place.

Image Notes 1. Yeast Mixture

step 3: Starting the Dough

Place all the flour (8 oz (225 g) Plain and 8 oz (225 g) Strong) in the mixing bowl along with 1 oz (30 g) of the butter and the teaspoon of salt. Then with nice clean hands, rub the butter and flower together. You need to use your hands, and pay particular attention to the consistency of the butter, the finished dough needs to be as close to the same consistency as the butter as possible.

Image Notes 1. Flour 2. Butter 3. Salt

http://www.instructables.com/id/Croissants/

step 4: Add the Egg

Beat the egg in a small bowl or cup until the white and yoke are combined. Make a well in the centre of the flour/butter mixture and pour the egg in. Collapse the flour into the centre and mix until the flour has absorbed the egg.

Image Notes 1. Beaten Egg

step 5: Add the Yeast

By now the the Yeast mixture should have frothed up. Make a new well and pour in the yeast mixture, then proceed in just the same way as after adding the egg.

Image Notes 1. Frothy Yeast

step 6: Get the Right Consistency

Add the water a bit at a time until the dough has the same consistency as the raw butter, you won't always need to use all the water, it will depend on the wetness of the egg and the dryness of the flour. Once the dough is fully combined, cover it with a cloth and leave it in a warm place to rise.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Croissants/

step 7: 30 Minutes Later

The dough should have approximately doubled in size.

step 8: Dividing the Dough

If you have plenty of space then you will be able to roll all the dough in one batch, but if you don't have so much, you will need to divide the dough and the butter into equal parts. We usually divide them into 3, each large enough to make 4 croissants.

Image Notes

Image Notes

http://www.instructables.com/id/Croissants/

1. 3 2 oz pieces of butter

1. 3 equally sized pieces of dough

step 9: Layering the Butter

If you have split your dough and butter into smaller batches, you will need to perform (and keep track of!) the layering and folding stages for each one. Roll out the dough into a neat rectangle. Cut the butter into thin slices. Place the slices on top of the dough so that they cover two thirds of its area. Fold the un-buttered third over so it covers halt the buttered area. Fold again so that all the butter is inside the dough.

step 10: Rolling and Folding

Roll the layered dough out until it is about the same size and thickness as it was when the butter was placed on top, but rotated by 90 degrees. Making sure you have the "open" side on top, again fold the dough in thirds. If you don't rest the dough in between rolling then you will notice that the dough gets harder to roll out and fold each time. Roll and fold again. After rolling and folding twice, return to the fridge for 30 minutes, this stops the butter from leaking and reduces the elasticity in the dough. Repeat the rolling and folding another two times, then again return the dough to the fridge for 30 minutes. Then, roll and fold the mixture for the final two times. If the dough is correctly mixed to match the consistency of the butter, all this folding will be easy. However, if the dough is too hard, the butter will tend to squidge out, or if the dough is too soft then the butter will form lumps that make holes in the dough.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Croissants/

NOTE: Batches of dough can be frozen in this form, and then defrosted over night ready for final assembly on the morning of consumption.

Image Notes 1. The last fold is on top.

Image Notes 1. The edges that appear rolled up, are the ones that will be folded in each time.

Image Notes 1. This is the edge that was folded over in the previous step.

step 11: Rolling and Cutting

Each croissant is made by rolling up a triangular piece of dough, how you make the triangles depends on how many croissants you are making from each batch. To make a batch of 4 croissants, we roll the dough into a parallelogram about 1/8" (3 mm) thick. So that the edges of the finished croissants puff up nicely it is best if they are made from a cut edge, so we cut of the short edges of the parallelogram and place these trimmings in the middle of the croissants. The board that is used here to roll the dough out on is about the size of an A3 sheet of paper. To roll out a larger batch you will need a much larger area, see the attached images for a guide on how you might make your cuts.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Croissants/

Image Notes 1. 4 triangles from a parallelogram.

Image Notes 1. 6 triangles from a circle.

Image Notes 1. 6 triangles from a parallelogram.

Image Notes 1. 12 triangles from a parallelogram. (The board in this diagram is about 3 times the size of the one we use.)

Image Notes 1. Trimmed edge will make the croissant puff up nicely. 2. Trimmings from the edge placed in the middle of the croissant.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Croissants/

step 12: Roll-Up, Roll-Up!

If the triangles have shrunk after being cut, or seem to be too small to roll-up, you can roll them out a bit more, or stretch them, but be careful not to squash the cut edges. Roll-up each of the triangles of pastry, starting from the uncut edge and towards the point. You can then pull the ends in towards the point to make the traditional crescent shape, or leave them straight. Place the rolled up croissants on a baking tray (with parchment) cover with a cloth and leave in a warm place to rise.

step 13: Baking

If you have added up all the time that the dough has been rising, or resting in the fridge, you will have realised that this process has taken many hours to complete, meaning that you would have to get up very early to make them fresh for breakfast. Luckily the dough keeps well in the freezer, as do the baked croissants. To bake the croissants, you will need your oven pre-heated to 430 Fahrenheit (220 Celsius, Gas Mark 7) and the croissants will need to be in there for about 10-15 minutes to get a nice golden brown colour. Our oven is fan assisted, so they are done in about 11 minutes (appliances may vary). Do not put the croissants in the oven while it is warming up, as this dries them out, and they don't expand properly. Take the croissants out of the oven (WARNING: HOT PASTRY) and place them on a cooling rack to cool if you are going to store them, or on a plate if you are going to eat them. To reheat a pre-baked croissant, it just needs to go into a hot oven for 3-5 minutes to warm through. ENJOY!

http://www.instructables.com/id/Croissants/

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Comments
18 comments Add Comment

abnor says:

Jun 23, 2008. 7:11 PM REPLY honestly, i found this instructable to be a little confusing. it was understandable until about step 8, where you said "We usually divide them into 3, each large enough to make 4 croissants." then i finally understood with your diagrams... but THEN the circle diagram just messed me up again. i'm sure if i get down to baking some of these then i'll understand :P

WeekendBakery says:

Jun 24, 2008. 12:04 AM REPLY To be honest, I've never cut the croissants up according to the "circle diagram", it was merely one possible suggestion of how it could be done if one managed to end up with a roundish mass of dough. How you roll your dough ultimately depends only on the amount of space you have and how skilled you are with a rolling pin I might remove that circle pic...

abnor says:
hehe. good instructable none the less :P

Jun 25, 2008. 7:35 AM REPLY

WeekendBakery says:
Thanks

Jun 25, 2008. 8:07 AM REPLY

cowscankill says:
Yummy...

Jun 23, 2008. 11:40 AM REPLY

mollie1604 says:
Do you add butter each time you roll?

Apr 27, 2008. 3:09 AM REPLY

http://www.instructables.com/id/Croissants/

WeekendBakery says:
Nope, all the butter is sandwiched in during the first folding, after that its simple rolling and folding...

Apr 27, 2008. 4:12 AM REPLY

selaja says:
Also, what is the difference between strong bread flour, and regular bread flour?

Jan 19, 2008. 12:53 PM REPLY

WeekendBakery says:

Jan 19, 2008. 2:39 PM REPLY "Strong flour" is just what we call bread flour in the UK, though some flours are sold as being stronger than others. The stronger the flour, the more of the grain that has been retained through the milling process, so a strong flour has more of the proteins and glutens needed to make a good stretchy dough. Enjoy your croissants!

selaja says:
thx

Jan 20, 2008. 4:28 PM REPLY

X_D_3_M_1 says:
yum...

Oct 10, 2007. 5:32 PM REPLY

PeterTheUnGreat says:
Great looking Croisants - I shall be making these! Peter

Feb 14, 2007. 7:12 AM REPLY

WeekendBakery says:
Thanks for all the positive feedback so far, I hope to hear more once you have tried the recipe.

Feb 11, 2007. 8:36 AM REPLY

mega_swordman says:
This is indeed a very fine insructable. Easy to read and understand. Bravo.

Feb 9, 2007. 4:12 AM REPLY

Punkguyta says:
Ah yes, the fine skill of croissants. Thank you for this lovely instructable.

Feb 9, 2007. 12:31 AM REPLY

CowGuy says:
These look so good! Im gonna go get fat off these and be like the rest of America!

Feb 8, 2007. 3:15 PM REPLY

canida says:
These look great! The documentation is well done, too- I especially like the cutting diagrams.

Feb 8, 2007. 12:43 PM REPLY

SirGrok says:
Thank you for this. I will be making this. Soon. xoxo

Feb 8, 2007. 12:10 PM REPLY

http://www.instructables.com/id/Croissants/