How Croissant Dough Works

 

 

Flour, water, butter, yeast, sugar, and saltthese are the deceptively simple components of the ubiquitous French pastry that's known and loved worldwide for its flaky layers, subtle crunch, and tender interior. When mixed, kneaded, rested, folded, and rolled just right, these six ingredients make up a winning batch of laminated doughwith distinct layers of butter and flour-based yeasted dough that rise into a complex, cavernous labyrinth of buttery deliciousness. Mastering the art of laminated dough is your one-way ticket to pastry domination, but not so fastthis classic recipe is no walk in the park. It will take patience and dedication to produce a version that blooms into a perfect, golden crescent like the one you savored on the Champs-Élysées, or in some hidden boulangerie in Champagne, or in the window seat at San Francisco's Tartine bakery. But trust us, the payoff is worth it: laminated dough yields not only croissants, but tons of other delicious Euro-delights such as kouign-amann, danish, pain au chocolat, and tarts stuffed with sweet and savory fillings. Beginning with your first batch, you'll embark on a journey many men and women have attempted, but only some have survived. Will you be among them? We believe you will bejust work carefully, stay calm, and keep your eyes on the delicate, flakey, buttery prize.

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