
Classic French Croissants
Buttery, flaky, golden croissants made the classic French way — with a laminated dough that creates hundreds of paper-thin layers. This approachable, well-tested recipe breaks the process into manageable stages over two days, so you're never rushed. The result is a bakery-quality croissant with a shattering crust, honeycomb interior, and that unmistakable rich, buttery flavor. Worth every fold.
12 servings · Prep 120 min · Cook 20 min · Total 960 min
Bread
Ingredients
Open in recipe scaler →Main
500 g bread flour plus more for dusting
10 g instant yeast
60 g granulated sugar
10 g fine salt
300 ml whole milk warm (about 75°F / 24°C)
30 g unsalted butter softened, for the dough
280 g European-style unsalted butter cold, at least 82% fat
Egg Wash
1 egg
2 tbsp whole milk
1 pinch fine salt
Equipment
Oven
Stovetop
Stand Mixer
Aluminum Foil
Baking Sheet
Parchment Paper
Mixing Bowl
Skillet
Plastic Wrap
Pizza Cutter
Dough Hook
Wire Rack
Fridge
Rolling Pin
Pastry Brush
Whisk
Knife
Jelly Roll (10x15)
Kitchen Scale
Mixing Bowl (4 Quarts)
Instructions
- In a @[Egg] #[Mixing bowl] or the bowl of a #[Stand mixer], #[Whisk] together the @[Bread flour], @[Instant yeast], @[Sugar], and @[Fine salt]. Make sure the salt and yeast are on opposite sides of the bowl before mixing — salt can inhibit yeast activity if they sit in direct contact.
- Add the @[Milk] and softened @[European-style butter]. Mix with a @[Unsalted butter] hook ^[on low] speed (or by hand) until a shaggy dough forms, then increase ^[to medium-low] and knead for ~[4–5 minutes] until the dough is smooth and just slightly tacky — do not over-develop the gluten. The dough should be pliable but not sticky. If mixing by hand, knead on a lightly @[Bread flour] surface.
- Shape the @[Unsalted butter] into a flat rectangle (about 8x6 inches), wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least ~[1 hour], or up to overnight. Chilling the dough firms it up so it layers evenly with the @[European-style butter] block.
- Place the @[Milk] @[European-style butter] between two sheets of #[Parchment paper]. Using a #[Rolling pin], beat and roll the butter into a flat 7-inch square, about ¼-inch thick. The butter should be pliable but still @[Milk] and firm — it should bend slightly without cracking. If it cracks when you flex it, let it sit at room @[Egg] for ~[2–3 minutes]. If it feels greasy or soft, refrigerate it for ~[10 minutes]. The butter and @[Unsalted butter] must be at similar temperatures for clean lamination.
- On a lightly @[Bread flour] surface, roll the chilled @[Unsalted butter] into a rectangle roughly 10x7 inches. Place the @[European-style butter] block in the center of the dough, oriented like a diamond on the rectangle (rotated 45°). Fold the four flaps of dough over the butter like an envelope, pinching all seams firmly to fully enclose the butter. Press gently with the #[Rolling pin] to seal.
- This is the first fold (a 'letter fold' or 'single turn'): With a seam side down, roll the @[Unsalted butter] package out into a long rectangle, approximately 8x20 inches. Work gently and evenly — if the @[European-style butter] starts to break through, dust lightly with @[Bread flour] and chill for ~[10 minutes]. Fold the dough into thirds like a business letter (bottom third up, top third down). Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for ~[30 minutes].
- Perform the second fold: Remove the @[Unsalted butter] from the fridge. Orient it so the open seam faces right (like a book). Roll again into an 8x20-inch rectangle and fold into thirds again. Wrap and refrigerate for ~[30 minutes]. Repeat this process one more time for a total of 3 letter folds, chilling ~[30 minutes] between each. After the third fold, refrigerate the dough for at least ~[1 hour], or overnight for best results.
- On a lightly @[Bread flour] surface, roll the laminated @[Unsalted butter] into a @[Egg] rectangle approximately 8x24 inches and about ⅛-inch thick. Work quickly and keep the dough @[Milk] — if it starts to resist or shrink back, cover and rest it for ~[10 minutes] before continuing.
- Using a sharp #[Knife] or pizza cutter, trim the edges (this helps the layers open during baking). Cut the @[Unsalted butter] into 12 long triangles: first cut the rectangle in half lengthwise to make two 4x24-inch strips, then cut each strip into 6 triangles with a base of about 4 inches.
- To shape each croissant: hold the wide base of a triangle and gently stretch it to elongate slightly. Make a small ½-inch notch in the center of the base with a #[Knife] — this helps the croissant curve evenly. Starting from the base, roll the triangle tightly toward the tip, applying gentle pressure. Place on a parchment-lined #[Baking sheet] with the tip tucked underneath. Curve the ends slightly inward to form the classic crescent shape. Space croissants at least 3 inches apart.
- #[Whisk] together the @[Egg], @[Milk], and pinch of @[Fine salt] for the egg wash. Brush each croissant lightly with egg wash — avoid letting it drip down the cut sides, which can glue the layers together and prevent them from opening. Reserve the remaining egg wash.
- Proof the croissants at room @[Egg] (ideally ![75–78°F]) for ~[2–3 hours], until they are visibly puffy, jiggle slightly when the #[Pan] is shaken, and you can see the layers when viewed from the side. Do not proof in a @[Milk] #[Oven] — @[European-style butter] must stay intact in the layers. If your kitchen is @[Milk], keep a close eye; if cool, proofing can take up to ~[4 hours].
- Preheat your #[Oven] to ![400°F] with a rack in the center position. Just before baking, apply a second light coat of @[Egg] wash to each croissant for a deep golden, glossy finish.
- Bake for ~[18–20 minutes], until the croissants are a deep, rich amber-brown on top and golden on the sides and bottom. They should feel light when lifted. If they're browning too quickly, tent loosely with foil after the first ~[12 minutes]. Transfer to a #[Wire rack] and let cool for at least ~[15 minutes] before eating — the interior is still setting as they cool.
