Homemade Milk-Flavored Croissant
No stand mixer needed, you can make milk-flavored croissants at home—soft, sweet, and absolutely delicious!
0 Comments
Ingredients Needed
1.Bread Flour: With a higher protein content, bread flour forms a strong gluten network that provides structure to the croissants, giving them a chewy texture and fluffy, airy quality.
2.Eggs: Egg wash applied to the surface of the croissants creates a beautiful golden-brown crust during baking, enhancing both the appearance and appetite appeal.
3.Milk: Adds moisture to the dough, making it easier to knead. The lactose in milk undergoes the Maillard reaction during baking, contributing a unique flavor and aroma, and giving the croissants a shiny, glossy finish.
4.Sugar: The source of sweetness in the dough, sugar adds a lovely sweet flavor to the croissants. It also provides nourishment for the yeast, helping the dough rise more effectively, making the croissants light and fluffy.
2.Butter: Imparts a rich, creamy milk flavor to the croissants, improving texture. Butter also helps make the dough soft and smooth, making it easier to handle and shape.
3.Yeast: Essential for fermentation, yeast converts the sugars in the dough into carbon dioxide, causing the dough to rise and the croissants to become soft and airy.
7.Salt: Regulates the fermentation speed, preventing over-fermentation by the yeast, and helps stabilize the rising process. Salt also strengthens the dough, making it more elastic and easier to shape, while enhancing the flavor and balancing out the sweetness.
Essential Tools
Oven:
The key equipment for baking croissants. A top and bottom heat function allows you to adjust the temperature, making it ideal for baking croissants. Choose an oven with moderate power and a larger interior to ensure even heat distribution, which helps avoid over-baking or under-cooking certain areas of the croissants.
Rolling Pin:
Used to roll out the fermented dough into a square shape. Choose a rolling pin of appropriate length with a smooth surface for evenly rolling out the dough and maintaining consistent thickness, which is crucial for shaping later.
Brush:
Used to apply the egg wash on the croissants. A natural bristle brush or silicone brush can work well. A natural bristle brush is soft and applies the egg wash evenly, while a silicone brush is heat-resistant, durable, and easy to clean.
Plastic Wrap:
Used during the dough fermentation process to cover the mixing bowl, helping maintain the dough’s moisture and temperature while preventing the dough’s surface from drying out.
Tips for Kneading the Croissant Dough
Thorough Mixing: After adding all ingredients to the bowl, make sure to mix them thoroughly to avoid lumps of flour or uneven butter distribution.
Kneading to Form Gluten: Continue kneading until the dough can stretch into a tough, thin membrane. This is called the windowpane stage and is crucial for developing gluten. Well-formed gluten ensures that the croissants will be stretchy and chewy, expanding well during fermentation and baking.
Tips for Croissant Dough Fermentation
First Fermentation: Cover the dough with plastic wrap and let it ferment at room temperature for about 1 hour. The dough should expand 2 to 2.5 times its original size. To test, lightly dust your finger with flour and poke the dough. If the hole doesn’t shrink back or collapse, the fermentation is complete.
Second Fermentation: After shaping the croissants, place them on a baking sheet for the second fermentation, which takes about 25 minutes. The croissants should expand to about 1.5 to 2 times their original size and feel light and airy—this indicates proper fermentation.
Fermentation Environment: Keep the fermentation environment warm and humid, ideally around 28–30°C (82–86°F). If the environment is too cool, place the dough in a warm area to help it rise.
INGREDIENTS
MAIN INGREDIENTS
- 200g bread flour (high-protein flour)
- 1 egg
- 80g milk
ACCESSORIES
- 25g sugar
- 20g butter
- 5g yeast
- 2g salt
DIRECTIONS
STEP 1
In a bowl, combine 200g bread flour, 1 egg, 80g milk, 25g sugar, 5g yeast, 20g butter, and 2g salt.
STEP 2
Mix together and knead the dough until it forms a ball.
STEP 3
Cover with plastic wrap and let it rise at room temperature for 1 hour.
STEP 4
Sprinkle some flour on your countertop. Take out the dough and roll it into a square.
STEP 5
Cut the dough into triangles. Starting from the widest edge, roll it up tightly.
STEP 6
Place the rolled croissants on a baking sheet and let them rise for 25 minutes.
STEP 7
Brush the tops with egg wash.
STEP 8
Optionally, sprinkle some sesame seeds on top (you can skip this step if you prefer).
STEP 9
Bake in the oven at 170°C (340°F) for 18 minutes.
STEP 10
Enjoy your soft and sweet croissants!
More Recipes to Try
Crispy and Fluffy Air Fryer Crescent Rolls
Tasty Air Fryer Hash Brown Patties
How to Store Homemade Croissants?
Make sure to store them in an airtight container, freezer bag, or tightly wrapped in foil to prevent them from drying out. These croissants will keep for about 2-3 days at room temperature. In the fridge, they can last up to 1 week.
How to Freeze Homemade Croissants?
To freeze baked croissants, let them cool completely to room temperature.
Place them in an airtight container, freezer bag, or wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil.
Frozen croissants will keep for 1-2 months. To thaw, just leave them at room temperature for about 1 hour.
To freeze unbaked croissants, shape them first, then cover with plastic wrap and place on a baking sheet in the freezer for a few hours until they’re firm.
Once half-frozen, transfer the croissants to a freezer bag or airtight container. They will last for 1-2 months. When ready to bake, place the unbaked croissants on a parchment-lined baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap, and let them rise at room temperature overnight or for about 12 hours before baking.
Recipe Variations
Filling Add-ins:
Before rolling up the croissants, spread a layer of filling on the triangle-shaped dough. For example, you can use chocolate spread, which will melt into a gooey, sweet center when baked. Alternatively, sprinkle some chopped nuts, like almonds or walnuts, to enhance both the flavor and nutritional value.
Spice Flavoring:
Add a dash of vanilla extract, cinnamon powder, or orange zest to the dough while mixing. Vanilla will enhance the aroma, cinnamon will add a warm spiced flavor, and orange zest will bring a fresh citrus note, making the croissants more flavorful and aromatic.
Surface Decoration Variations:
Besides brushing with egg wash and sprinkling sesame seeds, you can brush the croissants with egg wash and then top them with coarse sugar to create a sparkling, crunchy surface. Alternatively, pipe chocolate or caramel sauce on top to form decorative patterns, enhancing both the appearance and flavor.
0 REVIEWS