Traditional Butter Croissants
A look at the beautiful, buttery & flaky French delight!Episode Description
Join us as our host Dan DaRocha and Chris Houle, an experienced baker and sales consultant at Erika Record Baking Equipment discuss the method for producing a “Traditional Butter Croissant.” This includes exploring the butter block, shaping and more!
Metric Recipe
Milk
2.942 kg
Bread Flour
4.599 kg
Yeast (Dry)
112g
Sugar
447g
Salt
112g
Butter
Softened for mixture into dough 559g
Standard Recipe
Milk
6.49 lb.
Bread Flour
10.14 lb.
Yeast (Dry)
.25 lb.
Sugar
.99 lb.
Salt
.25 lb.
Butter
Softened for mixture into dough 1.23 lb.
Butter
Reserved for butter block 2.551 kg
Butter
Reserved for butter block 5.62 lb.
Methodology
Mixing
This is a straight mix, add all your ingredients into a Spiral Mixer and mix for 4 minutes on low and 2 minutes on high. Reserve butter that has been scaled for your butter block. You will need this later!
Retarding
For our recipe, we have elected to refrigerate overnight. This will help cool down the dough and allow the glutens to relax.
Butter Block
Mix the butter that was reserved for the butter block with a Planetary Mixer until pliable. Once pliable, form butter into a flat block like shape between two layers of parchment paper. Refrigerate your newly formed butter block for approximately 1/2 hour until firm. The consistency should still be somewhat pliable.
Locking Butter Block
In our video we opted to use a manual method for locking the butter into the dough. You will want to make sure that your dough completely envelops the butter block. Be sure to overlap dough pieces so that a seam is made.
Laminating & Folding
Generally speaking, croissant dough must be laminated and folded three times. We opted to laminate once, then fold our dough and laminate a second time. We then refrigerated the dough for one hour and proceeded to laminate and fold the dough again. After the third fold, a final retarding phase is required.
Final Retarding Phase
As previously mentioned, after the third fold a final retarding phase is required. We opted to refrigerate our dough for one hour, however you can opt to refrigerate even longer – up to overnight.
Cutting
Once the final retarding phase is complete, take your folded piece of dough and perform a final lamination. Once the dough reaches the proper thickness, release the cutting attachment on your sheeter and proceed to cut the dough into triangular shapes.
Shaping
Once cut, take your triangular piece of dough and begin by stretching the dough. Once stretched, place it onto your work station. Proceed to roll into the familiar croissant shape. Optionally, you may also choose to curl/create a curved shape with your newly formed croissant.
Proofing
Allow your newly formed croissant to proof at room temperature for approximately 2 – 3 hours.
Baking
Bake in a preheated convection oven at 350°F for 15 – 20 minutes. Total baking times and temperatures may vary according to your oven, altitude and baking environment.
Cool & Serve
Enjoy your freshly baked croissants. Yields approximately 80, 5 oz. croissants.
About Erika Record Baking Equipment
Erika Record Baking Equipment is the leading manufacturer and distributor of retail/commercial bakery equipment. For over 20 years, we have provided our customers with both excellent equipment and outstanding customer service. Our products include: bagel/bread/roll slicers, bread and roll systems, cake slicers, cookie presses, depositors, divider/rounders, mixers, sheeters/makeup tables, ovens, and more! For more information please visit: erikadev.mystagingwebsite.com.
Featured Equipment
If you are interested in any of the equipment depicted in today’s episode of Baker’s Insight, please click below to learn more, or call our sales office at: 800.682.8203.
VIS-R Spiral Mixer
The VIS-R Spiral Mixer is a high quality, reinforced powerhouse perfect for doughs with lower hydration levels. Click here to learn more.
The V-Series Planetary Mixer
The Varmixer V-Series line of Planetary Mixers is finely crafted in Europe and offers an industry leading, robust planetary mixer in a variety of capacities. To learn more, click here.
LAM Reversible Pastry Sheeter
The Tekno Stamap LAM is a versatile machine that can also be coupled with an available cutting station model. Click here to learn more.
Tagliavini Termovent Electric Convection Oven
The Tagliavini Termovent Electric Convection Oven is a high-quality oven designed to provide consistent and even baking. This includes programmable steam injection. This oven also has a variety of available tray capacities and can be purchased with an available proofing cabinet. Click here to learn more.