Tags
baking, bread, breakfast, butter, croissants, Daring Bakers, fancy, French, Julia Child, laminated dough, pastry, yeast
The Daring Bakers go retro this month! Thanks to one of our very talented non-blogging members, Sarah, the Daring Bakers were challenged to make Croissants using a recipe from the Queen of French Cooking, none other than Julia Child!
YUSSS! I’ve been wanting to make croissants for a long time but needed something to get me motivated to do so. This is a perfect example of procrastination paying off: “make puff pastry” has been on my list of things to do before turning 30, but that hadn’t even been enough to make me do it yet. Croissant dough is technically puff pastry with yeast and sugar, by the way, so this totally counts.
Since we were using Julia Child’s recipe, Sarah gave us the link to this video:
One of the things I found interesting is that Julia Child shows how to make croissants starting with homemade dough and frozen bread dough. I didn’t realize using frozen was possible, and may try it for further practice runs.
The process begins with a shaggy mass of dough which then rises for a couple hours. You can skip the rest of the directions and make plain rolls with this.
But that’s not what we’re here for!
A lot of rolling and folding goes down when you’re being Frenchy.
Perhaps the most fun was the beating of the butter. I got some fancy European-style butter for this, then let it know who’s boss.
But then things got kind of messy when I had to add the butter to the dough. I don’t think it was melting, just had a tendency to smoosh itself out at the ends.
Either way, I stopped taking so many pictures at this point because I got worried. The next day I finally got to dividing the dough and shaping the croissants.
Since it was already the afternoon, I went ahead and froze the unbaked croissants in a covered container, then let them thaw and rise the following morning before baking for breakfast!
So the process wasn’t too difficult, just extremely drawn out. Hello, 57 steps! I made some frumpy-looking croissants with you. They sure were tasty, though.
If anything, they were a little more dense inside than croissants I’ve had in bakeries, so I’ll just need to keep practicing (darn…). A couple of friends want to try baking croissants with me, so that will serve as more motivation!
Thanks so much to Sarah for picking croissants for the challenge! Her very thorough directions with step-by-step photos can be found here. There is also a slideshow of croissants made by the other DBs and they all look way nicer than mine!
And just because I can’t not share this…meet the song that’s been in my head this whole challenge (surprise, surprise):
Wow they look awesome! You definitely got some layers going on in there. I love the first photo of this post.. it makes me want to reach in and grab one and relax with the coffee
Your croissants are gorgeous, Jessica! Great layers, flaky crust, and LOVE the Conchords vid! Really great step by step photos too!
Well I’m impressed they looks so golden brown and flaky on the inside great work and yes I love the “Flight of the Concords” as well <3. Cheers from Audax in Sydney Australia.
Your croissants look so fab and flaky, and who can say no to a bit of FOTC? I love your photos!
Nice results – I’ve been gone way too much and skipped this month’s challenge. Daring Baker fail. Lame me.
For your first time making croissants I think they look amazing. They are golden and flaky and they taste good. Well done! Baking these with your friends next time will be a lot of fun. Enjoy.
Wow and Wow!!! I am so scared to make croissants and just don’t have the time or energy right now. I am glad you hit your mark and were able to cross this off your list. They look lovely and I am sure tasted even better. Great photos! Maybe some day I will be up to the challenge.
Your croissants look wonderful! Great job! And making puff pastry is only slightly harder than making croissants, so you could totally do it! :)
Beautimus! Mine should be done and posted by the end of the week – hope they turn out as wonderful-looking as yours. ^_^ Also, I am shamed by how neat and tidy you seem to keep everything. /shame
Stephanie – Thanks! They were definitely tasty with coffee.
Lisa – Aww, I hope mine can look as good as yours someday. Yay, Conchords!
Audax – Thanks! I need to check out your post to see how many you made…I saw the first couple batches in the forum and was of course impressed. Glad you love FOTC despite being Australian! ;)
Suz – I can never say no to them…thank you!
Victoria – You’re not allowed to call yourself lame for missing out on a challenge! I’ve missed one DB and two DC challenges myself. This one definitely required you to be in one place for some time.
Paula – Thanks! I’m looking forward to making them again with friends.
Nicole – I was a little nervous, but it really wasn’t that bad! Just take them one step at a time. :)
Jenni – Puff pastry is harder?? Well, when I put that on my list, I didn’t know there was a difference and that croissants were made with yeast. I should have put laminated dough on there instead!
Mary – New kitchen + new roommates = keeping kitchen cleaner than usual! But I do always tidy up as I go along which is ironic because my room is usually a mess. Looking forward to seeing your croissants!
What a kind cat, just hoping to please with croissants and other such chalkboard delights!
Okay, are you ready? You ready? With this video, you have made me dislike fotc a wee bit less. Or, perhaps, a medium bit less. You won me over with French, just like your cat:) Jacques Cousteau, hah!
love the image of them on the baking sheet, but the coffee press wins points too
Flaky, Fresh, Fluffy, Fantastic !!
They look lovely !!
That is seriously impressive. I’m worried if I ever get a handle on croissants, everytime I ask The Hungry One what he wants for Sunday brunch- that will be it….
Emma – That’s my roommate’s rendition of her cat, and his name is Lafitte, so it was only fitting. :) Okay now…you dislike FOTC? I knew you weren’t into them, but there’s a clear difference between the two! I guess I’ll let it pass since this lowered the level of dislike…and I know not everyone likes them. ;)
Wayne – Thanks, I love my little press! It was recalled months ago by IKEA, but the new ones are never in stock and it hasn’t burned or lacerated my hands yet. :P
The Backyard Baker – Fanks! (I had to go along with the alliteration)
Tori – Just go for it, you can do it!
I think they look great! One day I may try to make them from scratch, for not I’ll stick to our organic bakery’s! :-)
Yummy looking flaky croissants, I love your pictures! Great job for this month’s challenge!
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Wholesome Cook – Go for it, they really weren’t as hard as I imagined!
chef_d – Thank you!
They don’t look dense at all to me- they look delicious!
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