Sourdough Croissants

Step 1

Knead dough. Add everything (except the 1.5 cups butter and the egg yolk) to a stand mixer and allow it to knead until it pulls away from the sides of the bowl and is glossy and stretchy. About 10 minutes on medium/low speed) should do.

Step 2

Transfer the dough to a lightly greased bowl and cover tightly, using a lid, plastic wrap, or beeswax wraps.

Step 3

Allow to sit at room temperature overnight or 8 hours. This is the bulk ferment to get all of those sourdough benefits.

Step 4

Chill the dough for 1 hour so that it is easier to work with.

Step 5

Roll out dough to 10” by 16”.

Step 6

Chill for 4 hours, or overnight.

Step 7

Cut the sticks of butter in about fourths vertically, and lay them out on parchment paper, creating an 8” by 10” rectangle. I like to place the parchment paper onto my work surface and, using a ruler and pencil, make that size of rectangle as a template.

Step 8

Fold the sides of the parchment up around the butter, creating a little 8” by 10” packet. Fold the parchment all around.

Step 9

Using a rolling pin, roll on top of it so that the butter fills the area. You want a 8 by 10 inch rectangle of butter.

Step 10

Chill for 15-30 minutes. You want the butter to be about the same consistency as the dough, not super hard. If it is harder than the dough it will break up as opposed to creating a nice layer between the dough (see troubleshooting). If the dough chills for several hours, and the butter for about 20 minutes, they should be about the same consistency.

Step 11

Peel the butter off of the parchment paper and put the butter in the middle of the dough and fold the sides over so that you basically create an envelope for the butter. Pinch the edges down. You shouldn’t see the butter at all, as it should be entirely encased in the croissant dough.

Step 12

Roll out to 10” by 16” rectangle. If the dough springs back or resists at all, put it in the fridge and allow the gluten to relax a bit. You don’t want to press the butter in too much so that it actually incorporates into the dough. You are trying to create layers!

Step 13

Fold the dough/butter into thirds.

Step 14

Tap the dough with the rolling pin so the butter is pliable yet not melted.

Step 15

Roll out to 10 by 16 again and fold in thirds again. *Big key during the lamination is for the dough to never get too warm. If it does, the butter will just melt into the dough. So at this point, you’ll want to refrigerate for 30 minutes to get it cool again.

Step 16

Roll out 10 by 16 one more time.

Step 17

Fold in thirds one more time (for 3 times total).

Step 18

Put the dough back in the fridge for 4 hours.

Step 19

Roll out the dough into 10 by 20 inch rectangle.

Step 20

Measure every 4” down one long side. Then measure 4” down the other side, starting off set from the 4” on the other side (so that the marks are in the middle of the 4” on the other side).

Step 21

Cut diagonally from a mark on one side to one on the other, to create a triangle.

Step 22

Start at large end and tightly roll.

Step 23

Allow to rise for 2 hours at room temp, or until puffy.

Step 24

Place in the fridge for an hour. This is optional, but I found that they hold their shape better during baking.

Step 25

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Step 26

Brush with egg wash.

Step 27

Bake for 30 minutes until golden.