Name: Easy Croissant Recipe
Prep time: 8 h
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 8 h 20 min
Yield: 16
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 tablespoon active dry yeast; ¼ cup cold water; ¼ cup sugar; 1 tablespoon salt; 1 ½ cups 2% or whole milk; 4 1/2 cups all purpose flour; 2 ½ sticks cold unsalted butter ((20 tablespoons)); honey butter for brushing on after bakes; Optional fillings: chocolate or almond paste

Homemade croissantsthat are flaky, buttery, layered, and delicious. I know some people hear the word “croissant” and run the other way but I’m going to show you how to make this decadent treat with ease.

A close up of croissants on a plate drizzled with chocolate.

Making croissants does require some time, patience, and lots of rolling. It is a labor of love, but one that has a tasty ending. If you have patience and know how to use a rolling pin, you’ll be able to make these at home.

It is worth trying your hand at baking croissants. These have beautiful layers and make any occasion or meal feel a little more fancy. Croissants would be so fun for a baby or bridal shower or just a fun birthday breakfast. You can make a breakfast sandwich out of them, or fill them with mychicken salad!

Top view of three kinds of croissants on a white plate with tea.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This recipe breaks down the traditionally complex process into manageable steps, making it accessible even for beginners.
The results are flaky, buttery croissants that rival those from a bakery.
You can easily customize your croissants with optional fillings like chocolate or almond paste to suit your taste.
The recipe includes a long resting period, allowing you to prepare the dough in advance and bake fresh croissants at your convenience.

Recipe Ingredients

Active dry yeast
2% Milk– Or whole milk
Sugar– Granulated
Flour –All-Purpose
Butter– Unsalted
Honey Butter –For brushing on after bakes
Salt

See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities

How to Make Croissants

Step #1.Mix yeast, water, sugar, salt, milk, and flour. Let rest for 1 hour.

Step #2.Roll dough, add rolled butter, and fold. Repeat twice.

Step #3.Refrigerate for 8 hours. Roll and cut into triangles.

Step #4.Shape croissants, bake at 400°F for 20 minutes, and brush with honey butter.

Recipe FAQs

What are croissants?

Croissants are a French pastry in the shape of a crescent. They are known for their layered, flaky, buttery goodness. In Europe, croissants are served with jam or nutella- not going to complain about that!

What does it mean to laminate dough?

Laminating is a process of alternating thin layers of butter and dough. You fold and roll over and over again. This creates several layers of butter and dough. As the croissants are baking, the butter melts and releases steam which in turn puffs up the thin layers and the results are hundreds of butter filled layers.

What kind of flour is best for croissants?

This recipe calls for all purpose flour which makes it a great candidate for the home cook; no specialty ingredients needed.

What goes well with a croissant?

You can choose to serve your croissant in a sweet or savory way. Some serving ideas include: spreading a thin layer of nutella on, serving with berries and cream or try brie and bacon. So many options. Most of the time though we just eat them as is with a cup of tea or hot chocolate.

A close up of three kinds of croissants on a white plate with tea.

Expert Tips

Ensure thebutter and milk are very cold. This helpscreate the flaky layersin the croissants.
Roll the butter to an even thicknessand make sure it’swell-incorporated during the folding stepsto avoid lumps and ensure even layers.
Don’t rush the resting periods. Letting the dough rest properly, especially the overnight chill, iscrucial for developing flavor and texture.
Bake until the croissants are deep golden brown. Underbaking will result in adoughy texture rather than a flaky, crisp exterior.

two kinds of croissants on a white plate with tea.

How to Serve and Store Croissants

Make a delicious breakfast sandwich out of these croissants witheggs,bacon, orsausagefor a complete breakfast. Or for a sweet treat, drizzlechocolate sauce, jam or honey on top For a savory filling, add myham salad,egg salad, orsmoked salmon.

Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days to maintain freshness or refrigerate for up to 1 week. Freeze in a single layer on a baking sheet, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container and store for up to 2 months. Thaw and reheat in the oven for best results. Reheat in a 350°F oven for 5-10 minutes to restore crispness before serving.