In order to make proper croissants you typically need 2 days. During the first day you make the dough and keep it in the fridge for at least 12 hours. On the second day you laminate the dough, shape croissants, then proof and bake them.
But if for some reason you need to speed up the process, here is a solution for you: same day croissants using both sourdough starter and yeast as a leavening agent.
Before we begin, here is a small observation and a note – when I was laminating the dough and rolling croissants on a hot summer day, when temperature in my kitchen went up to 27C/80F, I realized I had to move quicker, to prevent butter from melting. Hope that helps some of you!
Below you can find instructions and a video of the whole process.
Starter
- 7g ripe starter
- 35g flour
- 35g water
Night before set your levain:
- mix everything, let ferment for 10-12 hours, until it will reach the peak. For the recipe you’ll need 60g.
Main Dough
- 60g ripe starter (26%)
- 230g bread flour (protein 12-13%) (+ 20-30 g if needed) (100%)
- 74g water (32%)
- 64g milk (28%)
- 34g sugar (15%)
- 5g salt (2%)
- 3g instant yeast (1.3%)
- 11g butter (4.7%)
- 140g roll-in butter (pastry butter with 82% fat or more) (61%)
- Mix water and milk, add yeast.
- Add sourdough starter, sugar and flour.
- Start mixing on medium speed for a couple of minutes, add salt, continue mixing.
- Add soft butter. Continue mixing for 5-6 min. If the dough doesn’t come up together, add 20-30g flour.
- Continue mixing until it comes up together.
- Cover, let it rest for 30 min.
- Preform 2 stretches, 30 minutes apart.
- Cover the dough in a plastic wrap and transfer to freezer for 30 minutes.
- Then move the dough from the freezer to the fridge for 2 hours.
- Meanwhile prepare butter for rolling (about 10cm each side), transfer it to chill in the fridge for 30 min before rolling.
Please note, butter shouldn’t be too cold, or too warm:
- If its cold, then during lamination, it will start to break into pieces
- if its to warm it will melt in between layers
- Remove the dough from the fridge. Roll it as a rectangular, big enough to place the butter block inside. (About 25cm x 15 cm).
- Start rolling by pushing the butter from 1 side to another (lengthwise).
- Cut the edges.
- Fold the dough as a book.
- Turn the dough 90 degrees, and continue rolling lengthwise. Cut the edges, fold it as a letter.
- Cover, transfer it to the fridge for 1 hour.
- Remove from the fridge.
- Roll it in squares with sides about 23-25cm.
- The thickness should be 4-5mm.
- Cut the dough ( the base of croissant has to be 8cm).
- Shape them and cover.
- Let them proof for about 4-5 hours until they double in volume and become jiggly.
- Egg-wash (mix one egg with 2 tbs of water).
- Brush croissants with egg mixture.
- Preheat the oven to 425F.
- Bake croissants 10 minutes at 425F, lower the temperature to 375F and bake for 15 more minutes until golden brown.
Here is the video that provides a visual of the whole process.
Enjoy 🙌
Best chef
Thank you for sharing <3 , To fill them with chocolate is it preferred to add the chocolate before or after baking ?
You can add chocolate during shaping
Imelda, thank you!
Happy to hear your feedback 🙏
Hi, Is it possible to place them in the fridge for a few hours after shaping the croissants and then take them out and let them proof overnight on the counter to bake them for breakfast like in the croissants recipe with only yeast?
Yes!
3-4 hours in fridge, then proof at 19-20C overnight, then bake in the morning
Thank You Natasha. Tried your recipe yesterday. It was successful. Tastes really nice and butter rich 😋
Thank you so much 😊
Hi! Amazing croissants! Is it possible to proof them on the fridge overnight?
Hi! Thank you!
Sure you can leave them in the fridge overnight, and continue proofing in the morning if needed 🙏
I made these and the butter came out while they were in the oven. What did I do wrong?? I used 85% butter fat butter.
Hi!
Usually when butter is leaking, means that you should let the croissants to proof longer.
Ahhh ok! I’m on a mission to try again, thank you! I bought your book and I love it! Thanks again
Was about to sign up for your croissant workshop thinking it was a hybrid class. Just to clarify, the workshop is classic French technique and this is the only hybrid croissant recipe you offer? BTW, also looking for a really good hybrid donut recipe (fried). My sourdough donuts are coming out okay but not what I’m looking for. However, I am in the process of your beginner panettone workshop and super excited! My focaccia is coming out fabulous using your recipe! Thanks so much ~
Hi!
Thank you!
I have yeast method croissant recipe on my website.
And I definitely need to work on hybrid recipe for donuts
Hola que es entrante maduro. O con que se puede sustituir. Gracias
I am starring in the world of bread. Can you explain to me how I do ripe starter? Thank you
You feed the starter and let it rise. When it is at its peak that is when it is ripe.
Yes, correct
Hi,
I would love to know when it is right to freeze the croissant. Is it after creating a shape? (This means that I skip proof hours).
When taken out of the freezer – what is the correct way to bake the croissants? Do you thaw overnight in the refrigerator and then let it rise outside for a few hours? I would appreciate guidance. Thanks
Hi there! Freezing croissants can be a great way to have freshly baked pastries whenever you want. You can freeze croissants after shaping them but before the final proofing stage. When you’re ready to bake them, you can thaw the croissants overnight in the refrigerator to slowly bring them to room temperature. Then, let them proof at room temperature for a few hours until they have doubled in size before baking them. This method will help maintain the flakiness and texture