Eggless French Croissant & Pain Au Chocolate Recipe

Cooking Directions

• STEP 1.In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, salt, and yeast. Mix well.
• STEP 2.Add cold butter and milk to the dry ingredients. Mix until a dough forms.
• STEP 3.Knead the dough for about 10 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic.
• STEP 4.Cover the dough with a damp cloth and let it rise for 1-2 hours, until doubled in size.
• STEP 5.Roll out the dough into a rectangle and fold it into thirds, like a letter.
• STEP 6.Repeat the rolling and folding process two more times, chilling the dough in between.
• STEP 7.For croissants, roll out the dough into a large triangle and cut it into smaller triangles.
• STEP 8.Roll each triangle tightly, starting from the wide end, and shape it into a crescent.
• STEP 9.For pain au chocolate, cut the dough into rectangles and place a piece of chocolate at one end.
• STEP 10.Roll the dough tightly, enclosing the chocolate inside.
• STEP 11.Place the shaped pastries on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
• STEP 12.Cover and let them rise for another 1-2 hours, until puffed up.
• STEP 13.Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F).
• STEP 14.Brush the pastries with milk or melted butter for a golden crust.
• STEP 15.Bake for 15-20 minutes, until the croissants and pain au chocolate are golden brown.
• STEP 16.Allow them to cool slightly before serving. Enjoy warm or at room temperature.

Cooking Tips

• Make sure the butter is cold and firm to achieve flaky layers.
• Chilling the dough between each rolling and folding step helps create distinct layers.
• For a richer flavor, use high-quality chocolate for the pain au chocolate filling.
• You can freeze the shaped pastries before the final rise. Just thaw and let them rise before baking.
• Serve the croissants and pain au chocolate with a dusting of powdered sugar, if desired.

Storage and Serving

• Store the leftover pastries in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
• To reheat, place them in a preheated oven at 180°C (350°F) for a few minutes.
• Serve the croissants and pain au chocolate as a delicious breakfast or a sweet treat with coffee or tea.