Best 3 French Crescent Rolls Recipes

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Indulge in the delectable world of French crescent rolls, a symbol of French patisserie renowned for their delicate, flaky layers and distinctive crescent shape. These buttery and airy pastries are a delightful treat, perfect for breakfast, brunch, or as an accompaniment to your favorite soup or stew. Discover two irresistible recipes in this article: the classic French crescent rolls and a delightful variation filled with almond frangipane. With step-by-step instructions and helpful tips, you'll be able to master the art of creating these luscious pastries, impressing your family and friends with your newfound baking skills.

Here are our top 3 tried and tested recipes!

TRADITIONAL LAYERED FRENCH CROISSANTS



Traditional Layered French Croissants image

Crisp buttery outer layers and a soft, delicate interior make these delectable croissants melt in your mouth.

Provided by moeagaru

Categories     Bread     Yeast Bread Recipes

Time P1DT6h45m

Yield 24

Number Of Ingredients 11

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 ½ cups unsalted butter, at room temperature
4 cups all-purpose flour, divided
½ teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons sugar
2 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast
¼ cup lukewarm water
1 cup milk
½ cup heavy cream
1 egg
1 tablespoon water

Steps:

  • Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of flour over the butter and mix it together with your hands in a mixing bowl or on a work surface. Transfer the butter to a length of foil or parchment paper and pat it into a 6 inch square. Fold up the foil to make a packet and refrigerate until chilled, about 2 hours.
  • Combine 2 cups of the flour with the salt and sugar in a mixing bowl. Dissolve the yeast in the lukewarm water (100 degrees F/38 degrees C) and set aside until frothy, about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, warm the milk and the heavy cream to lukewarm. Add the yeast, milk, and cream to the flour mixture and stir well. The dough will have a batter-like consistency.
  • Stir in the remaining 2 cups of flour 1/4 cup at a time to form a soft dough. It should no longer be sticky. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured work surface and knead until smooth, about 5 minutes. Place the dough in a mixing bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
  • To begin the rolling and folding process, both the butter and the dough should be at a cool room temperature. [See Cook's Note.] Place the dough on a floured surface and roll it into a 10-inch square. Set the block of butter diagonally on the square dough. Bring each point of dough to the center of the butter square; the edges of the dough should overlap. Pinch the edges together to seal.
  • Starting from the center of the square and working outward, use a rolling pin to roll the dough out into a rectangle. The butter should be pliable enough to roll smoothly with the dough; if it's too soft and starts to ooze out the corners, wrap the dough in plastic and refrigerate before proceeding. Roll the dough into a long rectangle, approximately 8 by 18 inches. Fold the length of dough into thirds, like a business letter.
  • If the dough is still cool, you can continue with another fold. Otherwise, wrap it in plastic and refrigerate for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Remove the dough from the refrigerator and let it warm up for about 10 minutes before you begin rolling it out again.
  • Position the dough so that the open ends are at 12 and 6 o'clock. Roll the dough into a rectangle, working from the center of the dough and pressing outwards. Reposition the dough as necessary to fit your work space. You should have a long rectangle for the "book fold." Fold both ends of the dough into the middle; the ends don't have to be touching, but should be close. Fold the already-folded dough in half; it will look like a thick book. Wrap the dough well with plastic and refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours.
  • Remove the dough from the refrigerator and let it rest at room temperature for about 20 minutes. Roll the dough into a rectangle again and fold it into thirds, like a business letter. Wrap it in plastic and refrigerate for 4-6 hours or overnight.
  • To shape the croissants, roll the dough into a 10- by 38-inch rectangle on a lightly floured work surface. It should be about 1/4 inch thick. Use a pizza wheel or sharp paring knife to trim the edges of the dough. Divide the rectangle in half so that you have two 5-inch wide strips of dough. Use a clean yardstick to mark each strip into triangles that are 5 inches wide at their bases. Cut the triangles and place them onto parchment-lined baking sheets. Chill for 15 to 20 minutes, if necessary.
  • Starting at the base of the triangle, roll the dough up into a log; the tip of the triangle should be under the body of the croissant to prevent it from unraveling. Bend in the corners to form the traditional crescent shape. Repeat with the remaining dough.
  • Arrange the croissants on the parchment-lined baking sheets and allow to rise until doubled in size, about 1 to 2 hours.
  • Preheat an oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Beat the egg with the tablespoon of water to make the egg wash. Brush the croissants with egg wash and bake in the preheated oven until deep brown, 22 to 25 minutes. Cool on a rack before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 212.5 calories, Carbohydrate 18.8 g, Cholesterol 44.9 mg, Fat 14 g, Fiber 0.7 g, Protein 3.2 g, SaturatedFat 8.7 g, Sodium 139.6 mg, Sugar 2.1 g

CROISSANTS



Croissants image

Authentic French croissants.

Provided by Kate

Categories     Bread     Yeast Bread Recipes

Time 11h15m

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
3 tablespoons warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
1 teaspoon white sugar
1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons white sugar
1 ½ teaspoons salt
⅔ cup warm milk
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
⅔ cup unsalted butter, chilled
1 egg
1 tablespoon water

Steps:

  • Combine yeast, warm water, and 1 teaspoon sugar. Allow to stand until creamy and frothy.
  • Measure flour into a mixing bowl. Dissolve 2 teaspoons sugar and salt in warm milk. Blend into flour along with yeast and oil. Mix well; knead until smooth. Cover, and let rise until over triple in volume, about 3 hours. Deflate gently, and let rise again until doubled, about another 3 hours. Deflate and chill 20 minutes.
  • Massage butter until pliable, but not soft and oily. Pat dough into a 14x8-inch rectangle. Smear butter over top two thirds, leaving 1/4-inch margin all around. Fold unbuttered third over middle third, and buttered top third down over that. Turn 90 degrees, so that folds are to left and right. Roll out to a 14x6-inch rectangle. Fold in three again. Sprinkle lightly with flour, and put dough in a plastic bag. Refrigerate 2 hours. Unwrap, sprinkle with flour, and deflate gently. Roll to a 14x6-inch rectangle, and fold again. Turn 90 degrees, and repeat. Wrap, and chill 2 hours.
  • To shape, roll dough out to a 20x5-inch rectangle. Cut in half crosswise, and chill half while shaping the other half. Roll out to a 15 x 5 inch rectangle. Cut into three 5 x 5 inch squares. Cut each square in half diagonally. Roll each triangle lightly to elongate the point, and make it 7 inches long. Grab the other 2 points, and stretch them out slightly as you roll it up. Place on a baking sheet, curving slightly. Let shaped croissants rise until puffy and light. In a small bowl, beat together egg and 1 tablespoon water. Glaze croissants with egg wash.
  • Bake in a preheated 475 degrees F (245 degrees C) oven for 12 to 15 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 195.5 calories, Carbohydrate 15.8 g, Cholesterol 45.9 mg, Fat 13.4 g, Fiber 0.6 g, Protein 3.1 g, SaturatedFat 7.1 g, Sodium 303.5 mg, Sugar 1.8 g

FRENCH CRESCENT ROLLS



French Crescent Rolls image

Whenever we have rolls and coffee after church, these come along with me. Here on the high plains, we've been raising cattle, wheat and daughters for 30 years. Our two oldest are grown, and our youngest just began college. -Betty Ann Wolery, Joplin, Montana

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Breakfast     Brunch     Desserts

Time 35m

Yield 16 rolls.

Number Of Ingredients 16

1 package (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water (110° to 115°)
3/4 cup warm 2% milk (110° to 115°)
1 large egg, room temperature
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon shortening
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons butter, softened, divided
ICING:
1-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons 2% milk
3 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Steps:

  • Dissolve yeast in warm water. Add milk, egg, sugar, shortening and salt; mix well. Add flour; mix until smooth. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour. , Turn dough onto a floured surface; roll to 1/4-in. thickness. Spread with 1 tablespoon softened butter. Fold corners to the middle and then fold in half. Wrap dough in waxed paper; chill for 30 minutes. Repeat rolling, buttering, folding and chilling steps twice. , Turn dough onto a floured surface; roll into a 34x5-in. rectangle. Cut into 16 triangles; roll up each triangle from wide edge to tip and pinch to seal. Place rolls, tip down, on greased baking sheets and curve to form crescents. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 30 minutes. , Bake at 400° for 10 minutes or until lightly browned. For icing, combine sugar, milk, butter and extracts; spread over warm rolls. Sprinkle with nuts.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 204 calories, Fat 8g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 27mg cholesterol, Sodium 202mg sodium, Carbohydrate 29g carbohydrate (13g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 4g protein.

Tips:

  • Use high-quality ingredients: Using fresh, high-quality ingredients will result in the best-tasting croissants. This includes using real butter, not margarine, and using unbleached all-purpose flour.
  • Laminate the dough correctly: Laminating the dough is the key to creating flaky, light croissants. Be sure to roll the dough out evenly and to fold it into thirds each time.
  • Let the dough rise properly: The dough needs to rise twice before it is baked. The first rise allows the yeast to activate and the dough to double in size. The second rise allows the dough to rise again and become light and fluffy.
  • Bake the croissants at a high temperature: Croissants should be baked at a high temperature so that they rise quickly and develop a golden brown crust.

Conclusion:

French crescent rolls are a delicious and classic breakfast pastry. They are made with a yeast-based dough that is laminated with butter and then rolled and shaped into crescents. Croissants can be filled with a variety of fillings, such as chocolate, cheese, or fruit. They are typically served warm and can be enjoyed on their own or with a cup of coffee or tea.

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