Croissants are named for their crescent shape. The dough is layered with butter, rolled and folded several times in succession, then rolled into a thin sheet, in a technique called laminating. The process results in a layered, flaky texture, similar to a puff pastry.

Understanding the Context

Known in France as croissants de boulanger, this yeasted dough is layered with butter and given a succession of folds that create the distinctive profile of classic croissants. Light and airy and shatteringly crisp, with a deeply caramelized buttery flavor, these croissants are a labor of love that's absolutely worth the time. This authentic French croissant recipe requires a methodical approach and patience, but the delicious flaky results are totally worth the effort. After years of practice and a life-changing trip to Paris, I’ve perfected this Croissant recipe.

Key Insights

Watch the detailed video tutorial to see how to make these pastries from scratch. With a pastry as technical as croissants, some aspects of the process — gauging the butter temperature, learning how much pressure to apply to the dough while rolling — become easier with... There is really nothing better than a freshly baked croissant. The art of laminating dough takes practice and patience, but once you perfect it, the reward is insanely sweet. This recipe is truly a labor of love that makes perfectly flaky and pillowy pastries every time.

Final Thoughts

A simple yeast dough and high-fat butter are laminated and folded into dozens of paper-thin layers to deliver a signature flaky exterior and a soft, pull-apart interior that no store-bought croissant can touch. This croissant recipe, developed with tips learned directly from a French chef in Paris, gives you a real path to bakery-quality results in your own kitchen. When you pull these from the oven, the outside shatters with a caramelized crispness, and the inside opens into soft, airy layers that smell like warm butter and fresh bread all at once.