Learn from us: Tips, Tricks & Trends

Who hasn’t heard of croissants lately? This crescent-shaped bread has become a hit culinary icon of France. Its savoury taste, crispy exterior, and soft interior make the croissant loved by many. It’s not just the unique buttery flavour that’s addictive; croissants are incredibly versatile too! They can be combined with various flavours and fillings, making them even more exciting to enjoy.

From cronut and crombolonis to crookies, croissants continue to innovate and never run out of ideas. Every new variant that appears instantly becomes a hit and creates a buzz on social media. From a business perspective, croissants and their innovations indeed offer tantalising profits.

But, make no mistake! Making croissants can be deceptively tricky. Many people still make mistakes in the process. According to Chef Ernest Auditya from Sinarmas Agribusiness and Food, there are several common mistakes:

• Not resting the dough in the freezer before working it
• Pressing the dough too hard, causing the fat within to break
• Proofing it too much, resulting in a lack of visible air pockets and making it look more like bread
• Over Folding the dough, and
• Baking at the wrong temperature and for too long.

Now, Smart Bakers need not worry anymore. Chef Ernest has some expert tips for making the perfect croissant, guaranteed to be fail-proof!

1. Mix the Dough Until Smooth

Starting with the mixing process, we must stir the dough until it achieves a fully developed consistency so that the product can expand perfectly. The perfectly formed gluten bonds will enhance our product’s rising power.

2. Resting the Dough in the Freezer

The next crucial step is the resting process, or allowing the dough to relax so it doesn’t shrink back when rolled. Generally, this resting process requires at least 2 hours overnight in the freezer.

3. Avoid Excessive Pressure During Lamination

Next, the third step is a bit tricky, which is the lamination process. We need to manage the pressure when rolling the dough. Do not roll too tightly as it can damage the layers within the dough.

Equally important is to pay attention to the number of folds used. Avoid too many folding techniques for croissants because it will create small and tight cavities, making the croissant’s texture similar to bread. Chef Ernest suggests using just 1x double fold and 1x single fold.

4. Proofing at Room Temperature

For proofing or the croissant rising process, it must be done at room temperature only, not too hot as it will melt the fat layers, reducing crispiness and flakiness.

5. Bake at the Correct Temperature

Lastly, many make mistakes in the baking process, where most people use a temperature that is too low, preventing the croissant from properly expanding. Ensure the bottom temperature is higher than the top. This creates better upward force and helps the croissant expand perfectly.

Besides the techniques mentioned above for making croissants, we also need to prepare several things before making croissants, such as a kitchen with controlled temperature, equipment that supports the production process, and high-quality ingredients from FILMA®.

Chef Ernest has a secret recommendation for making the perfect croissant. What’s the secret? Of course, use FILMA® Puff Pastry Shortening! FILMA® Puff Pastry Shortening has a pliable texture, making it easier to shape. From beginners to professional chefs, anyone can make delicious croissants with FILMA® Puff Pastry Shortening.

For an even more perfect result, Chef Ernest also has an additional tip. Use FILMA® Margarine or FILMA® Prestige (Butter Blend Margarine) in your croissant dough. Guaranteed, it will have a more buttery aroma and a crispy exterior, moist interior. FILMA® products are also free of trans fats, making them healthier.

So, still afraid of failing at making croissants? Try creating croissants the FILMA® way! There are plenty of croissant recipes to try on Instagram @filmaprof and @smartplusprof. Of course, using FILMA® products to make your Smart Bakers’ croissants even more delicious and of premium quality.

Get the products here!