• Brod & Taylor High Capacity Baking Scale or Precision Kitchen Scale
• Mixing bowls
• Standing mixer (optional)
• Plastic wrap
• 12" Compact Dough Sheeter
• Ruler
• Rolling pin
• Heavy plastic sheet or parchment paper

• Bench knife
• Thermometer (optional)
• Pastry brush
• Knife or pastry wheel
• Two ¼ sheet baking pans (9 x 13” / 23 x 33 cm)
• Brod & Taylor Folding Proofer
• Cooling rack

Degas the dough & freeze.
The next morning, remove the dough from the refrigerator. Unwrap and degas by pressing the dough into a roughly 6” x 7” (15 x 18 cm) rectangle to expel any gas bubbles. Rewrap the dough and place it in the freezer for about 15 minutes. This brief period in the freezer will help to ensure the dough and butter are at a similar texture when the butter is locked in. While the dough is chilling, make the butter block.

Degassing the dough

Make the butter block.
Remove the butter from the refrigerator. Mark a 5.5” x 6.5” (14 x 16 cm) rectangle in the middle of a piece of parchment paper or heavy plastic wrap and then flip over so the marked side is facedown. (This will prevent any transfer to the butter.) Place the butter in the center of the marked rectangle. Fold the parchment or plastic over to completely encase the butter.  

Making the butter block

Using a rolling pin, gently tap the butter to begin to soften it. The butter should become pliable but not soft and melty. If the butter is too firm, allow it to sit at room temperature for 5 to 10 minutes.

Once pliable, use the rolling pin to gently roll the butter to 5.5” x 6.5” (14 x 16 cm). Try to keep the block as straight and even as possible. If necessary, unwrap the butter and use a bench scraper to straighten and reshape the sides.

Roll out the dough, and lock-in the butter.
To achieve the best results, the dough and butter should be as close in texture as possible when performing the lock-in. Before proceeding with lock-in, check the butter texture. It should be malleable (like clay) but not soft and melty. If the butter seems too soft, place it in the refrigerator for a few minutes before continuing. If the butter seems too cold (it will crack if you attempt to bend it), leave it on the counter for a few minutes. While not required, you may find it helpful to use a thermometer to check the temperature. Your dough temperature should be cooler than your butter temperature.

The ideal working temperature will vary based on the recipe, the room temperature, and the brand of butter. In general, at the time of lock-in, the dough temperature should be around 36 to 41°F (2 to 5°C), and the butter block 53 to 59°F (12 to 15°C).

Remove the dough from the freezer. Place the dough on the sheeter board with the 6" (15 cm) edge running horizontally on the board and the 7" (18 cm) edge running vertically, facing the roller arm. Bring the roller arm up to just above the thickness of the dough and begin passing the dough through the sheeter, decreasing the thickness with each pass until the dough measures 6” x 12” (15 x 30 cm), 7.5 mm thick. Use your hands to straighten out any edges and to make the corners as sharp as possible. Brush off any excess flour from the surface of the dough.

Demonstrating proper butter texture and locking in the butter.

Unwrap the butter block and place it in the center of the dough with the 6.5” (16 cm) sides running vertically. Fold the left and right sides of the dough toward the center to encase the butter in the dough and pinch the edges together to seal. Use a rolling pin to tap along the length of the dough, applying enough pressure so that the rolling pin makes light indentations in the dough. (This will help the butter roll out more evenly.)

First fold
Turn the dough 90 degrees so the seam where the dough meets is now running horizontally. Raise the sheeter roller arm to just above the thickness of the dough and begin passing the dough through the sheeter, decreasing the thickness one step with each pass. As you are rolling, try to use dusting flour sparingly. Use your hands to lift and flip the dough occasionally to help prevent it from sticking to the board. Stop rolling when the dough is 5mm thick and roughly 18” (46 cm) long. If necessary, trim the short ends of the dough just enough to create a straight edge. Brush off excess flour from the surface of the dough.

Turning the dough 90 degrees and rolling out before folding

Perform a double fold. To do so, start from the dough's left edge, measure 5” (13 cm) toward the center, and make a light score just to mark. Take the left side of the dough and bring the edge to meet the mark just made. Brush off excess flour. Take the right side of the dough and fold it in to meet the left edge of the dough. You will now have an off-center seam where to dough edges meet. Next, fold the block of dough in half as if closing a book. Gently press to seal the dough fold together. 

You have now completed the first fold and can directly proceed to the second fold.

Performing a double fold

Second fold
Turn the dough 90 degrees so that the folded edges of the dough are running horizontally on the board and one open side is facing the roller arm. Bring the roller arm up to just above the dough (if the dough block is too thick, gently roll over with a rolling pin until it is able to pass through), and begin to pass the dough through the sheeter, decreasing the thickness with each pass until the dough is 5mm thick and measures about 18" (46 cm) long. If necessary, trim the short ends of the dough just enough to create a straight edge. Brush off excess flour from the surface of the dough.

Perform a double fold just as you did before for the first fold. You have now completed the second fold.

Wrap the dough and rest in the refrigerator for 60 to 90 minutes.

Final Roll.
Remove the dough from the refrigerator and place it on the sheeter board so that long edge faces the roller. Bring the roller arm up to just above the dough (if the dough block is too thick, gently roll over with a rolling pin until it can pass through), and begin to pass the dough through the sheeter. Continue rolling until the dough is 10mm thick and roughly 7” (18 cm) long. Turn the dough 90 degrees, and continue to pass the dough through the sheeter until it is 4mm thick and roughly 18.5" (47 cm) long.

If the dough resists or shrinks back after rolling, wrap it tightly, place it in the refrigerator, and let it rest for 15 to 20 minutes before continuing with rolling.

Final rolling of the croissant dough

Cut the croissants.

Remove the dough from the sheeter and lay it on a counter so the long edge runs horizontally. Recheck the measurements, and if it has shrunken some, using a rolling pin, gently reroll to 18.5" x 7" (47 x 18 cm). Brush off any excess flour on the dough's top and underside. Trim the edges of the dough just enough to have a straight, clean-cut edge. With a sharp knife or pastry roller, cut the rectangle into six 3" x 7" rectangles (7.5 x 17.75 cm).

Cutting the croissant dough

Shape the croissants.

Line or grease two ¼ sheet pans and set aside. Lay a single chocolate baton along the bottom of the short end of one of the rectangles. Roll the dough over once to encase the chocolate. Lay another piece of chocolate down and continue rolling until you reach the end of the dough. Press down gently to flatten a bit. Repeat until all of the croissants have been shaped. Place three croissants, seam side down, per pan.

Shaping croissants

Proof the croissants.
Turn the Folding Proofer on, fill the water tray, and set to 76°F (24°C). Place one tray of croissants in the Proofer, place the accessory shelf in the Proofer, and then place the other tray on the shelf. Let the croissants rise for 2.5 to 4 hours. The croissants will be ready when they have noticeably increased in size, appear light and poofy with visible layers, and wobble when the pan is gently shaken.

Before and after proofing