Cinnamon Croissants Recipe

What on earth could this crazy contraption be?


Something to hold yarn?

A medieval torture device?

Some newfangled pizza slicer?

Super-whisk?

NOPE!

Surprise, surprise! It's a croissant cutter. And for only $4 at my Albuquerque thrift store!

Damn. It's times like this that I wish I had the patience for baking.

*Update*

I made croissants so that I could test this croissant cutter out. I will never make them again! What a pain! I just want to EAT them, not make them!

*Another Update*

You're more patient than me and you have a shiny, new croissant cutter and you want to use it, despite being warned that this is a baking task of the damned? Here you go...

Funny side note: While designing this graphic, I originally had a different background with a bunch of cute lil' croissants lined up in rows. Luckily I zoomed in because they were shrimp.

Mastering the Art of Homemade Croissants with a Croissant Cutter...and Cinnamon Croissants!

Few things rival the aroma and taste of freshly baked croissants. Their flaky, buttery layers seem like an elusive art reserved for skilled bakers, but fear not! With the right techniques and a trusty croissant cutter, crafting these delectable pastries becomes an achievable feat in your own kitchen.

Even better? Add cinnamon! After all, if you're going to go to all the hassle of baking your own croissants from scratch, you may as well create something other than the plain ones they sell at the grocery store.

This is important though. You can't just add cinnamon!

Any time you bake with yeast, the yeast is essential for the dough's rise. Adding cinnamon directly to the dough interferes with the yeast's activity! This is because cinnamon has antimicrobial properties.

Good to know, right? The cinnamon croissants recipe below avoids harming the yeast by not mixing it directly into the dough.

Cinnamon Croissants Recipe

Ingredients:

- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

- ¼ cup granulated sugar

- 1 ½ teaspoons active dry yeast

- ½ cup warm milk

- ½ cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed

- ½ teaspoon salt

- ¼ cup warm water

- ½ cup brown sugar

- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

- Croissant cutter

Steps:

1. Prepare the Dough:

   - Combine warm milk and yeast in a bowl. Let it sit for 5 minutes until frothy.

   - In a separate bowl, mix flour, granulated sugar, and salt.

   - Create a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the yeast mixture.

   - Gradually combine the ingredients to form a dough.

   - Knead the dough on a floured surface for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.

2. Prepare the Cinnamon Swirl:

   - Mix brown sugar and ground cinnamon in a small bowl.

3. Rolling and Shaping:

   - Roll out the dough into a large rectangle.

   - Spread a thin layer of butter across the dough.

   - Evenly sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar mixture over the buttered dough.

4. Croissant Formation:

   - Cut the dough into triangles using your croissant cutter.

   - Starting from the wider end, roll each triangle towards the tip to form croissants.

5. Proofing and Baking:

   - Place the shaped croissants on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

   - Cover loosely and allow them to rise for 1-2 hours until they become puffy.

   - Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).

   - Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.

By incorporating the cinnamon-sugar mixture as a filling rather than directly mixing it into the dough, you'll avoid potential interference with the yeast's activity, ensuring your croissants rise properly while still achieving that delightful cinnamon flavor in every bite.

No croissant cutter but still want to make this recipe? While the specialized tool helps create uniform shapes, cutting triangles with a knife or pizza cutter works as well. Hand-shaping might result in slightly varying sizes, but it won't affect the taste or texture of your homemade cinnamon croissants.