Flaky Gluten Free Croissants | Gluten Free Recipes | Gluten Free Recipe Box (2024)

Ingredients:

• 1/2 or 1 recipe Gluten-Free Phyllo Dough, chilled
• Plenty of cornstarch (or potato starch, if corn intolerant), for dusting
• 3 large egg yolks (or cream for egg-free)
• 1 Tablespoon water

Instructions:

To Roll the Dough:

1. Generously flour a smooth rolling surface, preferably a marble pastry board (keeps the dough cold and prevents it from softening) with cornstarch. Dust the dough with cornstarch and roll it into an 8 x 16-inch rectangle (If using the full recipe, roll to 8 x 32-inches and fold the top half of the dough down towards you.)

To Cut the Dough:

2. Line one or two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking sheets, depending if you using half or the full recipe.
3. On a well floured rolling surface roll out your dough to about 16 x 9-inches. If you desire, you can trim any uneven pieces off. Wrap any scraps in plastic wrap or store in a ziplock bag and refrigerate them. You will be using them later.

4. Using a pizza cutter, smooth-sided pastry cutter, or a long knife, along with a tape measure or ruler, measure 3-inches from the top-left side, make a notch with the cutter, and using the ruler/tape measure to guide you, cut from the bottom-left corner to the top notch.

5. Next, measure 4-inches from the bottom-left side and cut towards the top corner. Continue this way, alternating from top to bottom until all dough is cut. The ends will be smaller and not be as pretty as the others, but they still make delicious croissants. If making a full recipe, unfold piece and cut in half, making two croissants. You will end up with 7 - 14 triangles, depending upon if you are making a full or half recipe. Two of them will only be 3-inches wide.

6. If needed, using a long spatula (I used a frosting spatula), loosen each triangle from the rolling surface.


To Roll the Croissants:

7. Moisten your hands with a clean wet paper towel or towel. Using the scrap pieces of dough, create a football shape about 1/3-inch of high and about 3/4-inch long. If you roll the scap piece it will add additional layers in the center of the croissant. Place it on the wide edge of the croissant dough, fold a small piece of the triangle over the football and press to make it adhere.

8. Begin to loosely roll the triangle to the tip of the dough. If you roll them too tight, they will not have room to expand. Transfer the rolled dough to your baking sheet with the tip side facing down. Curve the croissant into the traditional croissant shapes or leave straight. Repeat with remaining triangles, spacing them about 2-inches apart.

9. Cover them loosely with plastic wrap and allow them to rise for about 4 hours at room temperature, 75 - 80°F. They will not rise much, but will do so slowly.


To Egg Wash the Croissants:

10. While the croissants are rising, beat the egg yolks with the water, cover and refrigerate until ready to use. (If you desire darker croissants, replace the water with milk, or for even darker croissants, use whipping cream.)
11. Once the croissants have risen for 4 hours, using a pastry brush, baste each croissant with the egg wash. Using a paper towel, absorb any egg wash the drips down to the baking sheet. This will prevent sticking. You won't be able to get it all, but take your time and get as close to the croissants as possible.
12. Allow them to rise 1 more hour.
13. Egg wash them one last time. If you desire slightly darker croissants than pictured above and you are using water in the egg wash, you may brush them a third time.


To Bake the Croissants:

14. During the last hour of rising, place one of your oven racks in the lower third shelf and the other in the upper third. Preheat your oven to 350°F.
15. Bake them for 12 minutes, then rotate the bottom baking sheet to the top and vice versa. When rotating the baking sheets also turn them around. Bake for an additional 10 minutes and until golden brown.

To Cool the Croissants:

16. Using a spatula, immediately transfer the croissants to a wire rack to cool for approximately 45 - 90 minutes. This allows them to dry out, otherwise they may be chewy.