
Brown Butter Pain au Chocolat
Prep
25 mins
Cook
35 mins
Servings
6
Difficulty
Easy
There's nothing quite like the smell of brown butter and chocolate filling your kitchen on a lazy morning. This is my go to when I want to impress without spending hours in the kitchen. The whole thing comes together in just an hour, which means you can have fresh, bakery quality pastries before lunch. Dark chocolate isn't just delicious, it's packed with antioxidants that make these treats feel a little less indulgent. The nuttiness from the brown butter elevates everything, giving these pain au chocolats a sophisticated flavor that tastes like you've been baking all day. Trust me, once you try this, you'll find yourself making it again and again.
Ella x
Ingredients
- 500all-purpose flour
- 200 gsugar
- 10 gsalt
- 15yeast
- 400 mlmilk
- 100 gbrown butter
- 400 gdark chocolate
- 2eggs
- 25 gunsalted butter
- 100 ggranulated sugar
- 20 glemon zest
Detail level
Instructions
- 1
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, and salt.
Tip: Use a gentle touch to avoid overmixing.
- 2
In a separate bowl, combine yeast, milk, and a pinch of sugar. Let it sit for 5 minutes.
Tip: Make sure the yeast is fully dissolved and frothy.
- 3
Add eggs one by one to the yeast mixture, whisking until fully incorporated.
Tip: Be patient and take your time to ensure smooth blending.
- 4
In a separate saucepan, melt the unsalted butter over medium heat. Continue cooking until it turns a light golden brown.
Tip: Stir occasionally to prevent burning.
- 5
Remove the saucepan from heat and add in browned butter, whisking until smooth.
Tip: Be careful not to burn your hands.
- 6
Gradually pour in granulated sugar while whisking continuously until the mixture reaches 120°C.
Tip: Use caution when handling hot sugar.
- 7
Add flour mixture to the sugar mixture and mix until just combined.
Tip: Avoid overmixing the dough.
- 8
Roll out the dough into a long, thin rectangle.
Tip: Use a rolling pin to achieve an even thickness.
- 9
Spread the dark chocolate mixture evenly over the dough, leaving a 2cm border around the edges.
Tip: Make sure to spread the chocolate evenly to avoid any bare spots.
- 10
Roll the dough into a tight log, cut into 6 equal pieces, and shape each piece into a croissant.
Tip: Use a gentle touch to avoid tearing the dough.
- 11
Place the pain au chocolat on a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving 1cm of space between each pastry.
Tip: Make sure to leave enough space for even baking.
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