Print

Classic Kouign-Amann Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.8 from 781 reviews

Classic Kouign-Amann is a traditional Breton pastry known for its caramelized, flaky layers of buttery dough and sugar. This recipe combines a simple yeasted dough with a butter block and sugar, resulting in a rich, sweet, and crispy treat perfect for breakfast or dessert.

Ingredients

Scale

Dough

  • 2 1/4 cups (270g) King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
  • 3/4 teaspoon (4g) table salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon (2g) instant yeast
  • 3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon (184g) water, at warm room temperature (75°F)

Butter Block

  • 12 tablespoons (170g) salted butter, cold
  • 1 cup (198g) granulated sugar

Egg Wash

  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten with a pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. Make the dough: In a medium bowl, combine the flour, salt, and instant yeast. Add the warm water and mix using your hands until the dough is uniform but still shaggy, being careful not to overwork it. Cover loosely and let it rise at 75°F until puffy and about 1.5 times its original size, approximately 90 to 120 minutes.
  2. Prepare the parchment for butter block: Fold a 16″ x 12″ sheet of parchment paper to create a 7″ square with flaps on all four sides by first folding one short end toward the center to form a 12″ square, then folding 5″ of the opposite short side down to create a 7″ x 12″ rectangle, and finally folding 2 1/2″ of both long sides inward. Crease folds crisply, then set the parchment aside unfolded.

Notes

  • Use cold salted butter for the butter block for proper lamination and flavor.
  • Ensure water is at warm room temperature (75°F) to activate the yeast without killing it.
  • Handling the dough gently prevents overdevelopment of gluten, ensuring a tender pastry.
  • Prevent your screen from going dark while following the instructions for ease of baking.
  • Classic Kouign-Amann requires precise folding of butter and sugar into the dough to create its signature flaky layers.

Keywords: Kouign-Amann, Breton pastry, caramelized dough, buttery pastry, French dessert, flaky pastry

Find it online: https://ellaeatsdaily.com/classic-kouign-amann-recipe/