Croissants

Croissants are soft, buttery pastries with a crescent shape. They have many flaky layers that crunch when you bite them. Croissants are famous in France, where many people eat them for breakfast. The name 'croissant' means 'crescent' in French.

How Croissants Are Made

Making croissants takes a lot of time and skill. Bakers start with dough made from flour, water, and yeast. Then they fold butter into the dough many times. Each fold creates a new layer. When baked, the butter melts and makes the dough puff up into flaky layers. The outside turns golden brown and crispy.

The Story of Croissants

Croissants may have started in Austria, not France. A legend says bakers in Vienna shaped bread like a crescent to celebrate a win in battle. A queen named Marie Antoinette may have brought them to France in the 1700s. French bakers made them even better with lots of butter. Now they are a symbol of French cooking.

Fun Facts

• A single croissant can have more than 80 layers of dough and butter.
• France celebrates National Croissant Day every year.
• Croissants are often eaten with jam, chocolate, or cheese.

Did You Know?

It can take three days to make a really good croissant from start to finish.