Claire Saffitz's Kouign-Amann¶

Claire Saffitz's Kouign-Amann

Total Time
1 day

Ingredients¶

1 Tbsp (10 g) active dry yeast
0.25 cup (57 g) very warm water (110°–115°)
3 Tbsp (40 g) sugar
1 tsp (5 g) kosher salt
3 cups (400 g) all-purpose flour
2 Tbsp (30 g) European-style butter
0.75 cup (170 g) cold water
12 oz (340 g) chilled unsalted European-style butter (at least 82% fat, cut into pieces)
0.5 cup (100 g) sugar
1 tsp (5 g) kosher salt
2 Tbsp (25 g) sugar
0.25 cup (50 g) sugar
0.25 cup (50 g) sugar
2 Tbsp (30 g) sugar

Cookware¶

1 jumbo muffin cups
1 wire rack

Instructions¶

Step 1¶

Brush a large bowl with butter.

Step 2¶

Whisk active dry yeast (10 g) and very warm water (110°–115°) in another large bowl to dissolve. Let stand until yeast starts to foam, about 5 minutes.

Step 3¶

Add sugar (40 g), kosher salt (5 g), all-purpose flour (400 g), European-style butter (30 g) (at least 82% fat, melted, slightly cooled), and cold water. Mix until a shaggy dough forms.

Step 4¶

Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead, adding flour as needed, until dough is supple, soft, and slightly tacky, about 5 minutes.

Step 5¶

Place dough in prepared bowl and turn to coat with butter. Cover bowl with plastic wrap, place in a warm, draft-free spot, and let dough rise until doubled in size, 1 to 1.5 hours.

Step 6¶

Punch down dough and knead lightly a few times inside bowl. Cover again with plastic wrap and chill in refrigerator until dough is again doubled in size, 45 to 60 minutes.

Step 7¶

Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface and pat into a 6x6" square. Wrap in plastic and chill in freezer until dough is very firm but not frozen, 30 to 35 minutes.

Step 8¶

Beat chilled unsalted European-style butter (at least 82% fat, cut into pieces) (340 g), sugar (100 g), and kosher salt (5 g) with an electric mixer on low speed just until homogeneous and waxy-looking, about 3 minutes.

Step 9¶

Scrape butter mixture onto a large sheet of parchment. Shape into a 12x6" rectangle ¼" thick.

Step 10¶

Neatly wrap up butter, pressing out air. Roll packet gently with a rolling pin to push butter into corners and create an evenly thick rectangle. Chill in refrigerator until firm but pliable, 25 to 30 minutes.

Step 11¶

Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface into a 19x7" rectangle. Place butter block on upper two-thirds of dough, leaving a thin border along top and sides. Fold dough like a letter: Bring lower third of dough up and over lower half of butter. Then fold exposed upper half of butter and dough over lower half. Press edges of dough to seal, enclosing butter.

Step 12¶

Rotate dough package 90° counterclockwise so flap opening is on your right. Roll out dough, dusting with flour as needed, to a 24x8" rectangle about ⅜" thick.

Step 13¶

Fold rectangle into thirds like a letter, bringing lower third up, then upper third down.

Step 14¶

Dust dough lightly with flour, wrap in plastic, and chill in freezer until firm but not frozen, about 30 minutes. Transfer to refrigerator; continue to chill until very firm, about 1 hour longer.

Step 15¶

Place dough on surface so flap opening is on your right. Roll out dough, dusting with flour as needed, to a 24x8" rectangle, about ⅜" thick. Fold into thirds, rotate 90° counterclockwise so flap opening is on your right, and roll out again to a 24x8" rectangle.

Step 16¶

Sprinkle surface of dough with sugar; fold into thirds. Dust lightly with flour, wrap in plastic, and chill in freezer until firm but not frozen, about 30 minutes. Transfer to refrigerator; continue to chill until very firm, about 1 hour longer.

Step 17¶

Place dough on surface so flap opening is on your right. Roll out dough, dusting with flour as needed, to a rectangle slightly larger than 16x12". Trim to 16x12". Cut into 12 squares (you'll want a 4x3 grid). Brush excess flour from dough and surface.

Step 18¶

Lightly coat jumbo muffin cups with nonstick spray.

Step 19¶

Sprinkle squares with a total of sugar (50 g), dividing evenly, and press gently to adhere. Turn over and repeat with another sugar (50 g), pressing gently to adhere. Shake off excess.

Step 20¶

Lift corners of each square and press into the center. Place each in a muffin cup.

Step 21¶

Wrap pans with plastic and chill in refrigerator 8 to 12 hours.

Step 22¶

Preheat oven to 375°F.

Step 23¶

Unwrap pans and sprinkle kouign-amann with remaining sugar (30 g), dividing evenly.

Step 24¶

Bake until pastry is golden brown all over and sugar is deeply caramelized, 25 to 30 minutes.