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Monday, April 23, 2012

Pains au chocolat


The Pains au chocolat Recipe Fresh pains au chocolat, still warm from the oven and oozing with melted chocolate, make the ultimate weekend breakfast treat.

Ingredients:
1 quantity croissant dough,
see pages 150–151, steps 1–10
7oz (200g) dark chocolate
1 large egg, beaten

Method:
1 Divide the dough into 4 equal pieces and roll each out into a rectangle, about 4 x 16in (10 x 40cm). Cut each piece in half, to give 8 rectangles approximately 4 x 8in (10 x 20cm).

2 Cut the chocolate into 16 even-sized pieces. If you buy two 4oz (115g) bars, they normally divide naturally into 8 pieces each. Mark each piece of pastry along the long edge at one-third and two-thirds.

3 Put a piece of chocolate at the one-third mark, and fold the short end of the dough over it to the two-thirds mark.

4 Now place a second piece of chocolate on top of the folded edge at the two-thirds mark, brush the dough next to it with beaten egg, and fold the other side of the dough into the center, making a three-layered parcel with pieces of chocolate tucked in on either side.

5 Seal all the edges together to prevent the chocolate from oozing out while cooking.

6 Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, place the pastries on it, cover, and leave to rise in a warm place for 1 hour, until puffed up and soft. Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C).

7 Brush the pastries with beaten egg and bake in the oven for 10 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 375°F (190°C).

8 Bake for another 5–10 minutes, or until golden brown. STORE These will keep in an airtight container for 1 day.

Pains au chocolat
Pains au chocolat