What could be more heart-warming than biting into the warm, golden crust of a perfectly-baked croissant? How about finding melted, oozing chocolate inside? Meet the pain au chocolat: the ultimate petit-dejeuner for chocoholics and Francophiles everywhere. These authentic French treats will make a tasty addition to your baking repertoire, and your entire family is sure to love them.
Also known as chocolate croissants, pains au chocolat are made from dough that’s essentially the same as that of a croissant: yeast-leavened layers of buttery, flaky goodness. This is shaped into a rectangular shape instead of a crescent, and filled with a chocolate center that melts during baking and brings extra sweetness to the pastry.
They come premade and frozen, so you can put them in your freezer until you’re ready to bake them in your own kitchen. While they’re still frozen, place them on a baking sheet, egg wash them, and bake them at 400 degree F for 15-20 minutes, until they’re golden, crisp and flaky on the outside. Combine them with a hot black coffee or glass of orange juice for a simple yet scrumptious breakfast, brunch or snack. The French swear by these things, and who better to trust when it comes to sweets and pastries?