Classic Homemade Puff Pastry

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  • February 19, 2026
Breakfast

🥐 Classic Homemade Puff Pastry

Buttery. Flaky. Perfectly layered.

There’s nothing quite like true homemade puff pastry. With delicate, crisp layers and rich buttery flavor, this classic dough is the foundation for croissants, turnovers, tarts, and elegant pastries.

🛒 Ingredients

For the Dough

  • 4 ¼ cups (510g) all-purpose flour

  • 1 ¼ teaspoons salt

  • 4 tablespoons (57g) cold unsalted butter, cubed

  • 1 ¼ cups (300ml) ice-cold water

For the Butter Block

  • 1 ½ cups (396g) cold unsalted butter

  • ¼ cup (60g) all-purpose flour

👩‍🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions

1️⃣ Prepare the Base Dough

In a large bowl, combine flour and salt.
Add the 4 tablespoons of cold butter cubes and lightly rub them into the flour until the mixture looks slightly crumbly.

Gradually pour in ice-cold water while mixing just until a rough dough forms.
⚠️ Do not overmix.

2️⃣ Chill the Dough

Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and shape it into a rectangle.
Wrap tightly and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

3️⃣ Make the Butter Block

In a separate bowl, mix the 396g butter with ¼ cup flour until smooth.
Shape into a flat rectangle about ½ inch thick.
Chill until firm but still pliable.

4️⃣ Enclose the Butter

Roll the chilled dough into a large rectangle about twice the size of the butter block.
Place the butter block in the center.

Fold the dough over the butter like an envelope and seal the edges completely.

5️⃣ Begin the Turns (Lamination Process)

Roll the dough into a long rectangle about ¼ inch thick.
Fold into thirds like a letter.
✅ This is your first turn.

Rotate the dough 90 degrees, roll again, and fold into thirds.
✅ This is your second turn.

Chill for 20–30 minutes.

Repeat the rolling and folding process until you complete 6 total turns, chilling between every two turns.

6️⃣ Final Chill

After the final turn, wrap tightly and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before using.

🔥 Baking

Roll to your desired thickness.
Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 15–20 minutes, or until deeply golden and beautifully puffed.

💡 Pro Tips for Perfect Layers

✨ Keep everything cold — warmth melts the butter and ruins layers.
✨ Lightly flour your surface, but brush off excess before folding.
✨ If butter starts breaking through, chill immediately before continuing.

This puff pastry is perfect for:
🥐 Croissants
🍓 Fruit tarts
🥟 Savory turnovers
🧁 Mille-feuille
🧀 Cheese straws

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