Dominique Ansel's Kouign

Amann Recipe
The pastry master teaches us how to
conquer laminated dough at home. By
Dominique Ansel Jun 10 2019,
1:00pmShareTweet
Taylor Hosking In Entertainment

Photo by Farideh Sadeghin

Servings: 4
Prep time: 15 minutes
Total time: 30 minutes

Ingredients
3 cups + 2 tablespoons|472 grams bread flour
2 tablespoons|12 grams kosher salt
2 cups + 2 tablespoons|364 grams unsalted butter
1 1/2 teaspoons|4 grams instant yeast
nonstick cooking spray
all-purpose flour (for dusting)
1 3/4 cups|360 grams granulated sugar

Directions
1. Combine the bread flour, salt, 1 1/4 cups + 2 1/2
tablespoons water, 1 tablespoon of butter, and the yeast
in a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. Mix on low
speed for 2 minutes to combine. Increase the speed to
medium-high and beat for 10 minutes. When finished, the
dough will be smooth and slightly tacky and will have full
gluten development. Test by stretching it - the dough will
have some elasticity.

2. Lightly grease a medium bowl with nonstick cooking

spray. Transfer the dough to the bowl. Cover loosely with
plastic wrap and proof at room temperature until doubled
in size, about 1 hour.

3. Punch down the dough by folding the edges into the

center, releasing as much of the gas as possible, and turn
it out onto a large sheet of plastic wrap. Using your
palms, press it to form a 10-inch (25-centimeter) square.
Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and place in the freezer for
15 minutes.
4. Flip the dough and return it to the freezer for another
15 minutes so that it chills evenly.

5. While the dough is chilling, draw a 7-inch (18-

centimeter) square on a piece of parchment paper with a
pencil. Flip the parchment over so that the butter won't
come in contact with the pencil marks. Place the
remaining 25 tablespoons|350 grams of butter in the
center of the square and spread it evenly with an offset
spatula to fill the square. Refrigerate the butter until firm
but still pliable, about 20 minutes.

6. Remove the butter from the refrigerator. It should still

be soft enough to bend slightly without cracking. If it is
too firm, lightly beat it with a rolling pin on a lightly
floured work surface until it becomes pliable. Make sure
to press the butter back to its original 7-inch (18-
centimeter) square after working it.

7. Remove the dough from the freezer; make sure it is

very cold throughout. Place the dough on a lightly floured
work surface. Arrange the butter block in the center of
the dough so it looks like a diamond in the center of the
square (rotated 45 degrees, with the corners of the
butter facing the center of the dough sides). Pull the
corners of the dough up and over to the center of the
butter block. Pinch the seams of the dough together to
seal the butter inside. You should have a square slightly
larger than the butter block.
8. With a rolling pin, using steady, even pressure, roll the
dough out from the center so that it triples in length. This
will take several passes. Use extra flour to dust the work
surface to ensure nothing sticks. When finished, you
should have a rectangle about 24 by 10 inches (60 by 25
centimeters) and 1/4-inch (6 millimeters) thick.

9. Place the dough so the longer sides run left to right.

From the right side fold one-third of the dough onto itself,
keeping the edges lined up with each other. From the left
side fold the remaining one-third of dough on top of the
side that has already been folded. Line up all the edges
so that you are left with an even rectangle. The dough is
being folded as if it were a piece of paper going into an
envelope; this is called a "letter fold." Do not rest the
dough and immediately move on to the next fold.

10. Starting with the seam of the dough on the right, roll
out the dough, vertically from top to bottom, to a
rectangle about 24 by 10 inches (60 by 25 centimeters)
and 1/4 inch (6 millimeters) thick. Repeat the letter fold.

11. Immediately roll out the dough again to a rectangle

about 24 by 10 inches (60 by 25 centimeters) and 1/4
inch (6 millimeters) thick. Repeat the letter fold. Wrap the
dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 to 40
minutes to rest.

12. Sprinkle sugar in a thin, even layer on the work

surface (as if you were flouring the work surface, but
using sugar instead). Lay out the dough on the sugar.
Starting with the seam of the dough on the right, roll out
the dough once more, vertically from top to bottom, to a
rectangle about 24 by 10 inches (60 by 25 centimeters)
and 1/4 inch (6 millimeters) thick. Sprinkle a thin, even
layer of sugar on the top. Repeat the letter fold.

13. Sprinkle another thin, even layer of sugar on the work

surface. Place the dough on the sugar. Starting with the
seam on the right, roll out the dough one final time to a
rectangle about 24 by 10 inches (60 by 25 centimeters)
and 1/4 inch (6 millimeters) thick. Sprinkle another thin
layer of sugar on top.

14. Using a chef's knife, cut the dough into 4-inch (10-
centimeter) squares. Each square should weigh about 3
1/2 ounces|100 grams. Sprinkle a little bit more sugar on
the work surface. Fold in the corners of each square to
meet at the center, pushing the center down firmly.
Repeat with the new corners that were formed, again
pushing down firmly in the center.

15. Line a half sheet pan with a silicone baking mat. Spray
lightly with nonstick spray and sprinkle with enough
granulated sugar to just lightly coat it. Place the ring
molds 4 inches (10 centimeters) apart on the pan.

16. Place a square of dough in the center of each ring.

The dough will hang over the edges of the mold. Fold the
excess dough into the center of the DKA and press down
firmly. Proof at room temperature, 15 to 20 minutes.

17. While the DKAs are proofing, place a rack in the

center of the oven and preheat the oven to 365°F for
conventional or 340°F for convection.

18. Bake the DKAs on the center rack for 15 minutes.

Rotate the pan 180° and bake for 15 minutes more. The
DKAs are finished when they turn golden brown and have
about doubled in size.

19. Remove from the oven. Using a pair of stainless-steel

tongs, unmold the DKAs onto a sheet pan while still hot:
Grab the metal rings with the tongs and flip the DKAs
over so the flat side is up. Remove the rings. Let the
DKAs cool completely, still inverted.

Enjoy at room temperature. If you are looking for more

adventure, slice a DKA in half horizontally and add a
scoop of ice cream to make an ice cream sandwich.

DKAs should be consumed within 6 hours of baking.