Croissants with Jam and Nuts

We start by preparing the dough starter, an essential step in making these delights. In a bowl, we mix 25 g of fresh yeast with 200 ml of warm milk, adding 50 g of sugar and 4 tablespoons of flour. This mixture should be homogeneous, and then we let the dough starter rise in a warm place, covered with a clean towel, for about 20-30 minutes. You will notice how the mixture will double in volume, and the aroma of the yeast will fill the kitchen.

During this time, we take care of the butter and eggs. We take 100 g of soft butter and cream it well with 3 egg yolks and a pinch of salt until we obtain a creamy mixture. This combination will give a delicious flavor to our dough. When the dough starter has risen, we add it to the butter and yolk mixture, mixing gently. Now it's time to gradually add flour until we obtain a softer dough. The amount of flour may vary, but generally, we will use around 500 g. The dough should be slightly sticky but not excessively so.

After kneading the dough well, we let it rest for 30 minutes, covered, in a warm place, to develop even more. Once it has risen again, we prepare to shape it. We sprinkle the work surface with flour and roll out the dough into a sheet about 0.5 cm thick. Using a knife or a cutter, we cut equal-sized triangles.

Now comes the creative part! We fill each triangle with apricot jam mixed with ground walnuts or any other preferred filling, such as chocolate or fruit jam. We twist each triangle to form a croissant shape. After we finish shaping all the pieces, we place them on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.

Meanwhile, we preheat the oven to 180°C. If you wish, you can brush each twist with beaten egg for a beautiful golden color at the end, although, as I mentioned, I skipped this step and they are just as delicious. We bake at a moderate heat for 20-25 minutes until they become golden and tender.

After taking them out of the oven, we let them cool slightly, then we can enjoy them. These twists are excellent both warm and at room temperature, making them ideal for a snack, an indulgent breakfast, or even to be served at a festive meal. If you're worried that the dough turned out too hard, remember that adding a small amount of lard can work wonders. These delights are not only attractive but also full of flavor! Enjoy!