Prep 40min (+ overnight proving and 30min chilling time)Bake 25minMakes 8

At their best warm from the oven, these classic French pastries are based on the same pastry as a croissant, known as a leavened puff pastry (basically a puff pastry with yeast). These pain au chocolat uses a cheat’s pastry of sorts and gives a similar, less refined, result as the traditionally-made pastry, without the hassle of having to interleave the butter with the pastry dough as you fold it. The light sprinkling of sea salt flakes adds a surprising yet pleasant contrast to the sweetness of the chocolate centre.

Ingredients

125ml (½ cup/4fl oz) lukewarm milk
2 teaspoons (7g/¼oz 1 sachet) instant dried yeast
250g (1⅔ cups/9oz) bread flour (see Baker's Tips), plus extra to dust
185g (6½oz) chilled butter, cut into 2cm cubes
1 egg, at room temperature, lightly whisked,
2 tablespoons caster sugar
125g 4½oz) good-quality dark chocolate, chopped
1 extra egg, lightly whisked with 2 teaspoons milk, to glaze
Sea salt flakes (optional), to sprinkle
Icing sugar (optional), to dust

Method

1. Put the milk in a medium bowl, sprinkle the yeast over the top and stir with a fork. Set aside for 5 minutes.
2. Put the flour and butter into the bowl of a food processor and use the pulse button to process until the butter is cut into rough 1cm/½in pieces (make sure you don’t process any further). Transfer to a large bowl.
3. Add the egg and sugar to the milk mixture and stir to combine. Add to the flour and butter mixture and use a wooden spoon and then your hands to mix until it is just combined and a soft dough forms. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place in the fridge overnight.
4. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and bring together with your hands. Knead briefly or until just smooth but the butter pieces are still visible. Shape into a rectangle and then use a lightly floured rolling pin to roll out until about 25cmx40cm/10inx16in, keeping the edges as straight as possible. With a long side nearest to you, fold the right third of the dough in to cover the centre third and then fold the left side in also. Turn the dough clockwise a quarter turn. Fold the dough into thirds as before to make a small rectangle.
5. Flip the dough over on the bench so that the open edge is now underneath and repeat the rolling and folding process again as in step 4. You will finish with a small rectangle. Wrap well in plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes.
6. Preheat the oven to 190°C/375°F (170°C/340°F fan forced). Line a large baking tray with non-stick baking paper.
7. Roll out the pastry with a lightly floured rolling pin on a lightly floured surface to a 30cm/12in square, about 5mm/¼in thick. Cut in half to make two 15cmx30cm/6inx12in rectangles, and then cut each into quarters so you end up with eight 7.5cmx15cm/3inx6in rectangles. Divide the chocolate evenly between the rectangles, placing it across the shorter end of each. Starting from the short end with the chocolate, roll the dough around the chocolate to form a roll. Place on the lined tray, seam-side down, and flatten slightly with the palm of your hand. Cover loosely with a slightly damp tea towel and set aside in a warm, draught-free place for 15 minutes or until the pastry has risen slightly and is ‘puffy’.
8. Brush the pastries lightly with the egg and milk glaze and sprinkle with a little sea salt flakes, if desired. Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes or until the pastry is golden, crisp and cooked through. Serve warm or at room temperature sprinkled with icing sugar, if desired.

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Photography by Alan Benson.