Pain au Chocolat (Chocolate-Filled Croissant) Recipe

Pour the water into a bread machine pan; add the flour. Sprinkle the milk powder over the flour. Place the sugar salt and 2 tablespoons of softened butter into the corners of the pan. Make a small indent in the top of the dry ingredients and put the yeast in the indent. Run the bread machine on the basic dough setting.

Meanwhile lay out a sheet of waxed or parchment paper. Shape the remaining 1/2 cup of butter into a 3x5 inch rectangle on the waxed paper; wrap and chill until ready to use.

Remove the butter from the refrigerator and allow to soften while you roll out the dough. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Roll the dough into a 8x12 inch rectangle. Place the butter on half of the dough leaving a 1/2 inch border of dough on 3 sides. Fold the other half of the dough over the butter and press the edges firmly to seal.

Roll the dough out to a 6x14 inch rectangle. Fold the dough in thirds from the long ends as you would fold a business letter. Cover the dough loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 20 minutes.

Remove the dough from the refrigerator. Place it onto a lightly floured surface so that the folded edge faces you. Roll the dough out again into a 6x14 inch rectangle and fold into thirds. Cover with plastic and chill for 20 minutes.

Repeat step 5 chilling for 30 minutes.

In a small bowl beat together the egg yolk and milk; set aside. Grease two baking sheets.

Roll the dough out into a 12x21 inch rectangle. Cut the dough into thirds in both directions to make 9 rectangles. Divide the chocolate among the rectangles. Lightly brush the egg yolk mixture around the edges of each piece. Starting at a short end roll each piece of dough around the chocolate as if you were rolling a cigar. Press the edges together to seal.

Place the pastries onto the prepared baking sheets; cover with greased plastic wrap and allow to rise in a warm place until they have doubled in size about 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).