Giving your kitchen a little touch of Switzerland? Look no further; this classic Gipfeli recipe does just that! Gipfeli are delicious pastries and, in fact, a Swiss version of the croissant. It is a quite unique variation of the croissant against its French original with flaky layers of dough and rich butter—just great for breakfast or as an extra treat during your day. In this article, we walk you through a step-by-step Gipfeli recipe to help you make these tasty pastries at home.

What is a Gipfeli?

Gipfeli—this Swiss pastry is quite like the French croissant. The texture and taste differ slightly, though. Both are made of buttery, flaky dough. That said, Gipfeli tends to not be as sweet and usually holds a slightly heavier constitution than its French cousin. It is often served with coffee or, at the latest, with tea. It would definitely fit in well at breakfast or as an afternoon treat.

Zutaten fuer gipfeli recipe

Um das Gipfeli herzustellen, wird die folgende Zutaten benoetigt:

• 500g all-purpose flour
• 250ml warm milk
• 50g sugar
• 10g salt
• 20g fresh yeast or 7g active dry yeast
• 250g unsalted butter, cold
• 1 egg for the egg wash

Step-by-Step Gipfeli Recipe

Step 1: Prepare the Dough

1. Activate the Yeast: In a small bowl, mix the yeast with the warm milk and add a pinch of sugar. Let it sit for about 5 minutes until it froths.
2. Mix Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, and salt. Add the yeast mixture and mix until it forms a dough.
3. Knead Dough: Transfer to a floured surface and knead for about 10 minutes or until smooth and elastic.
4. Rest the Dough: Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover it with a damp cloth, and let it rise in a warm place until it is doubled in size, about an hour or so.

Step 2: Add the Butter

1. Butter in Ready Position: Slice the cold butter into thin pieces and sandwich them between two sheets of parchment paper. Using a rolling pin, flatten the butter into a square, about 1 cm thick.
2. Roll Out the Dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough into a rectangle, about twice the size of the butter square.
3. Cover the Butter: Place the butter in the center of your dough, and fold the edges over the butter to completely cover it.
4. Roll and Fold: Roll out the dough into a big rectangle, then fold it in thirds, similar to a letter. Turn the dough a quarter turn, roll out once more, and fold in thirds. Repeat three times to create flaky layers.

Step 3: Form the Gipfeli

1. Roll Out the Dough: Roll out the dough into a large rectangle about 1/4 inch thick.
2. Cut the Dough: Using a sharp knife or pizza cutter, cut the dough into triangles.
3. Form the Gipfeli: Starting at the base of each triangle, roll it toward the tip to form a crescent.
4. Proof the Pastries: Place the shaped Gipfeli on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cover them with a damp cloth and let them rise for about 30 minutes.

Step 4: Bake the Gipfeli

1. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 200°C.
2. Apply Egg Wash: In a small bowl, beat the egg and paint it lightly over the tops of the Gipfeli so that they shine nice and brown when baked.
3. Backen: Das Blech in den Ofen geben und die Gipfeli 15-20 Minuten backen oder bis sie goldgelb sind.
4. Abkühlen und Servieren: The Gipfeli should be taken out of the oven and allowed to cool on a cooling rack. Warm or at room temperature, serve.

Tips for Perfect Gipfeli

• Kalte Butter: The butter should be cold while you mix it into your dough for flaky layers to form.
• Don’t Rush the Resting Time: The dough needs to rest and rise properly to develop that perfect texture.
• Experiment with Fillings: Although authentic Gipfeli are plain, feel free to try with a dash of chocolate, jam, or even cheese inside before you start rolling up your dough.

Enjoying Your Homemade Gipfeli

The self-satisfaction of baking Gipfeli at home is big in itself; actually, it is a delicious pastry that can be shared with friends and family. Have it for breakfast with a cup of coffee or as an afternoon snack—either way, the homemade Gipfeli would definitely be a winner.

Conclusion

This Gipfeli recipe will teach you how to easily bake those heavenly Swiss pastries from your comfort zone. Only a little bit of patience and practice are needed to indulge in that Switzerland taste at any time you want to enjoy it. So, round up those ingredients and get ready to bake up your own batch of Gipfeli. Enjoy!