pain au chocolat
A pain au chocolat is a classic French pastry made from the same layered, buttery, and flaky yeast-leavened dough as a croissant. Inside the golden, crisp layers, you will find one or two sticks of dark chocolate that melt slightly when the pastry is served warm. It is a quintessential breakfast item or afternoon snack, often referred to as a "chocolatine" in the southwestern regions of France. It is generally eaten on the go or with a cup of coffee and is considered a staple of any traditional French bakery.
In conversation
Morning commute
I’m starving, let’s stop at the bakery.
I’m starving, let’s stop at the bakery.
Good idea. I’ll grab a pain au chocolat for the road.
Good idea. I’ll grab a pain au chocolat for the road.
Used as a standard grab-and-go breakfast item.
Ordering at a café
Could I have a black coffee and a pain au chocolat, please?
Could I have a black coffee and a pain au chocolat, please?
Certainly, would you like me to warm that up for you?
Certainly, would you like me to warm that up for you?
Warming the pastry is a common preference to soften the chocolate.
Examples
I bought a fresh pain au chocolat from the bakery this morning.
I bought a fresh pain au chocolat from the bakery this morning.
Nothing beats the smell of a warm pain au chocolat straight out of the oven.
Nothing beats the smell of a warm pain au chocolat straight out of the oven.
The secret to a high-quality pain au chocolat is the lamination of the dough to ensure maximum flakiness.
The secret to a high-quality pain au chocolat is the lamination of the dough to ensure maximum flakiness.
