D’Andrews Croissants 101: Baking at Nashville’s Hidden Gem Bakery

Have you ever wondered how croissants get all those tasty, buttery layers? My curiosity for baking sprouted after watching MANY episodes of The Great British Bake Off and I wanted to learn more! My husband and I researched baking classes in the Nashville area and discovered D’Andrews Bakery and Café. This cozy neighborhood joint offers weekly baking classes ranging from pie crusts to macaroons. We chose the Croissants 101 class ($95.00) to learn about the impressively layered pastry. Continue reading to learn all about our class at D’Andrews, Croissants 101, and all the details about baking at Nashville’s hidden gem bakery!  

Bakery Background

The bakery was founded by Nashville native, David Andrews. He is a seasoned chef who recently moved back home after years of living and working in the culinary mecca of New York City. Everything in the bakery is homemade with care. The pastries are to die for, while the sandwiches and coffee provide delectable fuel for its downtown Nashville patrons.   

Atmosphere

Once we found out about the baking classes, my husband and I dropped by to scope out the bakery. We were greeted with friendly staff and a clean, chic environment. The bakery is a calm oasis in the middle of an otherwise hectic part of the city. There were people on their computers working, and people grabbing lunch after their morning run. It is a place I could see myself frequenting if I lived nearby.

Food

On our first visit, we ordered two sandwiches to share. We got chicken & avocado and turkey & bacon. They were both AMAZING, but the standout was the turkey & bacon! We loved the flavors and the super fresh baked bread. We also got lattes, a chocolate chip cookie, and pain au chocolat. I couldn’t stop raving about the chocolate chip cookie, it was the best I’ve ever had! We enjoyed our coffee and pastry, they were among the finest we’ve had in Nashville.

Our next visit to D’Andrews was for Croissant Making 101! We split a bacon and egg sandwich before the class. We would highly recommend this elevated staple, though they do make it FRESH, so let it cool down a bit before digging in!

We also grabbed a doughnut on our way out of class to try later. Chef David told us that they were one of the most popular items in the bakery, so we had to try one. It was very tasty!  

Class

The class was held in the back of the bakery where all the magic happens. We had four other students with us, which seemed to be at capacity for the space. The class was three hours long, which we learned is not enough time to make a croissant. Croissants can take about four days to make using the bakery’s method. That’s some serious time and love dedicated to these buttery delights! Luckily, Chef David had prepared each step in the days prior so we would be able to see the process all the way through.

Dough

We made the dough together and had a good discussion about yeast. This has been tricky for us as home bakers, getting yeast to cooperate can be tough! It was great to get his advice and the yeast he recommends for each baking endeavor.

Folding and Shaping

The pre-proved dough was ready to go, so we were able to continue the process. We shaped the dough and put it in the fridge. Next, we got the pre-formed dough out of the fridge and started rolling and adding the butter. This process was the most fascinating to me! I loved seeing the rolling and folding of the dough as we added more layers to our pastry.

Once all the folding was complete, we were able to roll the dough out and cut croissant shapes. Each person helped make the cuts and then roll the dough into tiny croissants that were ready to prove. We also cut and rolled a tray of pain au chocolat and stored them with our plain croissants in the prover. 

Finished Product

Chef David pulled out pre-proved trays of croissants and pain au chocolat so we could see the finishing touches. He put both trays in the oven and we waited for our hard-earned treats! Once the baking was done, we got to try fresh out of the oven pastry heaven! =) I’d never had a croissant quite like this before, it was spectacular!

We also go to try fresh baked “Tennessee Twist” (pastry twist with prosciutto and herbed ricotta), which were stellar. He gave everyone boxes to take pastries home and enjoy later. He informed us that our creations that were still proving would be donated to a good cause. It was a win-win for all!   

What’s Included

For the price of the class ($95.00) we received three hours of instruction, detailed printed instructions on croissant making, and fresh-baked pastries to enjoy in class and to take home. The time spent with Chef David was fantastic as we got to pick his brain about being a chef and his path to opening D’Andrews. It was a unique and special experience!    

Conclusion

Overall, the class was a fun way to spend an afternoon. We are huge fans of D’Andrews Bakery & Café, and we loved supporting a locale business. I would highly recommend anyone in Nashville to check out this amazing spot for eats and coffee, you will not be disappointed! Any budding baker (or Great British Bake Off enthusiasts) will enjoy being hands-on by taking a class at D’Andrews and getting a small taste of what it’s like to make something spectacular!

Looking for more Nashville eats? Check out my “Best Places to Eat in Nashville: A Begginers Guide” for some awesome options!      

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