Assorted Individual Danish Recipes

CHOCOLATE AND CHEESE DANISH

Steps:

• Put an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.
• Filling: In a small bowl, mix together the cheeses, egg yolk, flour, sugar, vanilla and salt until smooth. Fold in the chocolate chips. Set aside.
• Cut each sheet of pastry into 4 equal-sized squares. Put 4 pastry squares on each prepared baking sheet. Spoon about 2 to 3 teaspoons of the filling into the center of each piece of pastry. Fold 1 corner of the pastry diagonally over the filling to within 1-inch of the opposite corner. Using a pastry brush, brush the folded-over section lightly with the beaten egg. Fold the opposite corner over the egg-brushed pastry to form an open-ended Danish. Brush the pastry with beaten egg and bake until puffed and golden, about 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool for 5 minutes before serving.

DANISH PASTRY

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, cream together the butter and 2/3 cup of flour. Divide into 2 equal parts, and roll each half between 2 pieces of waxed paper into a 6 x12 inch sheet. Refrigerate.
• In a large bowl, mix together the dry yeast and 3 cups of the remaining flour. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the milk, sugar and salt. Heat to 115 degrees F (43 degrees C), or just warm, but not hot to the touch. Mix the warm milk mixture into the flour and yeast along with the eggs, and lemon and almond extracts. Stir for 3 minutes. Knead in the remaining flour 1/2 cup at a time until the dough is firm and pliable. Set aside to rest until double in size.
• Cut the dough in half, and roll each half out to a 14 inch square. Place one sheet of the cold butter onto each piece of dough, and fold the dough over it like the cover of a book. Seal edges by pressing with fingers. Roll each piece out to a 20x 12 inch rectangle, then fold into thirds by folding the long sides in over the center. Repeat rolling into a large rectangle, and folding into thirds. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
• Remove from the refrigerator one at a time, and roll and fold each piece two more times. Return to the refrigerator to chill again before shaping. If the butter gets too warm, the dough will become difficult to manage.
• To make danishes, roll the dough out to 1/4 inch thickness. The dough can be cut into squares, with a filling placed in the center. Fold 2 of the corners over the center to form a filled diamond shape. Or, fold the piece in half, cut into 1 inch strips, stretch, twist and roll into a spiral. Place a dollop of preserves or other filling in the center. Place danishes on an ungreased baking sheet, and let rise until doubled. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (220 degrees C). Danishes can be brushed with egg white for a shiny finish.
• Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the bottoms are golden brown.

INDIVIDUAL DANISH ASSORTMENT

Steps:

• REMONCE: Cream the butter, sugar (and cinnamon, if added). Keep refrigerated till ready to use. Let soften at room temperature to spreadable consistency before using. (makes 1/2 cup ).
• STREUSEL FILLING: Whisk together the flour and sugar. Drizzle in the melted butter as you mix.(Makes 3/4 cups).
• CHEESE FILLING: Blend the sugar with the softened cream cheese until thoroughly combined. Don't over-beat or aerate. Mix in the yolk and chill until firm.
• GLAZE: Whisk a very small amount of milk into the sugar until all the lumps are gone. Continue to add milk, a few drops at a time, until it ribbons off the whisk (Makes 1/2 cup).
• TO ASSEMBLE PASTRIES: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. On a lightly floured surface, roll each sheet of puff pastry out to a rectangle measuring a little larger than 20x10". Cut into 20 (5-inch) squares.
• TURNOVERS: Spread each with filling of your choice. Using egg wash, brush two edges of each square.Fold over to make triangle shapes.Place on a sheet tray lined with parchment paper. Cut three small diagonal slits in the top of the turnovers.
• Brush lightly with more egg wash and sprinkle with some cinnamon sugar. Bake about 20 minutes or until golden brown.
• DANISH: While still warm, brush lightly with warmed apricot jam. Sprinkle with sliced almonds and then drizzle with glaze.
• PINWHEELS: Sprinkle some cinnamon sugar onto squares. Brush two edges of the square with egg wash. Cut a slit from each corner almost into the center, stopping just short of the center. Fold every other tip into the center, overlapping them, and press firmly.
• Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Press the center down with your finger where the tips overlap. Fill with 1/2 rounded teaspoon jam or filling.
• Brush with egg wash, then sprinkle with some coarse sugar,.Bake about 20 minutes, or until nicely colored.
• ENVELOPES: Turn the square so that a point is at the top. Put and elongated mound of about 2 tablespoons of cheese filling from top to bottom. Egg wash the side corners. Fold one corner over the filling and press firmly. Fold the other end over the top and press very firmly to seal.
• Place on lined baking sheet. Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with sugar and some chopped chocolate. Bake about 20 minutes, or until nicely browned (Or spread with lemon curd and then cheese filling and garnish before baking with toasted sliced almonds.).
• CHEESE POCKETS: Place a rounded tablespoon of cheese filling in the middle of the square. Brush the corners with egg wash. Fold two opposite sides up and press firmly, as in the envelopes above. Bring the bottom corner up and press firmly over the fold. Lastly, bring the top corner up and across the fold and pinch it to seal.
• Egg wash and sprinkle the top with streusel. Bake about 25 minutes, until nicely browned.