Danish Confectioners Cream Filling Recipes

DANISH PASTRY WITH FILLING VARIATIONS

Steps:

• FOR THE DANISH PASTRY: In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast in the warm water. Add a pinch of sugar and let stand 5 minutes, until the yeast foams. Stir in the remaining sugar, the egg yolks, and whipping cream, then set aside.
• In a large bowl or in the work bowl of a food processor, combine the flour and salt. Cut in the butter until pieces are the size of kidney beans.
• Turn the flour-butter mixture into the bowl with the liquid ingredients. Fold together just until dry ingredients are moistened throughout. Cover and refrigerate overnight or up to 3 days.
• Prepare the filling of your choice (below).
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and dust with flour. Using a rolling pin, pound the dough until it is smooth and about 3/4 inch thick.
• Roll out to a 24-inch square. Fold the dough into thirds to make a long, narrow strip. Cut lengthwise into two parts.
• Working with one part at a time, roll the dough into a rectangle, about 24 by 6 by 1/4 inch.
• Spread half the filling in a 2-inch strip down the length of each dough strip.
• Brush the uncovered edges with egg white and fold over to seal in the filling, making a filled roll 24 inches long and about 3 inches wide.
• Brush the outside of the roll with egg white and press the sugar and sliced almonds on all sides. Repeat with the second half of the dough. Cut filled rolls into 12-inch lengths.
• Lightly grease a baking sheet or cover with parchment paper. Place the rolls on the baking sheet. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 45 minutes; they will not double.
• Preheat the oven to 375°F.
• Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden. Remove from the baking sheet onto a wire rack to cool. Serve warm.
• Makes four 12-inch-long pastries.
• FOR THE APPLE-ALMOND FILLING: In a large bowl, mix the apples, sugar, almonds, and cinnamon.
• FOR THE RAISIN ALMOND FILLING: In a small saucepan bring the water to a boil over medium high heat and add the raisins. Remove from the heat and let stand 5 minutes; DRAIN.
• In a large bowl, cream the butter until soft, then add cardamom, confectioners' sugar, and enough cream to make a smooth, spreadable mixture. Mix in the raisins and almonds.
• FOR THE MARZIPAN FILLING: Crumble the almond paste into a mixing bowl and blend in the almonds, confectioners' sugar, egg white, and almond extract until well mixed. You can do this quickly in the food processor.

DANISH - CONFECTIONERS CREAM FILLING

Steps:

• Whisk half and half, cornstarch and sugar together in a small saucepan.
• Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens slightly.
• Whisk yolk and vanilla together in a small bowl, whisk a little of the hot liquid into yolk mixture to temper.
• Pour yolk mixture into boiled mixture and cook, simmering and stirring for 30 seconds.
• Scrape into bowl and cover with plastic against the surface to prevent skin from forming.
• Chill.
• Can be kept refrigerated for 3 days.

DANISH DELIGHTS - ANY FRUIT, PIE FILLING OR ALMOND

Steps:

• Beat cream cheese, cottage cheese (if using) and sugar until smooth in a mixer. Add egg, lemon peel, lemon juice and vanilla. Beat until well blended.
• If using dried fruit, fold it into the cream cheese mixture. If using fresh fruit, jam or pie filling, hold it aside.
• If using Pillsbury rolls, open crescent rolls. Do not unroll, just slice into 8 pieces. If you made your own, shape into 8 rounds.
• Place on silpat. Press in the center to make a depression for the cream cheese and fruit/filling or jam.
• Place 1/8th of the mixture in the center of each. If using fresh fruit, pie filling or jam, spoon some on top of that in the center of each.
• If using nuts, sprinkle on top now.
• Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.
• Remove fro oven and place on a cooling rack for about 15 minutes.
• Mix butter and confectioners' sugar. Then add milk and mix to make icing.
• Drizzle over each danish.

RASPBERRY DANISH

Steps:

• Whisk together white sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a small saucepan. Stir in 1 cup of the raspberries and cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally and mashing raspberries with a wooden spoon, until raspberries break down and sauce thickens, about 4 minutes. Remove from saucepan to a medium bowl and cool, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, beat cream cheese, 1/4 cup powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon heavy cream, orange zest, cardamom, and almond extract with an electric mixer on medium speed in a medium bowl until smooth, about 1 minute. Cover and chill until ready to use.
• Place 1 puff pastry sheet on a floured piece of parchment paper. Roll into a 12x9-inch rectangle. Cut 10 to 12 (3 inches long and 1 inch thick) diagonal strips on each side, about 1 inch apart, leaving center 3 inches of pastry uncut. Spread 1/2 cup of the cream cheese filling in center (uncut) section of pastry, leaving a 1/2-inch border at the top and bottom. Top with 3 tablespoons of the raspberry mixture, and spread raspberry mixture gently over cream cheese layer. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup raspberries.
• Whisk together egg and water in a small bowl. Brush exposed pastry lightly with egg mixture. Fold strips over filling, alternating each side to resemble a twist or a braid. Fold the bottom ends up to seal the filling inside. Repeat with the remaining sheet of puff pastry and the rest of the filling. Brush outside of each pastry with egg wash.
• Transfer pastries, on parchment, to separate baking sheets. Freeze until pastry is firm, about 1 hour. (To make ahead, wrap Danish in parchment and then plastic wrap; freeze up to 1 month.)
• While pastries freeze, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) with racks in upper and lower third of oven.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown and puffed, rotating position of baking sheets in oven halfway through, 30 to 35 minutes. Cool on baking sheets for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk together remaining 5 tablespoons cream and 3/4 cup powdered sugar in a medium bowl. Drizzle over Danish and sprinkle with sliced almonds.

DANISH BRAID

Steps:

• Danish Dough: Pour water into a large bowl, sprinkle over.
• yeast and let soften for a minute.
• Add milk, egg, sugar and salt.
• Whisk to mix. Set aside.
• Put flour into food processor, add butter and pulse (8-10 times) until butter is cut into pieces 1/2 inch diameter- no smaller.
• Empty contents of food processor into the bowl with the yeast mixture.
• Very gently turn the mixture over with a rubber spatula until the dry ingredients are moistened.
• Butter must remain in discrete pieces.
• Cover bowl and refrigerate overnight (or up to 4 days).
• Lightly flour work surface, turn the dough out and lightly flour the dough.
• Pat into a rough square.
• Note: If at anytime the dough becomes too soft, cover with plastic and chill.
• Roll out to 16" x 16".
• Fold in thirds like a business letter and turn so that the closed fold is on your left.
• Roll again to 10" x 24".
• Fold in thirds again, turn so the closed fold is on your left.
• Roll into a 20" x 20" square.
• Fold the square in thirds and turn so that the closed fold is on your left.
• Roll into a 10" x 20' rectangle, fold in thirds again.
• Wrap dough in plastic and chill at least 30 minutes (up to 2 days).
• Dough can be frozen for 1 month.
• Thaw in refrigerator overnight.
• Danish-almond filling: Put almonds, sugar and butter into food processor.
• Process until almonds are finely ground, scraping bowl as necessary.
• Add almond extract and 2 Tbsp of the beaten egg white.
• Process until mixed.
• Store in airtight container in the refrigerator until needed (up to 1 week).
• Bring to room temperature before using.
• Danish-Berry Jam Filling: Stir berries and sugar together in saucepan.
• Cook on low, stirring until most of the liquid is absorbed and filling is glossy.
• (Can be done in microwave) Stir in lemon juice.
• Scrape filling into a small container and cool to room temperature.
• Seal container and chill.
• Will keep refrigerated for 1 week.
• Danish Braid assembly: Divide Danish dough in half.
• Roll each chilled danish dough half on lightly floured surface to a 10" x 16" rectangle.
• Lift on to a parchment lined half sheet pan.
• Spread some of the fruit filling down the middle third of the dough.
• Top with some of the cream or almond filling.
• Note:you may not need the entire amount of either filling Using a pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut 12- 14 slanting lines down each side angling cuts from the center to the edge and cutting strips about 3/4 inch wide.
• Fold strips of pastry into the center, crisscrossing the filling by alternating strips from each side.
• Lightly press ends to seal and run your hands along the sides of the pastry to straighten.
• Brush with egg white, sprinkle with sugar and almonds.
• Cover with a kitchen towel and let rise at room temperature until it looks and feels puffy.
• About 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Bake in center of oven for 15-20 minutes until golden.
• Cool slightly Stir coffee and powdered sugar together to produce a smooth shiny glaze.
• Spoon glaze into a zip-loc bag, seal top and snip corner with scissors to create a pastry bag.
• Squeeze squiggles of glaze over pastry and allow to set.
• Serve.
• Notes: you can use other Danish fillings as well.
• Such as:.
• Danish- Cream Cheese Filling (recipe #54153).
• Danish-Prune Filling (recipe #54152).
• Danish-Confectioners Cream filling (recipe #54151).
• Danish-Apricot Filling (recipe #54150).