Easy Danish Almond Pastries Recipes

DANISH ALMOND PUFF

Steps:

• Place 1 cup of flour in a medium bowl. Mix in butter using a fork or a pastry blender. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of water over, and stir with a fork until dough comes together. Divide into two balls. Pat dough into two long strips on an ungreased baking sheet, about 14 inches long and 3 inches wide. Set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• In a saucepan, combine 1/2 cup of butter and 1 cup of water. Bring to a rolling boil. Add 1 teaspoon of almond extract and remove from the heat. Immediately stir in 1 cup of flour until the mixture pulls away from the sides of the pan. Gradually stir in the eggs until well blended. Divide evenly, and spread over the two crusts on the baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden, about 1 hour. Allow to cool almost to room temperature before frosting.
• To make the frosting, mix together the confectioners' sugar, 1 teaspoon of almond extract and a splash of milk in a small bowl until smooth. Add more milk if necessary to make a pourable glaze. Drizzle over the Danish, and decorate with candy sprinkles if desired.

AUNTIE BARBARA'S YUMMY & EASY DANISH PASTRY.

Steps:

• Take the first 3 ingredients only: 4 ounces butter, 1 cup flour, and 2 tablespoons water; rub the butter into the flour; add the water. You will have a soft and slightly sticky ball.
• Spread this mixture out onto an unbuttered baking tray (cookie sheet) to an approximate 5 to 7 mm thickness.
• This recipe makes one tray size pastry that you cut into slices afterwards, rather than individual pastries that I now understand Americans might be used to.
• Take the second quantity of butter and water: 4 ounces butter, 1 cup water; put into a saucepan and bring to a rolling boil.
• Take off the heat, mix in all the second quantity of flour (1 cup) all at once.
• Stir until you have a smooth ball. I use a whisk for this and the following step as it goes much faster than with a wooden spoon.
• Add the almond essence and all the eggs at once and stir until your mixture is a smooth glossy paste.
• Spread the second mixture evenly over the first mixture.
• Bake at 180 degrees Celsius (350 degrees Fahrenheit) for approximately 45 minutes or until light golden brown and topping is a little bit crisp.
• Cool.
• Glaze with icing. Spread icing over Danish and sprinkle with nuts or other decoration etc. as preferred.