Lemon Danish Recipes

LEMON CHERRY CHEESE DANISH RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375F degrees.
• Top a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
• Add the softened cream cheese, sugar, lemon zest and lemon extract to the bowl of a stand mixer and beat until fully combined and smooth. Stop once to scrape the sides of the bowl with a spatula to make sure the mixture is fully combined.
• Unroll the seamless dough sheet onto the prepared baking sheet.
• Spread the lemon cream cheese filling down the middle of the dough sheet.
• Spread the cherry filling on top of the lemon cream cheese layer. You can use more or less cherry filling, I like using 1 cup so the danish is bursting with cherry filling.
• On each long side of the dough, left and right from the filling, make 2 inch long cuts about 1 inch apart. Check the photo at the end of the recipe.
• Starting at one end of the dough sheet, fold the strips over the filling from one side to the other, if you want on an angle.
• Bake the danish for 15-20 minutes, or until it is golden brown. Check at 15 minutes as it is probably ready.
• Remove the danish from the oven and let it completely cool before icing, around 20 - 30 minutes.
• Lemon Glaze:
• Add the powdered sugar to a medium bowl, add two tablespoons of fresh lemon juice and mix until fully combined with no lumps. If the mixture is too thick add one more tablespoon of lemon juice. I like the glaze on the thicker side, yet pourable, so it will look white and shiny on the danish, not transparent.
• After the danish has cooled, use a fork or spoon to drizzle the lemon icing over the danish.
• Slice the danish and serve!

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.

EASY CHEESE DANISH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
• Place the cream cheese and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and cream them together on low speed until smooth. With the mixer still on low, add the egg yolks, ricotta, vanilla, salt, and lemon zest and mix until just combined. Don't whip!
• Unfold 1 sheet of puff pastry onto a lightly floured board and roll it slightly with a floured rolling pin until it's a 10 by 10-inch square. Cut the sheet into quarters with a sharp knife. Place a heaping tablespoon of cheese filling into the middle of each of the 4 squares. Brush the border of each pastry with egg wash and fold 2 opposite corners to the center, brushing and overlapping the corners of each pastry so they firmly stick together. Brush the top of the pastries with egg wash. Place the pastries on the prepared sheet pan. Repeat with the second sheet of puff pastry and refrigerate the filled Danish for 15 minutes.
• Bake the pastries for about 20 minutes, rotating the pan once during baking, until puffed and brown. Serve warm.

LEMON DANISH PASTRY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200C / 395F / 180C. Line 2 baking trays with baking paper.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to just over 30x40cm (about 12x16 inches). Use a 7.5cm (3 inch) round cookie cutter to cut out as many circles of dough as you can. You can gently re-roll the leftover dough to make more.
• Place the circles of dough onto the baking trays (6-8 on each), then let them rest for about 30 minutes
• Use your fingers to make a dent in the centre of each circle, then brush all over with the egg wash.
• Add about 1 tablespoon of lemon curd to the dent in each pastry.
• Bake for about 18 minutes or until golden, turning the trays after 10 minutes.
• Dust with icing sugar if desired or drizzle over a simple icing.

LEMON DANISH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Unfold pastry sheet. Cut the pastry sheet lengthwise into 6 strips. Repeat with the remaining pastry sheet, making 12 strips in all.
• Twist each pastry strip then fold into a spiral. Place the pastry onto the baking sheet, leaving an inch between each for spreading. Brush the pastry sheet with melted butter.
• Place 1 heaping tablespoon lemon curd into the center of each pastry. Bake for 18 minutes or until the pastries are golden brown.
• Let cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes.
• Place the confectioners' sugar into a small bowl. Whisk in the lemon juice and milk, until the mixture is desired consistency (may need to add a little more milk if icing is too thick). Drizzle over the edges of the danish. Serve immediately.