Prune Danish Recipes

FLAKY BUTTERY PRUNE DANISHES

Steps:

• In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment combine the warm milk and yeast. Let sit for 15 minutes until the yeast gets foamy and frothy on the top of the milk. Add in the flour, egg and sugar and run the machine for several minutes on low until combined. Cover the bowl with a damp towel and let sit for 10 minutes. Add the salt and run the machine medium for about 10 minutes. The dough will be a bit stiff at this stage as the butter hasn't been added yet. Place the dough in a lightly oiled lidded container and store in the fridge for at least 1 hour or until chilled through.
• Grate your cold butter with a cheese grater and stash in lidded container in the fridge to keep chilled.
• Once the dough is cool to the touch, roll it out to a rectangle about ¼ inch thick on a smooth, clean surface. No need to be perfect. Sprinkle half of the chilled grated butter over the dough and place the remaining butter back in the fridge. Fold the top third of the dough over the middle third and then fold the bottom third over the two layers. Take the open end of the dough and fold it over the middle third; grab the remaining open end and fold it over the two layers. Place the dough back in the lightly oiled, lidded container and place back in the fridge to cool completely. Read note in the blog text titled Freezer Method if you'd like to expedite the time between folds. Otherwise, allow several hours for the dough and butter to chill completely.
• Take the dough from the fridge and place on the counter with the open edge facing you. Roll the dough out to a rectangle about ¼ inch thick. Sprinkle the remaining grated butter; fold like above and place back in the fridge to chill. Follow the same timeline as Turn One.
• Roll the dough out to a rectangle, like Turns One & Two. Make sure that each time you place the dough on the counter with the open edge of the dough packet facing you; this will ensure that you have been 'turning' the dough properly with each roll. You won't add any butter to these turns, but you roll out and fold the dough as you did for Turns One & Two. Let the dough chill for at least several hours or ideally overnight.
• Add the prunes, water, orange zest and juice, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and almond extract to a high-speed blender or food processor and mix until it becomes coarse and jammy. How delicious does this smell? Scoop into a lidded container and store on the counter if you're using the same or in the fridge if longer.
• If using the cream cheese filling, whisk together the cream cheese, sour cream, sugar, egg yolk and almond extract. For an especially smooth filling give it a quick blitz in the blender. Stash in the fridge until ready to use.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the egg yolk and cream. Set aside. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside as well. Bring the jam to room temperature. If it's been refrigerated.
• Take the dough out of the fridge and set on a clean, light floured surface. Lightly flour the rolling pin (you can also use a wine bottle in a pinch) and your hands as well. Roll the dough into a large square about ½ inch thick (don't go thinner). Try to make this the sides as straight as possible; pull the dough a bit at the corners to get crisp angles (as best you can).
• Cut out 12 square pieces of dough of about the equal size. Working quickly, roll each square out to be 4- to 5-square inches; taking care not to roll the dough thinner than ¼ inch thickness. Use additional dough as needed to keep the dough from sticking. Place the squares on the prepared baking sheet, leaving 2-3 inches between each danish. Brush the corners with the egg wash and press the corners towards the middle to seal (see video). Reserve the egg wash for brushing the danishes just prior to baking. Cover with lightly oiled plastic wrap and let sit for about 90 minutes. The danishes will be puffed up and light to the touch.
• Preheat your oven to 400F (200C).
• Press the center of each danish down in the middle, re-securing the edges to the middle. Brush the outer edges of the danish with the remaining egg wash and sprinkle with the sparkling sugar. Place 2 teaspoons of cream cheese filling (if using) in the center of the danish and then top with 2 teaspoons of the prune jam. If just using the prune jam, then just place it in the middle...and consider adding another teaspoon if you're feeling it.
• Bake in the center of the oven for 12-15 minutes and the edges are nicely bronzed; we're talking a nice, George-Hamilton-at-the-start-of-summer bronze. Immediately transfer the danishes to a rack to cool a bit. These are delicious warm, fabulous at room temperature...I can't think of an occasion where they wouldn't be next level amazing? Enjoy friends!
• If you like this recipe, please give it a star rating and let me know how it went and if there are any tips or variations that we can share with others. Have fun!! xo

DANISH - PRUNE FILLING

Steps:

• Put prunes, water and sugar into a saucepan.
• Heat and simmer until prunes are soft, plumped and have absorbed most of the liquid.
• (Can be done in a Microwave).
• Puree in food processor, transfer to a bowl and stir in lemon juice,vanilla and cinnamon Scrape filling into a small container and cool to room temperature.
• Seal container and chill.
• Will keep refrigerated for two weeks.

DANISH PASTRY BRAID

Steps:

• Quick Method Danish Pastry:
• Measure 3 1/2 cups flour into a bowl or work bowl of food processor with steel blade in place. Cut the butter into 1/4-inch slices and add to the flour. Process or cut the butter into the flour until the butter is about the size of kidney beans.
• In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast in the warm water. Let stand 5 minutes. Stir in the cream or milk, cardamom, salt, eggs, and sugar.
• Turn the flour-butter mixture into the liquid ingredients, and with a rubber spatula mix carefully just until the dry ingredients are moistened. Cover and refrigerate 4 hours, overnight, or up to 4 days.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured board; dust with flour. Pound and flatten to make a 16- to 20-inch rectangle. Fold into thirds, making 3 layers. Turn dough around and roll out again. Fold from the short sides into thirds. This should result in a perfect square. Repeat folding and rolling again if you wish.
• Wrap and chill the dough 30 minutes or as long as overnight.
• To make the Danish Pastry Braid:
• Cover two baking sheets with parchment paper or lightly grease and flour them.
• Divide the chilled dough into 2 parts. Roll each part out to make a rectangle 12 by 6 inches. Place these strips on the prepared baking sheets.
• To make the filling, cream the butter and sugar until light. Blend in the almond extract, almonds, almond paste, and egg white.
• Spread filling down the length of the center of the strips. Cut slanting strips at 3/4-inch intervals along both sides up toward the center using a pastry wheel. Fold strips over the filling in a crisscross manner
• Preheat the oven to 400ºF.
• Let strips rise for 15 to 30 minutes, just until the pastry strips look puffy; they will not double.
• To make a glaze, beat the egg with the milk or water. Brush the pastry lightly with it. Sprinkle the sugar and/or sliced almonds over the top.
• Bake about 15 minutes or until golden.
• Frost, if desired, with almond-water icing. Blend the sugar, water, and almond extract until smooth and thin enough to drizzle over the braids.

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.

PUFF PASTRY DANISHES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°. Beat first 4 ingredients until smooth; beat in 1 egg yolk., Mix water and remaining egg yolk. On a lightly floured surface, unfold each sheet of puff pastry; roll into a 12-in. square. Cut each into nine 4-in. squares; transfer to parchment-lined baking sheets., Top each square with 1 tablespoon cream cheese mixture and 1 rounded teaspoon jam. Bring 2 opposite corners of pastry over filling, sealing with yolk mixture. Brush tops with remaining yolk mixture., Bake until golden brown, 14-16 minutes. Serve warm. Refrigerate leftovers.

PRUNE-FILLED DANISH

Steps:

• In a saucepan, bring plums and water to a boil. Cover; remove from the heat and let stand 10 minutes. Drain; reserving juice. , Unroll one tube of rolls and press into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan. Spread with half of the frosting. Cover with plums. Combine 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon reserved plum juice; drizzle over plums. , Roll out remaining rolls into a 13-in. x 9-in. rectangle. Place over plums. Combine remaining frosting and butter with 1 tablespoon plum juice. Carefully spread over dough. , Bake at 375° for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 10 minutes. Combine confectioners' sugar with 1-2 tablespoons plum juice; drizzle over cake. (Discard remaining plum juice).

PRUNE DANISH

Steps:

• Roll pastry on floured surface to 2 20 inch x 15 inch rectangles. Trim edges evenly. With a sharp knife cut into 12 5 inch squares. Spoon a rounded tablepoon prune filling onto center of each square; bring 2 opposite corners over filling to overlap about 1 inch. Place on cookie sheets 2 inches apart. Let rise in a warm place until double in bulk, about 30 minutes. Brush with beaten egg. Place in hot oven (400?f); lower heat immediately to 350?f, then bake for 20 minutes. Warm corn syrup slightly in small saucepan; brush over pastries; bake 5 minutes more. Remove to wire rack; cool. You may substitute cherry or apple pie filling, or apricot preserves for the prune filling.

DANISH APPLE AND PRUNE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and butter a 10-inch round cake pan.
• Cream together the butter, sugar, eggs, flour, almonds, milk, vanilla, boiling water and baking powder in a food processor, running it for 10 seconds. Run a spatula round the bowl and process for 5 seconds more. Pour into the prepared pan.
• Scatter the prunes evenly on the batter. Spoon over walnut and sugar mixture. Arrange the apple slices on top of the walnuts. Bake for 45 minutes.
• Sprinkle the surface with sugar and cinnamon. Dot with butter and bake for 20 to 25 minutes more, or until a skewer comes out clean. Cool in the tin.

DANISH DOUGH

Steps:

• In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the water, milk, vanilla and yeast together. With the mixer fitted with a dough hook, on low, beat the mixture for about 4 minutes to dissolve the yeast. Sift the sugar, salt, flour and cardamom together. Add this mixture and the egg yolk to the yeast mixture. Mix on low speed until it lightly comes together, then increase the speed to medium and beat until the mixture pulls away from the sides of the bowl, forms a ball, and climbs slightly up the dough hook. Remove the dough from the bowl and let rest in the refrigerator for 15 minutes. On a floured surface, place the butter. Lightly dust the top of the butter with flour. Using a rolling pin, lightly pound the butter until flat. Fold the butter in half and continue to pound the butter until the butter is workable. Using your hands, shape the butter into a 8-inch square. Remove the dough from the refrigerator and place on a second floured surface. Roll the dough into a 16 inch square. Place the butter in the center of the dough. Fold the ends of the dough in towards the center, forming a package. Lightly press the ends into the dough, sealing the package completely. Carefully lift the package off of the surface and redust the surface with flour. Lay the package back down on the floured surface. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough out to about a 24-inch rectangle. Fold one end of the dough into the center, then the other end, so that it resembles a letter, and forms a square. (You should have three layers of dough) Place the dough in the refrigerator and allow the dough to rest for 25 minutes. Roll out the dough a second time, forming a rectangle. Repeat the folding process from above two more times, making sure the dough rests between turns. The following directions are for two types of Danish pastries:
• For Cinnamon Rolls: Roll the dough out 1/4 inch thick. Egg wash the dough. Sprinkle the sugar and cinnamon over the egg wash. Starting at the bottom, roll the dough up lengthwise, forming a jelly-roll. Cut the pastry into 1-inch slices. Place the slices, cinnamon and sugar side on a parchment lined baking sheet and let rise for 30 to 40 minutes. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Brush the tops of each pastry with the egg wash and bake for 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to 350 degrees F and continue to bake for 10 minutes or until browned and crisp. Brush the pastries with the glaze and serve warm.
• For Pinwheel: On a floured surface, roll the dough out 1/4 inch thick. Cut the dough into 12 (4-inch) squares. Brush the edges of the dough with the egg wash. Add a spoonful of the cream cheese filling to the center of the square. Place a teaspoon of the jam in the center of the cream cheese. Cut diagonally from each corner to within 3/4 inch of the center. Fold the four alternate points to the center, pressing them down lightly to hold them in place. Place the pastries on a parchment lined baking sheet and let rise for 30 to 40 minutes. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Brush the tops of each pastry with the egg wash and bake for 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to 350 degrees F and continue to bake for 10 minutes or until browned and crisp. Brush the pastries with the glaze and serve warm.
• For Bear Claws: Roll the dough out to 1/4-inch thick. The longer the dough the more claws yielded. Egg wash the entire piece of dough. Spread a thin layer of almond filling horizontally down the center third of the dough. Fold the bottom third of the dough up to cover the filling. Fold the top third of the dough down, like your folding a business letter. Egg wash the dough. Sprinkle with crushed almonds. Cut the dough into 1-inch pieces, crosswise (the shorter end). Make three slashes into the sides of each piece and spread gently into a horse-shoe shape to separate the toes. Proof until dough in size about 15 to 20 minutes. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Bake for 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to 350 degrees F and continue to bake for 10 minutes, or until golden and crispy. Remove from the oven and brush with the apricot glaze and serve.

DANISH DOUGH

Steps:

• In a small bowl, sprinkle the yeast over the warm milk; stir until dissolved. Let sit until foamy, about 5 minutes. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the dough hook, combine 1 pound, 4 ounces flour, sugar, salt, cardamom, and 4 tablespoons butter; beat on low speed until butter is incorporated and the mixture resembles coarse meal, 3 to 4 minutes. Pour in the yeast-milk mixture; mix until dough just comes together. Add the eggs and yolk; mix until just combined, 2 to 3 minutes. Do not overmix.
• Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured work surface, making sure to include any loose bits left at the bottom of the bowl. Gently knead to form a smooth ball, about 30 seconds. Wrap well with plastic, and refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight.
• Paddle remaining 3 1/2 sticks butter with 2 tablespoons flour. Form flour and butter mixture into a 12-by-10-inch rectangle on a sheet of plastic wrap. Refrigerate 15 minutes or up to 1 day. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out dough to an 18-by-10-inch rectangle, a little over a 1/4 inch thick, keeping the corners as square as possible. Remove any excess flour with a dry pastry brush. Remove butter mixture from refrigerator and let stand at room temperature until it reaches the consistency of the dough. With a short side facing you, place butter mixture over 2/3 of the dough. Fold the unbuttered third over as you would a business letter, followed by the remaining third. This seals in the butter.
• Roll out dough again to an 18-by-10-inch rectangle, then fold dough into thirds as described above; refrigerate for 1 hour. This is the first of three turns. Repeat rolling and folding two more times, refrigerating for at least 1 hour between turns. To help you remember how many turns have been completed, mark the dough after each one: make one mark for the first turn, two for the second, and three for the third.
• Refrigerate dough, tightly wrapped in plastic, for at least 4 hours or overnight. Dough can also be frozen, tightly wrapped in plastic, for up to 2 weeks; before using, thaw the dough in the refrigerator overnight.

DANISH ROAST PORK WITH PRUNES (FLASKESTEG MED SVESKER)

Steps:

• Cut deep slits in pork loin and insert prune halves.
• Rub with the salt, pepper, and ginger.
• Roast uncovered in a 325° oven for about 1.5 hours.
• When done, remove from roasting pan.
• Heat pan drippings; stir in the flour, then add the prune juice and water.
• Season with salt and pepper to taste and cook until thickened.
• Stir in the jelly and serve the gravy over the sliced pork.