Danish Diamonds Recipes

DANISH KNOTS (KRINGLER) LIGHT FLAKY BAKED WHIPPED CREAM COOKIES

Steps:

• Sift flour, sugar, and baking powder together in a bowl. Cut in butter until particles are the size of rice kernels. (I allow butter to slightly soften at room temperature while I gather my ingredients to make cutting it into the flour easier, but it should still be mostly firm).
• In a separate bowl, whip heavy whipping cream until soft peaks form. (Whip it until it is the consistency of whipped cream used for topping a slice of pie).
• Mix in cream with a fork and knead lightly with fingertips until mixture makes a ball.
• Roll a fourth of the dough at a time into a 6 by 4 inch rectangle. Sprinkle crushed loaf sugar over the dough, pressing in lightly. (I use granulated sugar instead of loaf sugar.) Cut into 6 by ¼ inch strips. Form into figure eights or loose knots to resemble pretzels. Place on ungreased parchment paper-lined cookie sheets. (Note: when making pretzel shapes, press the dough down where the strips overlap to make the same thickness as the sides of the cookie for even baking. Otherwise, the sides will cook too quickly leaving the thicker layered of dough still raw).
• Bake at 400F degrees about 12 minutes or until lightly golden. (Because oven temperatures vary, I bake mine for 16 minutes to achieve lightly golden color all over. Watch closely for they burn easily.) Store in an airtight cookie tin at room temperature.

ALMOND DANISH SWIRLS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese, almond extract, and sugar until fluffy. Fold half of the chopped almonds into the cream cheese mixture. Separate 1 can of chilled dough on a board sprinkled with the flour. Firmly press the perforations between 2 triangles on both sides to seal into a rectangle. Press or roll each piece of dough to form a 7 by 4-inch rectangle, and spread each with about 2 tablespoons of the cream cheese filling to within 1/4-inch of the edges. Starting at the short end, roll each rectangle tightly into a cylinder. Repeat with the other can of dough and remaining filling.
• Place on a plate, cover with plastic wrap, and chill until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F while the rolls are chilling.
• Remove from the refrigerator and cut each roll into 4 slices. Place 1/2-inch apart, cut side up, on ungreased baking sheets. In a small bowl, combine the egg white with 1 teaspoon water. Brush over the swirls. Sprinkle with the remaining chopped almonds. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, until light brown.
• While the swirls are baking, combine the glaze ingredients in a small bowl. Cool the swirls for 3 minutes on wire racks placed over a sheet of waxed paper. Drizzle the icing over the warm swirls.
• These are always wonderful, but are best still warm from the oven. Enjoy!

DANISH DIAMONDS

Steps:

• Combine unsalted butter and 1 cup sugar in large bowl. Using wooden spoon, stir mixture until well combined. Whisk eggs and whipping cream in small bowl to blend. Gradually mix egg mixture into butter mixture. Sift flour, baking powder, salt, ground cardamom and ground nutmeg into medium bowl. Add to butter mixture and mix until soft dough forms. Divide dough into 4 pieces. Wrap each dough piece tightly in plastic; flatten each into disk. Refrigerate dough pieces overnight.
• Roll out 1 dough piece on floured work surface to thickness of scant 1/4 inch. Cut dough into 2-inch-wide strips. Cut strips crosswise and diagonally at 3-inch intervals to form diamond shapes. Cut 1 1/2-inch-long lengthwise slit in center of each diamond. Gently push one end of one pastry corner through slit and gently pull end back toward its original position. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Repeat with remaining diamonds. Gather scraps, reroll and cut out additional diamonds. Cover and refrigerate diamonds while rolling and shaping remaining dough disks.
• Pour vegetable oil into heavy deep skillet to depth of 2 inches. Heat to 350°F. Add 5 cookies to oil and fry until puffed and golden brown on both sides, turning once, about 3 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer to paper towels and drain. Repeat frying of remaining cookies in batches.
• Fill large plate with powdered sugar. Roll cookies in powdered sugar to coat. (Cookies can be made 1 week ahead. Store between sheets of waxed paper in air-tight containers at room temperature.)