Nors Easy Cheese Fruit Danish Braid Recipes

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).

NOR'S EASY CHEESE FRUIT DANISH BRAID

Steps:

• 1. Thaw frozen pastry. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Dust with flour. Preheat oven to 350 degree's.
• 2. Place thawed and unrolled pastry on prepared parchment lined sheet pan.
• 3. Sprinkle flour on pastry. Roll dough to 12 inches long and width of sheet pan.about a 10 x 12 rectangle
• 4. With knife, or pizza cutter. Cut the outside 3rd of dough in to slices about 3/4 - 1 inch wide all the way down each side. Do not cut in to center 1/3 of dough. You leave the center 3rd uncut to spread filling.
• 5. Make cheese filling. Beat cream cheese until smooth. Add in sugar, egg yolk and vanilla and flour. Beat until smooth.
• 6. Spread cheese filling down the center of dough evenly. Top with 1/2 the can of fruit filling if desired. ( i used solo apricot)
• 7. Bring outside strips you cut across filling . One side at a time alternating and crossing over each other until done.
• 8. Beat egg and water with a fork. Brush over entire pastry. Bake at 350 for 50-60 minutes until golden.
• 9. Heat remaing fuit filling in microwave with 2 tablespoons of water until hot. Remove from microwave and stir. Brush over entire hot pastry. You may have some left over. Just save or discard.
• 10. Mix ingredients together for glaze until smooth. Brush glaze over pastry. Sprinkle with nuts if desired. Cool thoroughly before cutting. Enjoy!
• 11. Directions for optional homemade apricot filling : Place sugar water and apricots in a saucepan. Bring to a boil reduce to simmer. Cook until apricots are tender and most of liquid is boiled down, and it is thickened. Stir in lemon juice. If you prefer a thicker sauce. Mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of water add to mixture and boil until thick. Remove from heat to cool before using.