Prune Filled Danish Recipes

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.

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

VINARTERTA

Steps:

• Make the cake: Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Beat butter and granulated sugar with a mixer on medium speed until pale and fluffy. With machine running, add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing well after each addition. Mix in vanilla.
• Reduce speed to low. Working in batches, add flour mixture to butter mixture, alternating once with milk, beginning and ending with flour. Mix until dough is smooth. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Make the filling: Combine prunes and water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until prunes are tender, about 15 minutes. Strain, reserving liquid. Coarsely chop prunes in a food processor, and return to saucepan with reserved liquid and the granulated sugar. Cook over medium heat until mixture is thick, about 15 minutes. Add vanilla, salt, and cardamom. Refrigerate until slightly firm, about 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface. Divide into 7 equal pieces (about 6 ounces each). Roll each piece into a 10-inch round, and cut into a 9-inch circle using the bottom of a 9-inch cake pan as your guide. Place 1 dough circle on a baking sheet, and bake until edges are golden, about 14 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack, and let cool. Repeat with remaining 6 dough circles.
• To assemble: Spread about 3/4 cup prune filling evenly onto 1 cake circle. Top with another circle, and continue until all 7 layers have been assembled (do not put filling on top layer). Wrap in plastic; let stand overnight.
• Dust cake with confectioners' sugar. Cut into quarters, then horizontally into 1/2-inch-thick slices.

GRANDMA SKEET'S PRUNE KOLACHES

Steps:

• Place the warm water, salt, egg and 2 tablespoons butter in the pan of a bread machine. Add bread flour, and pour 1/4 cup sugar on the edge of the pan. Make a shallow hole in the flour and add the yeast. Close the lid, and set machine for the DOUGH cycle.
• While the dough is mixing, combine the prunes, prune juice, 1/4 cup sugar, cinnamon, cloves and lime juice in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, and simmer until prunes are soft and the sauce has thickened, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and blend in a mixer or food processor until smooth.
• When the bread machine signals the end of the dough cycle, transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into 20 small egg-sized pieces. Cover with greased plastic wrap, and set aside for 10 minutes.
• In a small bowl, mix together 1 cup sugar and 1/2 cup flour. Stir in melted butter and 1 teaspoon cinnamon to make a crumbly streusel.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a large baking sheet or line it with parchment paper.
• Shape the kolache dough into balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet. Press a shallow hole in the center of each one, and fill with prune filling. Top each of the kolaches with streusel. Let the kolaches rest until doubled in size, about 20 minutes.
• Bake until the tops are lightly browned, 14 to 16 minutes.

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.

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.