DANISH PASTRY BRAID
When Beatrice Ojakangas published *The Great Scandinavian Baking Book* in 1988, she won a lot of fans-including Julia Child-who asked Ojakangas to be on her television show. There Ojakangas demonstrated how to make this simplified version of traditional cardamom-scented Danish pastry.
Provided by Beatrice Ojankangas
Categories Pastry Dessert Christmas Almond
Yield Makes 2 filled braids
Number Of Ingredients 26
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.
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[email protected]This Danish pastry braid is the best! I've made it several times and it always turns out perfect. The dough is so easy to work with and the filling is always delicious.
Phindile Maphie
[email protected]I'm so glad I found this recipe! I've been looking for a good Danish pastry braid recipe for a long time. This one is easy to follow and the results are delicious.
Wadi Monther
[email protected]This Danish pastry braid was amazing! I made it for my family and they loved it. The dough was flaky and the filling was delicious. I will definitely be making this again.
Sweet Tea
[email protected]This Danish pastry braid is a must-have for any holiday table. It's a festive and delicious way to celebrate the season. I love to make this braid for Christmas morning breakfast.
Kiyaga Alecks Clay
[email protected]This Danish pastry braid is a showstopper at any party. It's beautiful, delicious, and easy to make. I always get rave reviews when I bring this braid to a party.
Nishantha Mauli
[email protected]I love this Danish pastry braid recipe because it's so versatile. You can use any type of fruit or filling you like, and you can even get creative with the shape of the braid. I've made this braid in a variety of shapes, including a heart, a star, an
Shea Bird
[email protected]This Danish pastry braid is a healthier alternative to traditional pastries. The dough is made with whole wheat flour and the filling is made with fruit and nuts. It's a great way to enjoy a sweet treat without all the guilt.
Realfranky Oyoko
[email protected]This Danish pastry braid is a delicious and affordable dessert. The ingredients are all very common and the recipe is easy to follow. I would definitely recommend this recipe to anyone on a budget.
malk malk
[email protected]This Danish pastry braid is a great recipe for busy weeknights. The dough can be made ahead of time and the braid can be assembled in just a few minutes. It's also a great way to use up leftover fruit or filling.
Charlene Jessica
[email protected]I'm not usually a fan of sweet pastries, but this Danish pastry braid was a pleasant surprise. The dough was savory and the filling was a perfect balance of sweet and salty. I would definitely recommend this recipe to anyone who loves savory pastries
Shannon Ostrander
[email protected]This Danish pastry braid is the perfect dessert for any occasion. It's flaky, buttery, and filled with a delicious apple cinnamon filling. I love that it's easy to make and always impresses my guests.
Isropulova Madinabonu
[email protected]I'm a beginner baker and this was my first time making a Danish pastry braid. I was a little nervous at first, but the instructions were easy to follow and the dough was very forgiving. The braid turned out beautifully and tasted even better than it
surinder johal
[email protected]This Danish pastry braid was a hit with my family! The dough was easy to work with and the filling was delicious. I used a combination of apples, cinnamon, and sugar for the filling, but you could use any type of fruit or filling you like. I also add