Sunday, June 29, 2008

Strawberry Cream Cheese Danish Braid and Blackberry Danish Pinwheels

I'm just putting the finishing touches on my 4th of July Menu.... I'll post it by 8 EST tonight. It's going to be good.... As a Daring Young Baker, I've risen to the challenge of preparing Sherry Yard's fresh danish dough. From scratch. That's right. From scratch. The mountain was there, and now I have climbed it.

I saw Martha Stewart make puff pastry years ago, and I've since then had a lingering desire to make a folded butter dough. But apparently, it takes a baking assignment to get me crackin'. I loved working with the beautiful dough, but be forewarned: It's quite a bit of work and you'd better be sitting home with a stopwatch for a necklace. Let me show you what I'm talking about.


First you make a beautiful yeast and egg dough.



Next you knead together lots of butter with a bit of flour.Roll out the dough and spread 2/3s with the butter mixture.Fold over both sides, like an envelope. Chill for 30 minutes. Repeat and repeat and repeat and repeat. Four times, so don't paint your nails or try to wash your car. Roll the dough into a rectangle and cut the edges into even strips.Add a filling to the center and tuck the strips over the top, interlocking to form a braid. (My filling is 8 ounces cream cheese, 1/4 cup sugar, and 1 tablespoons flour, with 1/3 cup homemade strawberry freezer jam on top.)Bake.Cut into small delectable sections and eat. Oozing filling is considered a huge plus around here.Since you've only used half your dough, cut the rest into little 3 inch squares.Place a teaspoon of jam in the center, cut diagonal slats from each corner and fold up.Sprinkle with coarse sugar and bake.



Now get crackin' on those dishes. For a full and complete recipe, check out Sass and Veracity. Best of luck and I'll see you again tonight.


Coming tonight by 8PM EST

Fourth of July Menu and Shopping List

29 comments:

Beth (jamandcream) said...

Your filling looks lovely. I stuck with the apple as it was my first db challenge so I was just relieved to have completed it!!

ostwestwind said...

You reached the star, your filling looks great, great job!

Ulrike from Küchenlatein

Marie Rayner said...

What a lovely job you did on your challenge Prudy! I had to sit this one out this month because of the wedding at the big house where I work. It is finally over now and perhaps life will get back to some sense of normalcy! Hope springs eternal! (Think 350 guests, all from America, 5 separate reception/parties spanning a 4 day period of time, a manor house and 5 bedroon guest house all full to the brim, and all the work that entails)

Clumbsy Cookie said...

Nice one Prudy! Welcome to the DB you did very well to be your first laminated dough! your molins are adorable!

Sharon said...

Absolutely beautiful! I love what you did with the extra dough. Very creative :)

Michelle said...

Great Job!!! Love the little danish too!!!

Welcome to Daring Bakers!

Anonymous said...

Very nice! Love the little ones.

Anonymous said...

What a task! It looks so good! I wish I was with you so I could have a taste! I may have to wait until my youngest in kindergarten before thinking about climbing such mountain! I'm impressed you had the time for it!

Michal said...

i'm impressed, prudy. back in my mason's bakery days i remember watching them make the breakfast pastries and it was lots of work, lots of kneading in butter, etc. but oooooh, so delicious. you've inspired me. i've made my first choux and brioche in the past month, so why not danish? (except for the obvious calorie reasons, i suppose.)

Susie Homemaker said...

i know i have said it before, but i love coming here for your music...and these pinwheels? inspirational! thanks again!

Heather B said...

I love your filling! Great job! Your braid and pinwheels look delicious!

Anonymous said...

i love the strawberry filling, it looks so yummy. great job!

Chef Jeena said...

I love the filling and the crust they all look so delicious. I wish I was eating some right now I would love to try. :-)

Anonymous said...

I'd say that is pretty darn good looking and tasty danish! Great job on the challenge!!

Lori said...

Great filling and love the little jam filled pastries. Yes it took the DB's to get me going on this long anticipated recipe!

Melanie Anne said...

Your danish looks very yummy! I like the filling --next time I will try strawberries!

PAT A BAKE said...

Your Braid looks lovely. You did a gr8 job with the step by step pictures too. You rock.

Leslie said...

Yum Yum Yum!Love your braid!

Sophie said...

The pinwheel idea is so cool! Your braid looks so perfect! :) Great job on this month's challenge.

Shari said...

Your strawberry cream cheese filling sounds delicious! I like the pinwheels too!
Shari@Whisk: a food blog

Anonymous said...

I love you danish - especially the adorable little ones, they are so pretty! Looks delicious :)

Jen said...

that combination sounds delicious! I love your blog!

Deborah said...

Great job on this challenge!! They look fantastic!

test it comm said...

Nice looking braids and pinwheels. The strawberry and cream cheese danish was really good.

Emily said...

Are you a Daring Baker now too? I think I'm the only one that isn't. I should join someday.

The Danish looks good.

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

Your braid and Danish Pastries look great! Very well done!

Cheers,

Rosa

Anne said...

Your braid looks perfect! I love the little cookies, too.

Mari said...

Your strawberry cream cheese danish is making my mouth water! You did a great job!

Unknown said...

This looks fantastic! Great job.