Aunt Nancys Danish Puff Recipes

Steps:

• Place 1 cup of flour in a medium bowl. Mix in butter using a fork or a pastry blender. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of water over, and stir with a fork until dough comes together. Divide into two balls. Pat dough into two long strips on an ungreased baking sheet, about 14 inches long and 3 inches wide. Set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• In a saucepan, combine 1/2 cup of butter and 1 cup of water. Bring to a rolling boil. Add 1 teaspoon of almond extract and remove from the heat. Immediately stir in 1 cup of flour until the mixture pulls away from the sides of the pan. Gradually stir in the eggs until well blended. Divide evenly, and spread over the two crusts on the baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden, about 1 hour. Allow to cool almost to room temperature before frosting.
• To make the frosting, mix together the confectioners' sugar, 1 teaspoon of almond extract and a splash of milk in a small bowl until smooth. Add more milk if necessary to make a pourable glaze. Drizzle over the Danish, and decorate with candy sprinkles if desired.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350ºF.
• Cut 1/2 cup softened butter into 1 cup flour, using pastry blender or crisscrossing 2 knives, until particles are size of coarse crumbs.
• Sprinkle 2 tablespoons water over mixture; mix with fork.
• Gather pastry into ball; divide in half.
• Pat each half into rectangle, 12x3 inches, about 3 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
• Heat remaining 1/2 cup butter and 1 cup water to rolling boil in 2-quart saucepan; remove from heat.
• Quickly stir in almond extract and 1 cup flour.
• Stir vigorously over low heat about 1 minute or until mixture forms a ball; remove from heat.
• Add eggs; beat until smooth. Spread half of the topping over each rectangle.
• Bake about 1 hour or until topping is crisp and brown; remove from pan to wire rack. Cool completely.
• Spread with Creamy Almond Glaze; sprinkle with almonds.
• Creamy Almond Glaze:
• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar; 2-3 tbsp butter, softened; 1/2 to 1 tsp almond extract; 1-2 tbsp warm water or milk.
• Mix all ingredients until smooth and spreadable and glaze the Danish puff.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Place 1 cup flour in medium bowl. Cut in 1/2 cup softened butter, using pastry blender (or pulling 2 table knives through ingredients in opposite directions), until particles are size of coarse crumbs. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons water over mixture; toss with fork.
• Gather pastry into a ball; divide in half. Pat each half into 12x3-inch rectangle, about 3 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
• In 2-quart saucepan, heat 1/2 cup butter and 1 cup water to rolling boil; remove from heat. Quickly stir in almond extract and 1 cup flour. Stir vigorously over low heat about 1 minute or until mixture forms a ball; remove from heat. Add eggs; beat until smooth. Spread half of the topping over each rectangle.
• Bake about 1 hour or until topping is crisp and brown; remove from pan to cooling rack. Cool completely.
• In medium bowl, mix all glaze ingredients except nuts until smooth and spreadable. Spread over top of pastry; sprinkle with nuts.

Steps:

• Place flour in a small bowl; cut in butter until crumbly. Gradually add water, tossing with a fork until dough holds together when pressed. Divide dough in half. On a lightly floured surface, roll each into a 14x2-1/2-in. rectangle. Transfer to an ungreased baking sheet; curve one end of each pastry to form tops of canes. Refrigerate while preparing topping., Preheat oven to 350°. In a large saucepan, combine water, butter and salt; bring to a rolling boil. Add flour all at once and beat until blended. Cook over medium heat, stirring vigorously until mixture pulls away from sides of pan and forms a ball. Remove from heat; let stand 5 minutes., Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition until smooth. Add extract; continue beating until mixture is smooth and shiny. Spread over pastry dough., Bake 60-70 minutes or until puffed and golden brown. Cool on pans 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack; cool completely., In a small bowl, beat confectioners' sugar, butter, water and extract until smooth. Spread over pastries; sprinkle with almonds. Refrigerate leftovers.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
• Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the milk and heat until small bubbles start to form around the edges. Add the flour and cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until the mixture is smooth and glossy and a dough ball forms. (The dough should start to pull away from the edges of the pan.)
• Transfer the dough to a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix in 5 of the eggs, one at a time, on medium speed until completely combined. Stir in the salt, pepper and 3/4 cup of the Gruyere.
• Spoon large tablespoons of the batter onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving about 1 inch between each puff. Whisk the remaining egg and use it to brush the tops of the puffs. Sprinkle over the remaining 1/4 cup Gruyere.
• Bake until puffed and golden, about 25 minutes. Serve hot.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• In a small bowl combine the mascarpone, egg yolk, sugar, flour and vanilla. Stir until just combined and then set aside.
• Dust the puff pastry with flour and roll with a rolling pin to flatten and smooth.
• Place the puff pastry on a sheet tray lined with parchment paper. Schmear the mascarpone down the middle of the puff pastry lengthwise into a 3-inch wide strip. Spoon the fruit preserves on top of the mascarpone.
• Using sharp kitchen shears cut the long sides of the pastry into 1-inch wide strips. Cut towards the cheese filling but stop about 1-inch before you get to the filling. This result will look like fringy pastry. Alternating sides, fold 1 piece of the fringe over the cheese and jelly mixture. The result will look like a braided pastry with fruit preserve peeking through. Brush the dough with the beaten egg yolk mixture. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until golden brown. Let cool before serving. Cut into strips to serve.
• Call yourself a super star!

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Combine cream cheese, onion, and egg yolks in a large bowl; beat with an electric mixer until blended. Spread cream cheese mixture evenly on bread and lightly sprinkle with paprika. Place on baking sheets.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cheese puffs start to slightly brown, 10 to 15 minutes.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Combine cream cheese, onion, and egg yolks in a large bowl; beat with an electric mixer until blended. Spread cream cheese mixture evenly on bread and lightly sprinkle with paprika. Place on baking sheets.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cheese puffs start to slightly brown, 10 to 15 minutes.