Yuletide Danish Pastry Recipes

Steps:

• 1. PASTRY: In a large bowl, place water and warm milk. Sprinkle yeast over the mixture and then sprinkle sugar over the yeast. Add softened butter, salt, eggs, and 2 cups flour. Beat for 2 minutes with mixer. Add 2 more cups flour and beat again with mixer for 2 minutes. Add remaining flour and knead until smooth, about 5 minutes. Cover and let rise until double, about 45 minutes. Punch down. Divide dough into 4 equal parts. On a lightly floured board, roll each part into a rectangle. Spread 1/4 Cream Filling on each; then 1/4 Almond Filling on each. Roll up jelly-roll fashion on the long side. Cut about 10 slashes through top of rolls with a serrated knife. Place each roll on a greased cookie sheet, then form into a wreath shape or candy cane shape. Sprinkle with Streusel Topping. Let rise in a warm place until double in bulk, about 30 minutes. Bake at 375 degrees F for 20 minutes. Drizzle warm bread with Almond Icing and sprinkle with slivered or sliced almonds.
• 2. Cream Filling: Heat milk in a small saucepan over medium heat. In a separate bowl, combine dry ingredients, then mix in egg yolk. Stir a tablespoon or two of warmed milk into egg mixture, then add egg mixture to the heated milk. Cook and stir over medium-high heat until mixture is bubbly and thick. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and cool.
• 3. Almond Filling: Combine all ingredients with a fork, wire whisk, or electric mixer until well blended.
• 4. Streusel Topping: Mix all ingredients with a fork, wire whisk, or electric mixer until well blended.
• 5. Combine powdered sugar with enough milk or cream to make a slightly runny icing. Stir in almond flavoring.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cut 1 cup butter into flour until crumbly, leaving pea-sized chunks. Stir in sour cream, and mix well; dough will be very sticky. Form dough into a ball. Cover tightly, and refrigerate 8 hours, or overnight.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking sheet. Prepare the filling by combining 1 cup butter, brown sugar, and 1 cup chopped walnuts.
• Divide dough into three equal parts; return two parts to the refrigerator to keep cold. Quickly form 1/3 of the dough into a rectangle, and flour lightly. On a heavily floured surface, roll out to approximately 12x17 inches. Position lengthwise on the work surface. Along the long edges of the dough rectangle, use a sharp knife to cut 4 inch long angled lines about 1/2 inch apart. Spoon 1/3 of the filling along the length of the rectangle's uncut center. Alternating from one side of the dough to the other, fold each 1/2 inch wide strip towards the center, crisscrossing the filling in a braid-like fashion. Lightly press together the ends of the strips to seal. Sprinkle with 1/3 of the remaining walnuts. Repeat with remaining ingredients to form 3 braided danishes. Arrange danishes on prepared baking sheet.
• Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown. Cool for approximately 30 minutes. While the danishes are cooling, prepare the icing: mix confectioners sugar and water until smooth. Drizzle in fine streams over warm danishes.