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Sourdough Danish Pastries, Part II

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This is the second post in a series of three – click to read Part I and Part III.

As promised, here’s the follow-up to my last post on Danish pastries: how to shape and fill the Danishes. So fun!

I got really excited about the different Danish shapes I was going to make, so I tried a whole bunch of them. They were all pretty successful so I’m confident that I can pass along my skillz ;). I only used half the batch of dough to make these (I couldn’t justify making sixteen Danishes for only two of us) so I will be experimenting with the rest of the dough sometime soon… stay tuned for Part III! 😉

Danish Pastry Shapes

You will need:

1 batch of Sourdough Danish Pastry dough, rolled out and cut into 4″ squares as outlined in the recipe

1 batch of Cream Cheese Filling (see below)

jam, fruit, and/or berries of your choice, fresh or frozen

After shaping the Danishes, place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet and let them proof, covered in plastic, in a warm area until they are puffy and the butter layers are visible (at least a few hours). Fill each Danish with about 1 tbsp of Cream Cheese Filling and top with jam, fruit, or berries. Brush with egg wash (1 egg and 1 tbsp water) and bake as directed in this post.

The Square

Take a square of pastry and fold each point into the middle. Press lightly to seal. Proof, fill, egg wash, and bake as directed.

The Pinwheel

Take a square of pastry and make a cut from each corner into the middle (don’t cut all the way through the middle though). Fold every other point into the middle and press lightly. Proof, fill, egg wash, and bake as directed.

The Vol-au-Vent

Fold a square of pastry in half on  the diagonal to make a triangle, but do not seal it. Make two cuts parallel to the sides of the triangle, about 1/2″ from the edge of the pastry. Unfold the pastry  – you will have two v-shaped cuts. Fold both sides over the middle, tucking one under the other. Proof, fill, egg wash, and bake as directed.

The Braid

Cut 5 slits (giving 6 strands) down two edges of a pastry square, leaving about 1/2″ uncut pastry in the middle. Spread 2 – 3 tsp of filling down the center (don’t overfill it or it will fall apart). Stretch each strand gently and then cross one over the other on top of the filling. Repeat, tucking the very last strand under the bottom of the Danish to secure. Proof, egg wash, and bake as directed.

Cream Cheese Filling

Adapted from Wild Yeast. Makes about 1 1/3 cups, which is plenty for one batch of 16 Danishes.

In a mixer bowl, combine:

250 g soft cream cheese

113 g granulated white sugar

19 g soft butter

28 g flour

21 g beaten egg (about 1/2 an egg – remember that leftover 1/2 egg from the pastry dough?)

1 tsp vanilla extract

Beat it all together with the whisk attachment until smooth and fluffy. Spoon or pipe onto the Danishes as required.

Comments

    • The beauty of individually sized portions of yeast doughs like this, unlike things like cakes and quick breads, is that you can bake exactly the amount you will eat today. The rest can be refrigerated and baked up fresh over the next 3-4 days without any quality loss.

      A typical Danish recipe satisfies us 6 days if we agree to limit ourselves to 1 per day. I shape 3 days worth on day 1 and place what I’m not baking that day in the refrigerator. Unused dough goes in the freezer until day 3, thaw overnight, and repeat from the shaping step. Of course, you can put the shaped ones in the freezer, too, but you might decide you want different fillings later. It’s literally no extra work to have fresh buns baked every day.

      No matter how well you wrap them, baked goods start losing their allure after about a day. If your Danishes have to be refrigerated because their fillings do (eg. cream cheese, custard), the flakiness just won’t last. You’re less likely to impulse eat, too, if you limit what gets baked on a given day. Your taste buds and your waistline will thank me.

      Reply

  3. Thanks for this post Korena! Now I’ve learned some new techniques of shaping danish pastry. Great photos as always!
    Have a lovely, lovely day! 🙂

    Reply

  10. I am a terrible cook, but these directions are so simple to understand, and the finished product so gorgeous, that I might just have to brave it! 🙂

    Reply

  14. Oh dear, they look amazing, and if you know how to shape at least not so difficult. Practising is the best and they went out gorgious! Thanks for sharing and the nice diy pics.
    Liz

    Reply

  15. Is there any other type of premade pastry one could use rather than having to make it? I’m a very busy teacher and sure would like to make these, but wondering if puff pastry dough or pie dough might substitute?

    Reply

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