"Buy Now Many people think of any morning sweet roll as a “Danish.” According to master baker Nancy Silverton, co-owner of La Brea Bakery in Los Angeles, a true Danish is made with a particular style of yeasted dough, richly layered with butter and fragrant with cardamom and nutmeg. As with doughnuts, a homemade version is a revelation, well worth the bother for special occasions. The multiple steps can be slowed down over several days to better fit into your schedule. Game plan: Danish pastry benefits from a minimum of strokes and handling. If at any time the butter feels soft and squishy, immediately put the pastry in the refrigerator for a few minutes, long enough to firm it again. If the butter melts into the dough before baking, you won’t get the multiple layers that distinguish this pastry...."
INGREDIENTS
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For the pastry:
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* 1 envelope active dry yeast
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* 1/2 cup whole milk, heated to lukewarm
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* 1 large egg at room temperature
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* 1/4 cup granulated sugar
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* 2 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
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* 1 teaspoon salt
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* 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
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* 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
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* 1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, well chilled and cut into 1/2-tablespoon pats
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For the filling:
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* 1/2 pound cream cheese, softened
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* 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
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* 1 large egg yolk (save the white for the egg wash)
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* 1 teaspoon minced fresh lemon zest
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* 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
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* 1/4 teaspoon salt
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* Several tablespoons thick fruit preserves, optional
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For the egg wash and topping:
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* 1 large egg white
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* Crystallized sugar such as sanding sugar or turbinado sugar