DANISH BRAID

Here we are at the end of another month and I have completed another Daring Bakers Challenge. This month we were challenged to make a Danish Braid. This Danish Braid is made of a danish dough in the family of butter-laminated doughs. This dough is sweet and super yummy. Since I have NEVER made any type of danish, I was very scared to see the results of what was to come out of this. I kept checking the Daring Bakers Website to see what results other bakers had with the recipe and what fillings others were using. I began thinking of just what fillings were going to be just right. I finally decided on making the first one a Strawberry-Rhubarb with Sweetened Cream Cheese filled Danish and the second one a Sour Cherry Cream Cheese Danish. I was just hoping that the dough would turn out so that I could get that far with the recipe!!!

I started on the dough one afternoon after lunch. I got out the ole' Kitchen Aid and started the dough and then the butter block. I rolled out the dough and then smothered 2/3 of it with the butter block. I folded the dough according to the directions and put it in the fridge to chill for 30 minutes. After the 30 minutes, I had to get the dough out and roll it into a 18 X 13 inch rectangle. Then I had to fold it according to the directions again....this took place a total of 4 times. After the 4th time of rolling it out and folding it, I divided it in to 2 pieces and I had to let the dough rest over night in the fridge.

The next morning I was so excited to start the danish making process. I got the dough out and rolled it into a 15 X 20 rectangle about 1/4 inch thick. This proved to be difficult since I broke the rolling pin handles from pushing so hard! I trudged on and cut the dough so that I had a base area for the filling and then I had the strips on both sides so that I could braid it. I put the cream cheese mixture on first and then the fruit fillings. I then braided the top of the danish. This was another thing that was difficult, I didn't know what I was doing....my braiding technique needs help to say the least! I will have to practice when I get another rolling pin!

I put the danishes in the oven for 10 minutes on 400 degrees and then another 15 minutes at 350 degrees. I couldn't believe the smell in my kitchen. Good thing that we live on a large lot of land in the neighborhood or the neighbors would have been coming by the flock if they would have smelled the aroma!!! I let the danish cool and then drizzled a little powdered sugar/milk mixture over the top! I then proceeded to eat almost 1/2 of the Strawberry Rhubarb Danish that late afternoon. I packaged up 1/2 of the Cherry filled one for my girlfriend and took some of both over to my neighbors......if I hadn't of done that, it would have been very bad for the waistline!

I am very happy that I had the time to tackle this challenge this month. Everyone that tried the danish couldn't believe just how wonderful it was. I think that I have something new to give at Christmas other than my boring Banana Bread!