Description
These easy Danish pastries are made with a shortcut homemade dough that’s buttery, flaky, and filled with your choice of sweet fillings like jam, cream cheese, or fruit. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dessert!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1/4 cup warm water
- 2 and 1/4 teaspoons Platinum Yeast
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 14 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2/3 cup filling of choice (jam, fruit preserves, etc.)
- 1 large egg (for egg wash)
- 2 tablespoons milk (for egg wash)
- 1 cup confectioners sugar (optional, for icing)
- 2 tablespoons milk or heavy cream (optional, for icing)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (optional, for icing)
Instructions
- Whisk together warm water, yeast, and 1 tablespoon of sugar in a large bowl. Cover and let sit for 5 minutes until foamy.
- Add remaining sugar, milk, egg, and salt. Mix well and set aside.
- Cut cold butter into 1/4-inch slices. Pulse with flour in a food processor until crumbly.
- Fold the flour and butter mixture into the yeast mixture until moistened. Wrap and refrigerate for 4 to 48 hours.
- Roll out chilled dough into a 15×8 inch rectangle. Fold into thirds like a letter, turn, roll, and fold again. Chill for at least 1 hour.
- Divide dough in half. Shape each half into 8 balls. Flatten and create a small well in the center of each.
- Spoon 1 tablespoon of filling into each well.
- Mix egg and milk for egg wash. Brush onto edges of pastries. Chill for 15 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Bake for 19–22 minutes until golden and puffed.
- Optional: Mix confectioners’ sugar, milk/heavy cream, and vanilla to make icing. Drizzle over warm pastries.
Notes
- Ensure butter is cold when incorporating for maximum flakiness.
- Do not skip chilling steps to maintain pastry texture.
- Try different fillings like Nutella, cream cheese, or fresh fruit.
- Dough can be refrigerated for up to 48 hours or frozen for later use.
- Reheat pastries in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 10 minutes if stored.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes (plus chilling time)
- Cook Time: 22 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Danish
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 pastry
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 9g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
Keywords: Danish pastries, shortcut dough, homemade Danish, easy Danish pastry recipe, flaky pastry, breakfast pastry